Joists

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Malc B on June 20, 2012 at 19:14

Check the terms of the lease. Ours says that we have 1/2 of the joists, downstairs has 1/2, so any repair costs would have to be 50/50. 

Permalink Reply by Geoff Amabilino on June 21, 2012 at 10:19

I agree with Malcolm - check your lease. 

I would alert the council to the problem in any event as whether or not the structure of the building is the freeholder's responsibility (and it usually is), any claim would fall on their buildings insurance.

Meantime, sounds like a couple of acroprops wouldn't go amiss!

Permalink Reply by Gordon Curtis on June 21, 2012 at 13:00

If there was plaster board tacked on top of the old ceiling (to give a secure surface to re-plaster) when the house was converted into flats (likely) then the straight lines could just be the joints between these boards. Still not a great sign and odd that it should be happening now, but less worrying than joists.

It might be worth getting some reputable builders round to quote on remedying the cracks and get their opinion on what the problem really is. It might give you something more to work with and some leverage to take to the freeholder/owner of the flat above once you have ascertained whose responsibility it is.

Permalink Reply by hob on June 21, 2012 at 21:53

Plasterboard probably was tacked on. The problem may be that the joints between the boards were plastered but not taped. Any movement above or differentials in temperature would eventually result in cracking. It wouldn't be a big job to have them taped and plastered again. 

Permalink Reply by tulips on June 27, 2012 at 17:33

Thanks a lot for everyone's advice.