Joist or Plasterboard

londonhero

Hi,


I have some cracks on the plasterboard but not sure it is due to board or joists. is there any easy way to understand ?

molerat

Plasterboard itself rarely cracks unless subjected to impact but board joints can often crack due to movement. I had several when I moved into my fairly new house 25 years ago. Dug them out and filled - have not come back. If you cannot easily move the structure around I would just fill them.

londonhero

Cracks are on where we have joists and above joists we have first floor wall. my aim is to understand whether it is structural or not. When you push the plasterboard it goes a bit and then comes down 2mm around cracks. This gives the impression that this is the board loose nothing wrong with joists but still want to make sure 100%.

phill99

It sounds like the boards need a few more screws in them along the joists. Then fill, sand and paint.

londonhero

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Le_Kirk

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londonhero

Hi,


just following my post on plasterboard or joists...


Basically, there are some cracks straight line around 1 meter on the ceiling of ground floor. Just above the cracks there is a wall on the first floor, and joists of the loft are standing on this wall. I had two builders and

londonhero

Basically, there are some cracks straight line around 1 meter on the ceiling of ground floor. Just above the cracks there is a wall on the first floor, and joists of the loft are standing on this wall. I had two builders and 1 engineer they came and have a look. Engineer recommended to put a steel lintel there and he said, I should be worried about it. One of the builder said the same thing and he said that he never seen a property which had a wall on first floor standing on a joists. The other builder which is living next to me and have the same structure house said that this is just a plasterboard, and just a few screws.


I do not mind opening the plasterboards and have a look however I believe my engineer will say the same thing and will suggest to put the steel again. Is there any tests to measure the strength of a floor joists?


thamks

getmore4less

Is the layout original?
If not what has been removed or added?

Did the builder next door do the job on both places.

The crack sounds like flexing at the board joint
Any repair just securing the boards and making good may only be a temp fix if there is a lot of flexing at that point

Depends how much money you want to throw at it.

londonhero

Layout is original, no change. except some time ago we stored some books in loft which was around 100 kgs, now removed. However, this should be because of that.


my next neighbour, he is a builder and he has the same layout house as another 40 houses on my street. Ex-council houses.


It is a bit stranget in terms of layout. Basically a wall separating two room in the first floor are standing on joists and no wall below them on the ground level. That wall is supporting the joists on the loft which is not currently used, but I want to use it as home office later on.


Cracks are not side maybe 1mm wide. one side of crack is sagging around 1-2 mms and when you push it it goes up and comes back again.


I do not mind getting someone removing the plasterboard and looking including an engineer, but also need to know if there is an easy way of checking/testing joists etc.

System

If an engineer has seen it and says it needs better support then there's only really one course of action.
Whether the layout is original or not doesn't really matter, a structural engineer has said it's not sufficiently supported after inspection.
Best approach is to open it all up get engineer back (or another for second opinion) then carry out remedial work as advised.