Ceiling plaster cracking

DavidJonas

Dear moneysavers,

Our kitchen ceiling has developed some cracks. There has always been a long straight crack, but these are relatively new.

What I would like to get a feel for is the cause and urgency. Is the ceiling likely to come down in chunks - and soon? We have a lot going on right now and if we can delay sorting it out then we will.

The kitchen has a flat roof, built sometime before we moved in 7 years ago. It had an artex ceiling which we had plastered over 5 years ago. No problems like this since (except the long straight crack which was a leak). These cracks are not leaking water. The walls are fine. They are above the only radiator in the room.

The central crack is 1mm wide.

Pics

https://imgur.com/a/ZAmISRb

https://imgur.com/a/B8yPIWi

https://imgur.com/a/chqESTe


Any help much appreciated!

Ant555

just a thought - Has anyone been walking on your flat roof recently for maintenance or window cleaning?

DavidJonas

Not since the house was redone 5 years ago (same time as it was replastered). I was up there a lot then.

There is no standing water. Lots of moss though.

FreeBear

DavidJonas wrote: »

The kitchen has a flat roof, built sometime before we moved in 7 years ago. It had an artex ceiling which we had plastered over 5 years ago. No problems like this since (except the long straight crack which was a leak). These cracks are not leaking water.

Straight hairline cracks that follow the edge of a sheet of plasterboard are nothing to worry about. What you have here are diagonal random(ish) cracks. It also looks like the plaster has dropped in places - I suspect that the bond between the artex and plaster (either the old or new) has failed. Will if fall down ?
Probably, but it should be fairly thin sheets (3-5mm thick). A short term fix would be to get on a step ladder and with a paint scraper, peel off the loose plaster. I suspect the plasterboard behind will be sound. It won't look pretty, but you can put off skimming the ceiling for a few months.

Long term, it might be worth thinking about taking the whole ceiling down - This would give you opportunity to inspect the condition of the roof timbers and improve the insulation. When putting plasterboards back up, use screws rather than nails. That should put a stop to straight hairline cracks.

DavidJonas

Thank you for your help.

Turns out there is a little leak up there somewhere. Saw a couple of little spots earlier and been clearing/cleaning the roof in that area ever since - to no avail! Must be there somewhere..

Will just have to clean it best I can and dump liquid rubber everywhere for now I think - and hope for the best. Then aim for a proper fix in drier weather.

Yes, long term I think it will have to go. May just try to replace the whole thing with an angled roof.

FreeBear

DavidJonas wrote: »

Turns out there is a little leak up there somewhere. Saw a couple of little spots earlier and been clearing/cleaning the roof in that area ever since - to no avail! Must be there somewhere..

Had a leak with my flat roof a while back. Only really apparent in heavy rain, and it too a while to track down. Eventually concluded that the leak was down to cracks in the render which allowed water to bypass the felt flashing. Cut back the render just above the flat roof junction and fitted lead flashing - Leak gone.
Ceiling was replaced as part of a kitchen refurbishment, and any rusting plaster beads caused by the leak were ripped out. Surprising just how far water will track from the original point of a leak. Ceiling insulated and plasterboards fixed with screws at 200mm intervals - That should prevent any cracks forming.

DavidJonas

Thanks for the replies. Found the leak in the dark with a torch, was easier to spot that way oddly. Cleaned it and plastered two cans of repair gunk over it. Should hold until the Spring. Water was travelling appx 2 metres, which was why I couldn't find it!