Ceiling cracking and bowing repairs

[Southnorth]

I have a crack in my living room ceiling which has grown larger over time. Part of the ceiling has dropped slightly, see attached photo

I will need to call someone to look at it but as a first ask, what is likely to be the best way to repair this and how difficult could it be?

Many thanks

 

[Doghouse Riley]

Hi and welcome.

It looks like the plasterboard panel of which the ceiling may be made up of a number of them, is coming adrift.

This shouldn't normally happen unless there's been some water damage.

Can you push it back up?

If you can, it may be possible to screw it back up again using plasterboard screws. There may be a batten which that panel and the one next to it are attached above the join, or it might be attached to an old plastered ceiling.

 

[Southnorth]

Hi and welcome.

It looks like the plasterboard panel of which the ceiling may be made up of a number of them, is coming adrift.

This shouldn't normally happen unless there's been some water damage.

Can you push it back up?

If you can, it may be possible to screw it back up again using plasterboard screws. There may be a batten which that panel and the one next to it are attached above the join, or it might be attached to an old plastered ceiling.

Many thanks for your reply. There may have been water leaks a number of years ago before the flat roof was then replaced. I guess these could have weakened the structure over time. (I should have said I am in a top floor flat, the block has a flat roof)

My concern is if there is asbestos in the Artex ( property built in 1959) and whether it’s a risk just now with the crack. I have not attempted to touch or repair the crack due to my concerns. I have attached some pics.

 

[Doghouse Riley]

From one of your photos it looks as if an attempt has been made to repair the damage before.
Whatever happens it needs repairing. So you might have to bite the bullet and rip enough of it down to be able to see what's going on above it.