Ceiling cracks aren’t uncommon, especially in older homes with plaster or concrete slab ceilings. Cracked ceilings can be a result of several different factors, including shifting with age, excess moisture from heavy storms, improper roof drainage, and too much weight from the floor above (see my previous blog, Ceiling Cracks: Causes and Remedies for more information). In many cases, cracked ceilings aren’t a reason to worry, but in other cases, they can be an indication of structural instability and will require repair as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
The cracked ceiling, prior to HJ3’s StrongHold installation.
The cracks in this ceiling required structural reinforcement, not just crack filler.
In this case, a home in the southwest US had developed a cracked ceiling as a result of too much weight from the floor above.
StrongHold’s carbon fiber is the strongest around, and perfect for confining ceiling cracks.
Like this one, many homes in the southwest United States are constructed with concrete slab or plaster ceilings, which are very heavy and susceptible to cracking and sagging over time. The concrete ceiling required crack confinement and structural strengthening to prevent any further problems. After researching her options, the homeowner decided to repair her ceiling with StrongHold™’s carbon fiber kits. StrongHold™’s experienced engineering team determined that applying the carbon fiber strips both laterally and longitudinally, in a checkerboard sort of pattern, would confine her cracks while simultaneously adding superior strength to the ceiling to prevent future cracking.
The paint and plaster are ground off prior to installing StrongHold’s carbon fiber.
Before the carbon fiber system could be installed, all paint and plaster was removed from the application areas with a mechanical grinder. A vacuum followed behind the grinder to rid the ceiling of any resulting dust and debris. After priming the ceiling, StrongHold™’s carbon fiber was thoroughly saturated on both sides and installed. Following a short (approximately 1 hour) cure time, the ceiling was ready to be painted to minimize the appearance of repair.
StrongHold’s carbon fiber straps are applied to the cracked ceiling.
A checkerboard pattern provides superior strength.
The homeowner’s cracked ceiling was thoroughly reinforced in just a few hours. By repairing her ceiling with StrongHold™ carbon fiber instead of a steel alternative, the homeowner saved a significant amount of money without adding any additional weight to the already-heavy ceiling. Since the carbon fiber straps are only 1/16th of an inch thick, the repair also didn’t reduce her room’s height, as a steel alternative would have. No excavating, drilling, or bolting was required whatsoever, and the homeowner has a stronger home than she ever did before!
If you’d like more information about StrongHold™’s carbon fiber systems and how they can structurally reinforce your own ceiling, write me today at STRsupport@hj3.com.
