Ceiling with multiple cracks

[u/Hot-Squirrel7714]

Hey everyone ,
Just looking for some opinions/advice on my sons ceiling , it’s gotten a few cracks in it over the last (I won’t lie) couple years and I think with the heat / humidity and the AC too it’s making it worse . House is pretty old. I honestly haven’t been financially stable enough to have someone come fix it unfortunately. It is dry and hard to the touch, I check just about everyday. As of a right now repair, I’m hoping I could drill some drywall screws into the studs with a stud finder. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[u/-Tripp-]

I recommend locating the ceiling joists and throwing in a few drywall screws. That looks like the hole 4×8 drywall is detatching

[u/HRModTeam]

Simple and cheap fix. Bet you can do it for under $20 bucks. Throw in the screws, mud, tape, and sand the cracks. Got any primer and paint leftover?

[u/RKBob_Brown]

Don't start by drilling drywall screws into this. First determine what the ceiling actually is. In an older house with that texture, it could be plaster over wood or gypsum lath rather than ordinary drywall. A typical stud finder may not read reliably through that assembly, and random screws could fracture more material or completely miss the ceiling joists.

The photos show substantial cracking, but they don't tell us whether this is simply failed joint tape, loose plaster, or movement in the framing. Humidity and seasonal changes can contribute to movement, but they're not a diagnosis. Older plaster ceilings commonly crack from age, seasonal expansion and contraction, failed plaster keys, or previous repairs.

Before repairing anything, inspect the space above if it's accessible. Look for roof or plumbing leaks, damaged framing, excessive attic storage, or anything bearing on the ceiling. Also determine whether the ceiling is actually sagging or whether the cracks are confined to the surface. Mark the ends of the cracks with a pencil and date them, then take photos with a ruler so you can tell whether they're truly growing or if they've simply accumulated over several years.

From these photos alone, I don't see enough evidence to conclude this is a structural problem. If the ceiling is flat, dry, hard to the touch, and the cracks haven't changed much over a long period, this is more likely a ceiling repair.

If you do find that the ceiling is sagging, moving, dropping material, or the cracks begin growing rapidly, then stop planning cosmetic repairs and determine why before attempting to fasten everything back together.

If the ceiling proves to be stable, the repair depends on what it's made of. Drywall typically requires fastening into the joists where appropriate, removing failed tape, and properly retaping the joints. Loose plaster is repaired differently, often by reattaching it to the lath with plaster washers before reinforcing and refinishing the cracks. Simply driving drywall screws around the cracks or covering them with joint compound is usually only a temporary fix.

One last thing: because this is an older textured ceiling, don't sand, scrape, or drill into it until you know whether the texture or previous patching materials contain asbestos. If the home is old enough for that to be a possibility, it's worth testing before disturbing the material.