When there’s a noticeable dip in a floor, a sagging joist or beam is often the culprit. To determine the extent of the problem, tack a nail at one end of the beam, flush with its bottom surface. Tie ...

Q Am I right that when sections of plaster break away from the lath, an accepted repair technique is to roughly fill in those gaps with drywall and then drywall over the whole wall or ceiling? — M.H., ...

Q: Last spring, my roof sprang a leak and water stained the ceiling in my daughter’s second-floor bedroom. We fixed the leak and repainted the ceiling. However, now the new paint is cracked and, ...

Q: I have an older home with a crawl-space foundation. My problem is the floors sag in the living room to the point where it’s hard to keep a lamp steady on the end tables. My other problem is there ...

Pitched, arched, domed, coffered, trussed or beamed, a shapely ceiling can be a refreshing — and impressive — alternative to a flat and featureless overhead surface. If you’re planning a new home or a ...