On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 16:29:06 GMT, "Kevin Webb"
wrote:

I'm buying a mid-floor flat in a 60's purpose-built block with concrete
floors. Some of the celings are cracked and sagging a little but the
mortgage lender's survey makes no mention of them. I'm convinced there is no
subsidence to speak of and I started the purchase making an allowance for
replastering the ceilings if required. I will get a good builder or two to
advise on what need to be done when the purchase is complete.
In the menatime, has anyone any experience of this kind of problem and what
was the cause and the solution?

Thanks. K

What is not clear is what the ceilings are made of. If concrete
floors, I would have assumed that the ceiling was plaster directly
onto concrete. In such a case, I would be most concerned to se the
ceiling 'sagging'. As regards platerboard fixed to the underside of
joists, this used to be fixed with plasterboard nails, which can work
themselves loose because of movement of the joists and consequently
lead to movement in the plasterboard accompanied by cracking.
Nowadays, plasterboard screws are used and I have reinforced areas in
my house, where plasterboard nails appear to have worked themselves
loose, with screws, which do not work themselves loose and will
provide a stable base for filling in cracks etc.
Maris