Ceiling & cornice repair

Ceiling repair on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane

A sagging or stained ceiling is worth looking at sooner rather than later. We repair water-damaged, sagging and cracked ceilings and cornice across the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Get a free quote Call 0410 442 503

Carpenter on a step platform fitting a new plasterboard section into a water-damaged ceiling, with the cornice intact and drop sheets laid below

Fully licensed · QBCC338940C
InsuranceFully insured
Warranty3 months on new installations
Service areaGold Coast & Brisbane

Source first

Fix the cause before you fix the ceiling

Water is the usual culprit: a leaking shower or pipe upstairs, a cracked roof tile, a gutter overflowing in a summer storm. Plasterboard soaks it up, stains, softens and sags. Before we touch the ceiling, get the leak fixed by a plumber or a roofer. We don't do plumbing or roofing, and a new ceiling under an old leak won't last.

Ceilings also sag without a leak. Plasterboard is held up by fixings and adhesive, and years of heat in a Queensland roof space can let the adhesive go. If the board is sound, we re-fix it to the battens or joists. If it's soft or badly bowed, we cut out the section, fit new plasterboard, set it and match the cornice.

A sagging ceiling can come down without much warning, especially when it's holding water, so keep people out of the room below. If water is near a light fitting, turn the power off at the switchboard and call a licensed electrician. Some older ceilings may contain asbestos, so we'll tell you before anything is cut if it needs testing. We repair ceilings from Queenslanders in Brisbane's inner north to newer homes between Coomera and Robina.

What we do

Ceiling repairs we do

Water-damaged ceilings
Stained, soft or bubbling plasterboard cut out once the leak is fixed and the area has dried, with new board fitted and set flush.
Sagging ceilings
Sheets that have dropped between the joists re-fixed with screws where the board is sound, or replaced where it isn't.
Cornice repair
Cracked, stained or pulled-away cornice replaced, matched as closely as we can, or the whole run renewed so it doesn't look patched.
Ceiling cracks
Cracks along sheet joins and at the cornice line raked out, taped and re-set so they stay closed.
Holes from above
A foot through the ceiling, an old exhaust fan opening or a hole left by removed fittings, patched to suit the ceiling around it.
Manholes
New or relocated ceiling access holes, framed between the joists and fitted with a neat trapdoor.

Get your ceiling checked when…

There's a brown or yellow stain that grows after rain
Paint is bubbling, peeling or flaking on the ceiling
The ceiling has a visible bulge or dips between the joists
The cornice is cracking or pulling away from the wall
You can see screw or nail heads pushing down in rows
There are mould spots or a musty smell in one part of the room

What affects the price

How much of the ceiling is damaged, and whether it's patched or re-sheeted
Ceiling height and access, including stairwells and raked ceilings
Matching an existing cornice profile, especially in older homes
Sealing with a stain blocker and painting the ceiling afterwards
Moving or protecting furniture and fittings in the room

Send two photos, one close up of the damage and one of the whole room, and tell us whether the leak has been fixed. We'll come back with a clear fixed quote.

FAQ

Ceiling repair questions

My ceiling only has a water stain. Does it need replacing?

Not always. If the board is still hard and flat once it's dry, the stain can often be sealed with a stain-blocking primer and the ceiling repainted. If it's soft, crumbly or sagging, that section needs replacing.

Who should I call first about a leak?

A plumber if the water is coming from a bathroom, pipe or appliance above, and a roofer if it only shows up when it rains. Once the source is fixed, we repair the ceiling. If you're not sure which you need, send us a photo and we'll tell you what we think.

Is a sagging ceiling dangerous?

It can be. Wet plasterboard is heavy, and a sagging ceiling can drop without much warning. Keep people out of the room below, and call us to make it safe and repair it.

Can you match the cornice in my older home?

We'll look for the same or a very close profile. Where a true match isn't possible, replacing the cornice along the whole wall usually looks better than a patch that's almost right.

Will my insurance cover the ceiling repair?

That depends on your policy and what caused the damage, so check with your insurer. We can give you a written quote to pass on to them. Some insurers use their own builders, so it's worth asking before you book.

Do you need to get into the roof space?

Often, yes. We check the framing above the damaged area and make sure everything is dry before new board goes up. Let us know where the manhole is and clear a path to it.

Related services