lounge ceiling half caved in

barnaclebill

Just came home tonight to find half my lounge panels in the ceiling have colapsed, threre was a crack in the end of one panel and I was going to get a quote for a repair next week. Looks like no number to call the insurance company at the weekend so whats the best course of action, get a quote or wait, till Monday to call insurance. Looking up the joists look in good condition, lucky the falling panels missed the TV and my computer but smashed my coffee table and stanard lamp with black dust every where.

FreeBear

Photos please 

If it is an old lath & lime plaster ceiling, they do sometimes just fail. It may be the nails securing the laths have rusted away over time, or the nibs have broken off (usually due to vibrations). In either case, it is unlikely that insurance would cover it.. Water damage from a leaking pipe is often a cause of ceiling collapse - Insurance may well cover you in this instance.

barnaclebill

ffirst picture

barnaclebill

second picture

barnaclebill

third picture

FreeBear

Hrmmmm... No obvious signs of water damage - I doubt insurance would entertain a claim.. On the bright side, you can now add a bit more insulation.

When the plasterboard goes back up, plenty of screw, not nails at ~150-200mm spacing, and fix to timbers going from side to side, as well as front to back. On some sites, they recommend using a contact adhesive as well as screws.

DullGreyGuy

For an insurance claim you'd have to show it was caused by an insured peril (flood, fire, subsidence, theft) etc. Occasionally things can be covered if you have a very broadly worded Accidental Damage section but more likely without an obvious cause it'll be deemed wear & tear which is excluded from all policies.

barnaclebill

Just a thought, the crack started when they were using jack hammers on the path around my corner plot laying high speed fibre, i could feel the vibration in the floor, would that make the claim for accidental damage?

FreeBear

A ceiling should be resistant to that sort of damage, so I think it might be a stretch to make the connection. It may have contributed to the ceiling falling down, but proving it was the root cause would be very difficult.

Robin9

barnaclebill said:

.................................so whats the best course of action, get a quote or wait, till Monday to call insurance. ..............................

Regardless of an insurance claim you still need 3 quotes.

barnaclebill

Update, called the insurance company, didnt get a no but they want a report as to why the ceiling fell down, dont think the plasterers who are coming to give me quotes can do that so I think it needs a surveyor but what kind, a basic house surveyor?