2 year old plaster falling off

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Ian2

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Hi

I'm not a plasterer but I'd appreciate advice from those who are on the following problem.
We had an artex ceiling plastered over in 2013. I noticed a few hairline cracks but I know this isn't uncommon in new plaster so they didn't bother me.

When we came back from holiday recently we noticed one of the cracks in the ceiling had caused a part of the plaster to drop. The next morning a section (probably about 5ft by 6ft) of the ceiling plaster collapsed.

It appears to have left the artex behind it though its pulled the old emulsion of with it. The ceiling isn't damp, there's no leaks and there's been no impacts to it (nothing has been dropped onto the floors above it either).

The plasterer has come back and he's mystified as to why its done it. He unibonded the ceiling, used new plaster (I know this as I watched him working). The plasterer has worked for us before on this and our previous house. He's plastered walls and ceiling before and all have been fine, he's got about 30 years experience and we know others who've recommended his work. Afterwards I sealed the plaster with water and emulsion then when dry gave it two coats of emulsion.

My big problem now is my insurance company have refused to pay out. They said that the only reason this could have happened is if its the consequence of poor workmanship or inadequate materials. My obvious argument is that if that's the case there'd be problems with the rest of the ceiling and the other plastering around the house (which there isn't). Does anyone have any ideas what might cause this? I don't want this patched if I can help it. I'd rather get it over boarded and re-plastered for piece of mind. This will mean redecorating again, so I want to do everything I can to get the insurance company to pay up.

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks
 
This does happen,you are always taking a chance unibonding over artex.The paint is the culprit it can come away from the artex when it's uni bonded and skimmed.It happened to me years ago but only once.I always recommend over boarding.
 
i insist on over boarding or bonding agent to be sure. I've been caught out with glue on artex before and don't intend to get caught again. I'd be surprised if the rest of the ceiling won't come down easily!
 
Very unlikely your insurance would pay out on that, I use to do a lot of insurance work and most of it (if not all) was water damage and occasionally fire damage.

As any job and as other say, boarding is the best way.

We don't guarantee any re-skimmed work or other tradesmens boarding and usually give 2 years if we board it ourselves.

I wouldn't blame the plasterer if he's done good work in the past, artex is a bugger to go over and we've all had problems with it, get it overboarded and skimmed and put it down to bad luck
 
You can never really guarantee reskimming over anything. The finish is only as strong as what's behind it.

If the paint wasn't adhered well enough then the weight of the new plaster would eventually cause it to come down.
Not the plasterers fault and I guess the insurers wouldn't pay for it either.
Put it down to experience...
 
It happens with artex sometimes.

Workmanship or materals has nothing to do with it, its just the fact its artex, I've had a couple come down on me during reskims, in the future over board ot for piece of mind
 
Your insurance wont just overboard it, they'll test it first for asbestos in the artex then if it's positive they'll get some one in to rip it down + take it away. I do mostly insurance work for company i work for + were not allowed touch artex unless its been tested. Your walls painted or papered?
 
Thanks for all the replies. Gareth the walls are all painted apart from 2 alcoves which have been papered.
 
Ian2 said:
Hi

I'm not a plasterer but I'd appreciate advice from those who are on the following problem.
We had an artex ceiling plastered over in 2013. I noticed a few hairline cracks but I know this isn't uncommon in new plaster so they didn't bother me.

When we came back from holiday recently we noticed one of the cracks in the ceiling had caused a part of the plaster to drop. The next morning a section (probably about 5ft by 6ft) of the ceiling plaster collapsed.

It appears to have left the artex behind it though its pulled the old emulsion of with it. The ceiling isn't damp, there's no leaks and there's been no impacts to it (nothing has been dropped onto the floors above it either).

The plasterer has come back and he's mystified as to why its done it. He unibonded the ceiling, used new plaster (I know this as I watched him working). The plasterer has worked for us before on this and our previous house. He's plastered walls and ceiling before and all have been fine, he's got about 30 years experience and we know others who've recommended his work. Afterwards I sealed the plaster with water and emulsion then when dry gave it two coats of emulsion.

My big problem now is my insurance company have refused to pay out. They said that the only reason this could have happened is if its the consequence of poor workmanship or inadequate materials. My obvious argument is that if that's the case there'd be problems with the rest of the ceiling and the other plastering around the house (which there isn't). Does anyone have any ideas what might cause this? I don't want this patched if I can help it. I'd rather get it over boarded and re-plastered for piece of mind. This will mean redecorating again, so I want to do everything I can to get the insurance company to pay up.

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Did he key the ceiling 1st?
 
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