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While not always necessary, you can glue a drywall ceiling in addition to using screws or nails. Drywall is typically secured to ceiling joists with fasteners, which is often sufficient. However, adding construction adhesive can offer benefits like preventing sagging, bridging gaps, and reducing air leaks for better energy efficiency. It may also be used for specific acoustic or insulation needs. On the other hand, many professionals advise against it because properly placed screws make the drywall structural, glue doesn't add strength, and it makes future repairs or replacements significantly more difficult. Ultimately, it's best to follow local building codes and project-specific requirements to decide if adhesive is right for your ceiling.

A common cause of separation between a wall and the ceiling is truss lift—this can happen to the ceiling of rooms directly under the attic when the seasons change and wood building materials dry out, shrink, and shift. Roof trusses often dry out at different speeds, and if the bottom pieces dry out faster than the top pieces, they can shrink and pull the attached drywall away from ceilings and walls, causing cracks. Fortunately, truss lift is only a cosmetic problem, not a structural problem, and you can fix it by separating the ceiling drywall from the roof trusses, and patching the cracks.

Plaster provides a durable, soundproof, and moisture-resistant finish compared to drywall.

Whether to repair or replace water-damaged plaster depends on the scale of the damage. For small, limited areas, you can often perform a repair yourself. If you choose to paint over small patches, ensure the surface is completely dry and apply a coat of antifungal primer first to prevent mold growth. However, simply painting or plastering over the damage is only a temporary solution that doesn't address the core problem. For more extensive or long-term damage, the plaster may be compromised, and there is a risk of mold. In these cases, it is recommended to remove the damaged section of plasterboard and replace it. You may consider hiring a professional for the repair, and it's worth noting that water damage is often covered by home insurance.