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False ceiling with pipework obstacle

Anonymous user 30 January 2015 - 11.08 AM

Hi, I am considering options for renovating a 1950s/60s ex-council flat. It has concrete ceilings, walls and floors. The flat is on the fourth of four floors. There is a pipe (metal I think) about 2 inches in diameter that comes up out of the floor on one side of the flat, runs up to the ceiling, runs along the top of three walls and then goes down into the floor. I don't know what the pipe is but I suppose it could only be either gas or water mains. I also guess that it supplies other flats in the block but I can't be sure. One option I am considering is installing a false ceiling which would both allow down lighters to be installed and neatly cover up this pipe. The ceilings in the flat are 1.47m high and I would want the minimum possible drop - not more than 8 cm (including plaster board and finish). Can I fix the joists directly into the ceiling? It won't be possible to fix studs to the wall and hang the joists using the wall-fixed studs without lowering the ceiling significantly because of the pipe that runs along the top of the walls. If I can, what fixings should I use? Would this be an alternative to timber? Would it be any cheaper/ easier to install? http://www.british-gypsum.com/white-book-system-selector/systems-overview/gyplyner-universal-ceiling I am assuming that it would be too difficult to try and get permissions etc to move the pipe as it will probably disrupt neighbors to turn it off but please let me know if you think differently. Thanks,

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