Ceiling falling down...

jc808

pics?

sounds like fire damage maybe

ps you get the black soot stuff where a ceiling has been in situ for 100+ yrs and is disturbed

nickcc

Previous house we owned was built in the late thirties, coal fires and no barrier between the roof tiles and trusses, resulted in the loft being covered in black soot.

camelot1001

Our previous house (1890) had soot and ash above the ceiling as insulation. When they fell in it was horrendous. Good luck.

cyclonebri1

Ok. lets calm down

Ceilings do not fall down for now reason. Lath and plaster is stuborn in the least to remove.

Is it wet? the most likely reason for failure.

But, from what you have said, there is an almighty amount of crap sat on the topside of the ceiling. It needs removing asap.

What trade do you need?, a general builder to remove all this dead plaster and debris and then to re-board after checking all roof timbers.
He will have a plaster to finish off the job

But;
This is the bit the op said that I just don't get, " I can't tell where the ceiling is going through as there is lots of bricks/rubble/black coal looking stuff over everything.

But from your post you surely have a hole in your ceiling, you can't see it??????????????????????

popularfurball

No there is a cupboard in our bedroom - which has a hot water tank in - iris probably 3ftx1.5ft - which means you have to lean into the cupboard to look up - not smart if stuff falls down!! In the loft, it is at the far edge of the loft so I would have to lie down to get decently close... Not something I want to do if it's likelyto give way!

I have taken some pics but as I've been working 6-6 there hasn't been enough daylight - hopefully I can get some better ones tomorrow.

popularfurball

And reason for failure? We know they had the wall the hole adjoins re done on the exterior due to a leak (rendered I think she said), there is a water tank close to it, wondered if condensation/heat from the hot water tank would affect it as its directly below.

We are doing well! Been in 7 weeks - one radiator leak through to dining room ceiling, front door we can't get in/out of, a leaking velux window downstairs, ceiling issues, broke the dishwasher ... Everytine I have a day off something else breaks. Oh is cursing me hehe!

cyclonebri1

popularfurball wrote: »

And reason for failure? We know they had the wall the hole adjoins re done on the exterior due to a leak (rendered I think she said), there is a water tank close to it, wondered if condensation/heat from the hot water tank would affect it as its directly below.

We are doing well! Been in 7 weeks - one radiator leak through to dining room ceiling, front door we can't get in/out of, a leaking velux window downstairs, ceiling issues, broke the dishwasher ... Everytine I have a day off something else breaks. Oh is cursing me hehe!

As soon as you mentioned the HWT, I was going to suggest just that.
There will almost certainly be a vent to atmosphere up in the loft, under certain conditions these can actually emit steam, also probably be a header tank up there too, all potential sources of damage.

You are likely to need a plumber here too, but I'd still go for a general builder to at least identify the source of trouble, he will have plumber/plasterer contacts anyway.

popularfurball

Handily, we are waiting for a combi boiler to be fitted - so the HWT and CWT directly above will be rendered useless and will be taken out so weight above and heat below will be removed there looks to be a metal grid near it - which would explain that too

I will get photos tomorrow

popularfurball

Photos

So this is the airing cupboard in our bedroom... The hole is growing in this cupboard!


Here is what it looks like if you stick a camera in - haven't dared look as Everytime I do I get a face full of dust!!


This is what is coming down


The general state of the loft




This is what the floor of the loft looks like (from the loft - from under it is papered so can't see anything)


The set up of the tank in the loft


The hole


It always waits until night time to come down a bit more and frightens me in the night!

wallbash

First of .......DON'T Panic, that loft is no worse than my first.
You do have , as was suggested a Lath /plaster ceiling . Its been ther for over a hundred years and I don't think its going to drop huge amounts on your head. The c**p lying on the surface is fairly standard and nothing to worry about.

So you have a few small bits fall down inside of a cupboard??
Whats the rest of the visible ceiling looking like? If you stand on a chair , is there any low patches, can you physically push the ceiling up??

Ps the photo's are great.