How flexible is plaster?

Rosemary7391

In my flat, the light fitting is surrounded by a decorative circle of plaster. There are cracks in the circle where it attaches to the flat part of the ceiling.

At the weekend the neighbour above me had a party, which involved 'dancing' - more like co ordinated jumping - causing the ceiling in my flat to bend.

Is it possible that the two are linked or that the latter will cause more damage? It was quite alarming to watch! I've only recently moved so I don't know how old any of it is.

Thanks,
Rosemary

ariba10

About as flexible as Glass!

Plasterer

ariba10 wrote: »

About as flexible as Glass!

Funny but unfortunately Aruba is on the button skim plaster is not flexible at all it is effectively a 3 mm layer of rock

NICHOLAS_2

Is it a plaster-boarded ceiling? It probably is, they often get cracks in them over time because numpty plasterers don't put enough screws in them to keep them up.

If it is bending the board is warping because it's not attached to the beam properly.

That, or your wood in the ceiling is sagging.

The jumping up and down above you may create vibrations which could have originally caused the problem or be aiding and abetting the real problem.

Rosemary7391

Thanks. Just to be clear, the ceiling seems quite elastic - it definitely went down and up with them jumping and it isn't bent now. The only cracks I can see are around this decorative light fitting (which is attached to the ceiling by plaster). There is some sort of texture on the ceiling though, so that might be covering up things I can't see. It's too high for me to get a proper look at really! I don't know how it's made.

zaax

A large area plaster (and glass) is quite flexible. Making the light fitting jump may cause fractures as well the cable (and bulb; and shade) comes down the weight will yank on the batten / plaster. It the fitting screwed into a batten?