aaargh my ceiling has just fallen in...who do I call?

[FillyjonkDOEStellherkidsoff]

after batman?

A builder? or decorator? or what?

Hunker what is a noggin? Plus how do you know so much about ceilings?

didn't it smell awful? the joists and floorboards will rot

oh i know

insurance oh so good, oh yes

but...somehow an unexciting use of money

but if you had a fire eg from hair straighteners or washing machine then you would be liable for the whole mortgage debt and nowhere to live

what would you have done if the bath with the children in it had fallen down?

you don't have any public liability insurance on your property either? you could be sued and have nothing to pay with

A noggin is something joisty. I know enough to sounds impressive (worked, didn't it?) but don't question me too thoroughly

Filly, it sounds like there might be more problems there than just a simple patch job - if you've a leak in your bathroom, you could end up with a downstairs bathroom if you don't sort it out now.

I agree, you may find you have seriously rotten floor boards under your bath.

oh zippi we have insurance

if theres structural damage its ok but this is ...the wrong sort, surely, unless we had the all singing all dancing stuff

though phew that i don't have hair straighteners

ok would i not know if the floorboards were rotten?

wouldn't they look rotten? or smell rotten?

am seriously asking, getting worried

no this is buildings insurance so you will be covered

it is always wise to insure contents with same company though as there are grey areas

you need to get someone in. so glad my bath is downstairs.

can you see the floor under the bath? and the joists under the floor?

test with a screw driver

actually dp has confirmed that we have contents which I am and relieved at. but with a different company so thanks for tip

but who do i get to come and have a look?

test how?

whats a joist?

you may find you have a helpline in your booklet for buildings insurance (not contents as this is building)

suggest you express surprise at the sceiling falling in as lack of maintenance will not help your claim

joist are the big bits of wood on which the floor is supported and to which the plasterboard aka ceiling was fixed

pmsl

can I claim for the lack of sealant also, do you think?

could argue that it was there but shifting ceiling dislodged it....

if all seems ok under floor rot wise then replacing the plasterboard should be pretty easy diy if slightly competent

that is if not covered by the insurance

plasterboard is cheap and you just need to cut and fix tape and skim

If you don't want to faff with insurance then you're lookig for a local builder - the sort who will do extensions, conversion, new kitchen/bathroom installations etc. They will be able to send someone round who can check on exactly what is going on. I had a similar incident (though I called them before the ceiling came down ), and it turned out to be a dodgy valve that was leaking.

Cost £180 for hole to be put in ceiling, and then reboarded and plastered (bathroom floor is tiled so no access that way, and ceiling was already damaged). But we live in Posh Avenue where all trademen seem to add 50% to their rates. I'm now starting to lie when they ask for my postcode to give me a quote!

£180

was thinking ££££

hmm though have taken up lino in other bathroom (swank) and the floorboards are def a bit...buckled. And oddly coloured. Not good. Am wondering if there is something up in there, I am actually not sure that this can all be explained by too little sealant and too many toddlers.

My ceiling fell in due to water from the bath. Called insurance company and the building site will cover for the ceiling boarding to be replaced and any damage to walls and bath panel. I had creaks in wall repaired, ceiling repaired and made flat, all repainted to my taste and a new bath panel as the water had made this go funny. Cost 920.00 if I recall. I had to pay £50.00 and they covered the rest. I got quotes and send them they agreed to one and that was it. Looked in Yellow pages for company. I had Tesco insurance. Contains replaced carpet as I had accidental damage. Check your policy do you pay for accidental cover if so it will be fine and you can get a claim number and start getting quotes tomorrow. From start to finish it took 5 weeks to totally fix. Make sure it's not your pipes leaking if so this can be sorted without accidental cover pipes themselves are not covered unless they freeze but if they leak your building cover sorts you have to pay for plumber out of own pocket.

If you really want superheroes, ds1 and ds2 would be only too happy to dress up and pop round - but they too are expert bath splashers so may not be much help

If you have a mortgage you have to have building insurance and this will fix ceiling, bath panel & redecorate. They will not cover carpets or anything else damaged. It's hell when it happens I was 6 mths pregnant with DS3 and the house was on the market. I had to explain to viewers that it would all be sorted. put some off but not a newly married coupe. Worse bit was the house was only 3 years old.

Try the insurance company.

We've had two ceilings collapse in this house. The insurance picked up the first, because it happened after particularly heavy rain, but not the second, because that was regarded as just wear and tear.

What age is your house? Do you have cornices etc that you would like to have replaced?

Sorry just checked receipt it was £980.00 from company who fixed and this was cheapest quote my hole was about 70cmx40cm and water run along ceiling and out light fitting some 120cm away from initial leak. Touch boards are they wet if so stick a pen though and drain water before the whole lot lands on your head the bigger the hole the more headacre