Cracks in ceiling - structural warning or cosmetic?

[adamr7747]

Hi All,

I have a ceiling with new and growing cracks in it and am wondering whether it's a cosmetic thing which can be "papered over" or something I need to treat more seriously.

The house is 19th century stone (ground floor) and timber frame (1st floor). The room spans the ground floor and there is a recent (5 or 10 years) stud wall (with a big bookcase next to it!) crossing above. The other ceilings in the house are plaster and lath so I suspect this one is too, though it clearly has a modern skim on it.

Basically I'm wondering if the cracks are just because the modern skim can't move with the rest of the ceiling or if the new stud wall (& skim & books?) has pushed the joists beyond their capacity. Is there any way to tell? What would happen if the joists really were failing?

Thanks a lot,
Adam

 

[^woody^]

Ceiling cracks are rarely if ever structural.

 

[adamr7747]

Thanks, so if there was a problem with the joists, what would happen - would there be any signs?

Adam

 

[^woody^]

All ceiling joists won't just fail at once. If there is excess point loading, then there may be localised bowing, but not instant failure.

I can't think of a situation where joists would move sideways and cause a ceiling to crack

 

[joe-90]

My GF was at a party years ago and the whole floor collapsed and they ended up in the lounge.