I’m in the middle of renovating a 2 bed Victorian terrace. The ceiling in our second bedroom was bowing badly, apparently caused by water damage / damp to the loft joists (stains of which are visible on the original plasterboard in the photos linked below)… the roof has now been repaired and damp solved.
I asked my builder to level the ceiling for cosmetic reasons, they suggested a new suspended ceiling but didn't prepare me for losing almost 20cm in ceiling height! I’ve only just come to realise this since seeing the framework that has been put up ready for the new plasterboard:
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8649.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8650.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8651.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8652.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8653.JPG
According to the builder that’s the only way to tackle the problem if we want a level ceiling and any framework they put up to hold the new plasterboard will need to have at least 5cm distance between old and new plasterboard in case of further movement from above. Is this right??
Given the difference between highest and lowest point of the original bowed plasterboard is 9cm, with the additional 5cm space that’s a minimum of 14cm we’re going to lose from our ceiling height!
We simply can’t afford to have the whole loft joist system replaced.
The only other option we’ve been given is to abandon the levelling and skim over the old plasterboard for a smooth – but still bowed – ceiling finish.
Thoughts anyone? Need to arrive at a course if action today… and it needs to be SAFE, little people will be in that room one day in the not too distant future.
Thanks
I asked my builder to level the ceiling for cosmetic reasons, they suggested a new suspended ceiling but didn't prepare me for losing almost 20cm in ceiling height! I’ve only just come to realise this since seeing the framework that has been put up ready for the new plasterboard:
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8649.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8650.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8651.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8652.JPG
http://bpkersey.com/images/IMG_8653.JPG
According to the builder that’s the only way to tackle the problem if we want a level ceiling and any framework they put up to hold the new plasterboard will need to have at least 5cm distance between old and new plasterboard in case of further movement from above. Is this right??
Given the difference between highest and lowest point of the original bowed plasterboard is 9cm, with the additional 5cm space that’s a minimum of 14cm we’re going to lose from our ceiling height!
We simply can’t afford to have the whole loft joist system replaced.
The only other option we’ve been given is to abandon the levelling and skim over the old plasterboard for a smooth – but still bowed – ceiling finish.
Thoughts anyone? Need to arrive at a course if action today… and it needs to be SAFE, little people will be in that room one day in the not too distant future.
Thanks