Cracks in bedroom ceiling

Jcn07 · 6 Dec 2018

Hello, all. I've just bought a house and one of the first things I've done is get the bedroom celings skimmed. The ceilings plaster was cracked in 2 of the bedrooms in square sections, obviously where the boards meet. The plasterer has scrim taped the cracks before skimming the ceilings but said as the loft is boarded out and people are walking around up there, tbere is no guarantee they won't crack again in time. II' thinking whether now is the time to strengthen the joists.
It's a mid 50's built semi, the loft is pretty big and great for storage. It's boarded out fully in tounge and groove chip board.
Would you say that the celings are likely to crack again? Are the cracks caused by walking around in the loft or do they just crack in time generally anyway?
If the joists should be beefed up, what's the best way to go about this?

Cheers.

bobasd · 6 Dec 2018

typiccly, your loft joist section sizes are just enough to support the ceilin an maybe a bit of storage - not for walikin about on.
what size section are te joists?

to instal larger section joists the t&g flooring will have to be lifted - an all pipes an cables an any water tanks must be taken into account before any new joists are fixed.

before skimming hope the plasterer had screwed up all boards at all joists an noggins?

Jcn07 · 6 Dec 2018

I hope so too! I wasn't here when he did it. I've had work off him before though and it's always been ok so I trust that he did.

The house has had a recent rewire, the cables in the loft are neat and minimal, I can mark them clearly to avoid damage. There is no water pipes up there, I have a combination boiler which is upstairs and all the pipes are under the floors. when you say install larger section joists, do you mean replace the existing joists or just run extra joists along side? Cheers

Jcn07 · 6 Dec 2018

The joists are 80 X 50 mm. About 205mm gap between them, loads are doubled up. https://ibb.co/X8gV1Hw

bobasd · 6 Dec 2018

just instal larger joists - they dont touch the ceilin or the old joists

Notch7 · 6 Dec 2018

You could sister the existing joists, they dont even need to be full length or supported at the ends. The bounce is at mid span.

It does mean lifting the chipboard flooring though and disturbing the insulation.

bobasd · 6 Dec 2018

i've just seen your photo and post #4. not seen that before my last post. realy helps if this info was given in your first post.
the joists look to be spanning from inside wall to inside wall an doubled up with binders an hangers.
how the rafters are tied-in i cant see.

i'd imagine you could walk on those joists using your t&g walkin boards.

maybe the ceilin cracks were from joist shrinkage over the years an nails pullin out a little, an perhaps no scrim used on the original joins?

johnc86 · 6 Dec 2018

Thanks for the reply's. Not all the joists are doubled up.... think Il take a load more boards up and get more pics. I'l try and see how they are tied in as well. Not that clued up on building structures and stuff so I do appreciate the help.

Cheers.

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Cracks in bedroom ceiling

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