Blown artex ceiling above bay window

NewtoDIY

I've noticed for some time that the ceiling above our bay window is sagging on one side and I assumed it was simply not nailed in properly.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131005_201941_zpsf41bbead.jpg

Yesterday I noticed a small tear in the middle of that same ceiling (which moves when I press it)

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y443/diyuserneedshelp2013/20131005_202306_zps6499daee.jpg

and on inspection another small "bubble" to the left (which does not move). In the first photo, the sagging ceiling to the right does move if I press up on it. I'm tempted to push the sagging side bit up to see if it will stay but am worried that it will break the rest of the ceiling.


The ceiling has been tested for asbestos and doesn't contain any. The house is from the 1890s.

Any thoughts about what I should do to repair this or prevent it getting any worse, and what could be causing it?
Thanks

muckybutt

With it being a bay window and the dis-colouration first thing I would be looking at is the roof above, the staining I would say is a give away sign that there is water ingress somewhere.

The only repair for that would be to strip the artex back repaie the leak, then repair the ceiling.

NewtoDIY

the photos were not done with the best lighting. there's actually no discoloration at all. It's also completely dry to the touch. The bay window roofs were completely redone in July. The big obvious sag in the ceiling to the right was already there when we inherited the house a year ago.

Ken68

Had a similar thing here, New, the decorator re=glued it.
Cut several slits and injected glue from a gun. Not sure if that is the professional way, but it worked.

cyclonebri1

If there is no damp it could simply be excessive movement do to temp variation, dependant on what is above.

Regardless, the issue is improper bonding of the artex to whatever finish is below.

Ok, it may be a new ceiling, don't know given the limited info, but this is often caused by plastering or artexing over old wall paper paste.;)

Id just have it redone, it's a messy but not to expensive job.

keystone

Its not artex - its ceiling paper.

Cut several slits and injected glue from a gun. Not sure if that is the professional way, but it worked.

Is the only way to do it unless you want to strip the lot and repaper. Sometimes the latter is the only course of action if the paper has too much paint on it.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

You have a point, but I think it's artex over ceiling wallpaper. Just looks too deep a relief to be a "textured" paint

NewtoDIY

it's definitely artex. hard as a rock and the peaks are too high to be wallpaper. Will the rest of it crack if I were to push up and nail the sagging bit? it's a big ceiling and also very high so would cost too much to do completely.

DirectDebacle

The bay area has been overboarded and the whole ceiling artexed to cover cracks. Half your coving/cornice in the bay area is not visible. It is either missing or covered by the boarding. You may have the original lath and plaster ceiling under the boarding or it may have been taken down.

Shame that a previous owner has spoilt an attractive original feature.

Personally I would be getting quotes to have the boarding removed and the original features restored.

NewtoDIY

DirectDebacle wrote: »

The bay area has been overboarded and the whole ceiling artexed to cover cracks. Half your coving/cornice in the bay area is not visible. It is either missing or covered by the boarding. You may have the original lath and plaster ceiling under the boarding or it may have been taken down.

Shame that a previous owner has spoilt an attractive original feature.

Personally I would be getting quotes to have the boarding removed and the original features restored.

totally agree with you. unfortunately it's a money question and not a priority to have it aesthetically right. but yes, it is a shame. Idon'teven understand why someone would choose to do that in the first place.

cyclonebri1

NewtoDIY wrote: »

it's definitely artex. hard as a rock and the peaks are too high to be wallpaper. Will the rest of it crack if I were to push up and nail the sagging bit? it's a big ceiling and also very high so would cost too much to do completely.

Probably, but does it matter? you will have to paint the repaired area so just use 1 of those thick crack covering paints that are available.

When you do get around to a proper repair it still shouldn't be expensive, unless you want to go with the 2 replies above.
personally it looks fine to me apart from the bit of sagging finish.