I was just patching a hole in the ceiling where a fixture used to be.
The drywall is very weak. For example I put some furring behind the
hole, mounted to the drywall. When I began to attach the patch to the
furring, the drywall screws holding the furring pulled right through
the drywall. The pressure I applied to drive the screw was enough to
easily pull the furring loose.

I'm wondering what this means. Does old drywall become weak and
crumbly? Is this water damage? Inferior product? Is the ceiling going
to drop on me if I don't replace it?

If it is water damage, is there any good way to find the extent of it?
I mean, I hate to poke holes all over the ceiling, but how else can I
tell?

Btw, the roof was replaced a couple years before I bought the house. I
don't think it's leaking now, but it may have been a few years ago.

On 10 Mar 2006 10:41:59 -0800, wrote:

I was just patching a hole in the ceiling where a fixture used to be.
The drywall is very weak. For example I put some furring behind the
hole, mounted to the drywall. When I began to attach the patch to the
furring, the drywall screws holding the furring pulled right through
the drywall. The pressure I applied to drive the screw was enough to
easily pull the furring loose.

I'm wondering what this means. Does old drywall become weak and
crumbly? Is this water damage? Inferior product? Is the ceiling going
to drop on me if I don't replace it?

If it is water damage, is there any good way to find the extent of it?
I mean, I hate to poke holes all over the ceiling, but how else can I
tell?

Btw, the roof was replaced a couple years before I bought the house. I
don't think it's leaking now, but it may have been a few years ago.

Can you poke your finger through the drywall without too much effort?
If yes, It's probably water damage. If there's no sign of dampness
then it doesn't matter what the extent is. Just cut the drywall back
to the nearest joists, and screw the patch directly to them.

On 10 Mar 2006 10:41:59 -0800, wrote:

I was just patching a hole in the ceiling where a fixture used to be.
The drywall is very weak. For example I put some furring behind the
hole, mounted to the drywall. When I began to attach the patch to the
furring, the drywall screws holding the furring pulled right through
the drywall. The pressure I applied to drive the screw was enough to
easily pull the furring loose.

I'm wondering what this means. Does old drywall become weak and
crumbly? Is this water damage? Inferior product? Is the ceiling going
to drop on me if I don't replace it?

If it is water damage, is there any good way to find the extent of it?
I mean, I hate to poke holes all over the ceiling, but how else can I
tell?

Btw, the roof was replaced a couple years before I bought the house. I
don't think it's leaking now, but it may have been a few years ago.

Like Goedjn said, but it's probably better not to disturb the existing
drywall screws/nails. I'd cut back flush with the sides of the nearest
joists, then attach 1x wood blocking to the sides of the joists and
attach the patch. It's far easier to cut the old drywall out that way
and you're not trying to run your knife/saw/rotozip over the fasteners.

R

could be water damage, but if it's behind a light fitting it could be heat
damage. ive seen what you descibe and can only guess its heat damage of some
sort.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I was just patching a hole in the ceiling where a fixture used to be.
The drywall is very weak. For example I put some furring behind the
hole, mounted to the drywall. When I began to attach the patch to the
furring, the drywall screws holding the furring pulled right through
the drywall. The pressure I applied to drive the screw was enough to
easily pull the furring loose.

I'm wondering what this means. Does old drywall become weak and
crumbly? Is this water damage? Inferior product? Is the ceiling going
to drop on me if I don't replace it?

If it is water damage, is there any good way to find the extent of it?
I mean, I hate to poke holes all over the ceiling, but how else can I
tell?

Btw, the roof was replaced a couple years before I bought the house. I
don't think it's leaking now, but it may have been a few years ago.