Ceiling crack repair advice

[Southofnorth]

I have a crack in my living room ceiling which has grown larger over time. Part of the ceiling has dropped slightly, see attached photo

I will need to call someone to look at it but as a first ask, what is likely to be the best way to repair this and how difficult could it be?

Many thanks

 

[Wayners]

That's falling down. Rubbish on the other side maybe?

 

[^woody^]

Is it water damage from pipe/bathroom or suchlike above?

Was that edge ever fixed in the first place? ie a big job if there is nothing to screw it back to.

Artex may contain asbestos. Some tradespeople wont want to work on it unless its tested and confirmed safe. If it tests positive and it needs to be removed by a specialist, you are into big costs. An insurance job maybe

 

[Southofnorth]

Is it water damage from pipe/bathroom or suchlike above?

Was that edge ever fixed in the first place? ie a big job if there is nothing to screw it back to.

Artex may contain asbestos. Some tradespeople wont want to work on it unless its tested and confirmed safe. If it tests positive and it needs to be removed by a specialist, you are into big costs. An insurance job maybe

The flat is on the top and there is a flat roof. There is no evidence of any water leak as I would have seen it.

Point taken about artex and possible asbestos.

 

[Wayners]

Looks too creamy to contain asbestos but it'd not a sure thing so get tested. Seen a few like that with rubble and rubbish piled up on board causing it to fall away just like that

 

[Southofnorth]

Some closer up pics. Colour might slightly distorted due to flash/non flash

 

[Wayners]

Actually that looks a bit sugary. Alarm bells.. Get that tested. Can you see it.. Nightmare stuff. Don't go poking it

 

[tel765]

No obvious signs of water penetration at the crack but further along the wall there are dark smudges, and the coving dips again?
Indistinct but above the window there also seem to be faint shadowy areas?
The wallpaper is detaching on both walls.

Your call but if you cut that length of coving free from the paint and carefully remove it you will be able to perhaps see a bit more.
As above, In the long run you will have to drop the ceiling & all the coving, and reboard - dont attempt to overboard.

 

[Southofnorth]

Actually that looks a bit sugary. Alarm bells.. Get that tested. Can you see it.. Nightmare stuff. Don't go poking it

Much appreciated to hear your comments. There may be some polyfilla in the crack in attempt to stem the cracking.

 

[Wayners]

If you look at the artex is a bit sandy looking. I call it sugary... Like a bag of sugar mixed in. That's asbestos. Not 100% sure but a sign to look for, well I do. If you pull the coving down there is sometimes a date printed on the back and repeated along the length. That may help with dating as that would of been fitted first. After 1990 then probably OK

 

[^woody^]

If you look at the artex is a bit sandy looking. I call it sugary... Like a bag of sugar mixed in. That's asbestos. Not 100% sure but a sign to look for, well I do. If you pull the coving down there is sometimes a date printed on the back and repeated along the length. That may help with dating as that would of been fitted first. After 1990 then probably OK

You can't tell by looking at it.

The only guide is to assume that any textured coating applied before 2000, or of unknown age may potentially contain asbestos.

 

[Wayners]

You can't tell by looking at it.

The only guide is to assume that any textured coating applied before 2000, or of unknown age may potentially contain asbestos.

Yes you can tell (guess, danger will Robinson) old artex that contained asbestos by looking. I've done it many times and was right after test. It looks really sugary (like op picture) and sharp. Really hard too. Only sure way is to test though as you say, but the last company to remove asbestos was suretex which was widely available up up to 1987 ish so I think? Artex said at the time they had already removed asbestos from powder products but I don't know the year that happened. I know this as I was using the first batch of suretex called fibre free in 87 and it was like slime and crazed as it dried so I switched to artex. All the asbestos free mixed really creamy and smooth and had a look completely different to the old stuff. Was way softer too. Early artex is like concrete it seems but had animal glues vs synthetic type used later. Spread the word as I think everyone should knows this. Not every spark or plummer is going to insist on test if they need to drill a few holes but at least they do so knowing what the likely chances of asbestos is and they can't say they didn't know.

If sugary probably asbestos
If creamy probably not
Only way to be sure is test..

 

[Southofnorth]

I assume the Artex coating will be relatively thin and will remove easily for testing samples?

 

[Nige F]

No obvious signs of water penetration at the crack but further along the wall there are dark smudges, and the coving dips again?
Indistinct but above the window there also seem to be faint shadowy areas?
.

Dust, ted.

 

[Nige F]

I assume the Artex coating will be relatively thin and will remove easily for testing samples?

yes it will