Mending a 4 x 3 inch hole in a ceiling?

[Nigel Watts]

Ceiling was originally lath and plaster but the lime plaster was taken down sometime in the past. Laths are still there but plasterboard was nailed over the top. I dont want to redo the whole ceiling, only mend the hole which I had to make to retrieve a lighting wire (there is no access from above). The hole is adjacent to a joist and the lath which could have provided a key has broken away. Given the use of plasterboard I dont need to be a purist here and use lime, although that would normally be my preference and I would rather not have to take any more of the ceiling down (eg to the the next joist so I could nail up a plasterboard patch or new lath.

Any suggestions?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Square of plasterboard larger than the whole is poked through the diagonal of the hole. Tie a piece of string through the middle of it first with a knot on what will be the top above the ceiling.

Rest plasterbaord on edges of hole (laths etc) and pull tight with string. Plaster over with horrible skim stuff, keeping string tight, and plaster level with ceiling.

Snip off skin when dry and tidy up (maybe a thin skin over the top). Paint.

Hey presto.

 

[robgil]

I would use a timber nogging my self screwed with screws and skimmed over.

 

[Penners]

You seem to have some pretty impressive support for your idea, Rob. Who could argue with that?

I think either of the above ideas would work. Personally, I would probably go for Robin's, perhaps adding a bit of glue to the edges of the plasterboard so that it glued itself to the tops of the laths. But I would still retain the string, so as to have a belt-and-braces method of ensuring that upward plastering pressure on the plasterboard didn't dislodge it.

 

[MdB]

How about this?

Isn't using a trampoline indoors a bad idea?

 

[Feltwell]

I've done a slight variant on Robin's idea in the past and it's worked fine. Make your hole square or rectangular. Cut piece of plasterboard as large as possible but so that it will go through the diagonal of the hole, string through hole in middle as Robin describes - and a bit of No More Nails / Gripfill or similar round the edge. Poke up through hole, pull back down behind hole and wait for glue to go off. Cut off the string. Next cut a new bit of plasterboard (note that you can buy 2 thicknesses, 3/8" and 1/2" - the thinner 3/8" version usually, but not always, used for ceilings so check what your ceiling is before you go out and buy) to the same size as your hole and glue that in place. Bit of filler round the edge, a quick rub down and Bob's your mum's brother.

 

[middi]

One of the easiest repairs.

1).... square off the plasterboard opening as best as you can, or rectangular ( not crucial)

2) ....Obtain a flat piece of softwood 4/5 inches longer than the wider part of the hole and slide into opening with an equidistant overhang above the existing plasterboard/battens

3)....Hold into central position with a couple of fingers and insert long enough/appropriate wood screws through existing plasterboard/battens at either side of the internally overhanging flat piece of wood( do not overtighten screws). You now have a solid base for a new piece of ( or more than one if needed) plasterboard piece to be screwed on to the flat bit of wood.

Finish off with pollyfiller ar anything else you fancy, smooth off when dry and repaint.

Middi

 

[Penners]

I like Feltwell's suggestion of an extra piece of plasterboard glued to the underside of the plasterboard that's on top of the laths. It greatly reduces the thickness of plaster required.

 

[Feltwell]

If you can make it so that the "oversize" bit of plasterboard is stuck to the back of the ceiling plasterboard without any laths being in the way, then the extra bit you stick in ends up at exactly the same height as the surrounding, "original" plasterboard. That's how I've done some repairs at a previous house where there were no laths, just plasterboard nailed directly to the ceiling joist (as in a new build). Bit of filler round the edges and the repair was invisible once painted over.

For a very small hole like this I don't think you need to use any screws or timber reinforcement at all - just makes more things to fill ! I know we generally regard "No more nails" or similar as being only used by those doing a "bodge" job but it can have it's place.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Thanks - lots of good ideas here.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Job finished, using a timber batten above laths, plasterboard insert, completed with a lime putty and herculite (strong plaster of Paris) mix. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Penners]

Well done, Nigel. I confess I'd never heard of herculite. Great name!