Hi all,
I'm hoping for a bit of advice.. I've just had my front room ceiling skimmed and cracks have appeared along the joints after less than a week. I batoned and boarded the ceiling myself, cross batoning across the joist to level out with the 1" x 2" batons spaced at 400mm centres, and screwed in to the joists at every intersection with 3" to 4" 12 screws depending on the depth of packing. This was rock solid - I could easily hang off the batons between the joists. The boards are 12mm and fixed with drywall screws every 150mm along the batons with a 3mm gap left around all edges. The batoning and boarding was done at the end of November and the plastering was done last week so it's had plenty of time to settle and dry out.
Initially it looked as if the plasterers had done a good job, but when I went to start fixing up the cornice this weekend I noticed several cracks appearing at the joints. I also noticed that the plaster is extremely thin (not more than 1mm) at the cut-out for the ceiling light. I called the plasterer who came to have a look but said that it looks as if it's dried out too quickly and that they always feather down to the ceiling light. I pointed out that there is no radiator in the room so it can't be too hot, and that the plaster is completely flat over the ceiling light cut out when a 4ft level is held across it. I know the boarding was completely flat so there can't be much variance in thickness. The plasterer is getting back to me next week. He insisted they used skrim tape and applied 2 coats of plaster.
I've since noticed that the plaster is so thin that you can see the 'ghost' marks of the joints and screw heads. I've attached some photos of the cracks and the plaster depth at the ceiling light cut out. I've also attached a photo of the 'ghost' marks of the joints and screw heads. Does this look like they've applied 2 coats of plaster? Would you see the 'ghost' marks of the skrim tape if the plaster is this thin?
Anyway thanks for reading this thread. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
I'm hoping for a bit of advice.. I've just had my front room ceiling skimmed and cracks have appeared along the joints after less than a week. I batoned and boarded the ceiling myself, cross batoning across the joist to level out with the 1" x 2" batons spaced at 400mm centres, and screwed in to the joists at every intersection with 3" to 4" 12 screws depending on the depth of packing. This was rock solid - I could easily hang off the batons between the joists. The boards are 12mm and fixed with drywall screws every 150mm along the batons with a 3mm gap left around all edges. The batoning and boarding was done at the end of November and the plastering was done last week so it's had plenty of time to settle and dry out.
Initially it looked as if the plasterers had done a good job, but when I went to start fixing up the cornice this weekend I noticed several cracks appearing at the joints. I also noticed that the plaster is extremely thin (not more than 1mm) at the cut-out for the ceiling light. I called the plasterer who came to have a look but said that it looks as if it's dried out too quickly and that they always feather down to the ceiling light. I pointed out that there is no radiator in the room so it can't be too hot, and that the plaster is completely flat over the ceiling light cut out when a 4ft level is held across it. I know the boarding was completely flat so there can't be much variance in thickness. The plasterer is getting back to me next week. He insisted they used skrim tape and applied 2 coats of plaster.
I've since noticed that the plaster is so thin that you can see the 'ghost' marks of the joints and screw heads. I've attached some photos of the cracks and the plaster depth at the ceiling light cut out. I've also attached a photo of the 'ghost' marks of the joints and screw heads. Does this look like they've applied 2 coats of plaster? Would you see the 'ghost' marks of the skrim tape if the plaster is this thin?
Anyway thanks for reading this thread. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.