Lathe plaster ceilings

[cliffed]

Fitting of recess led lights into lathe/plaster ceiling,becoming a right pain.Holes were drilled during 1st fix with hole cutter to suit size.When inserting fitting,springs take out load of plaster,which actually just falls away,so looks crap.Decorators not too pleased,lighting consultant also moaning,I just think they are the wrong fittings to fit in this situation,won't even comment on drivers & connections.Any one having the same probs,cheers.

 

[Andy78]

When working with lathe and plaster ceilings, I expect any disturbance or drilling to bring away more plaster than I bargained for. I have installed downlights in a couple of ceilings recently which were lathe and plaster but since overboarded, and were fine to work with, if a bit thick.

Next issue are the lathes. A sealed unit LED I would not have much issue with. An open backed GU10 fitting with an LED lamp that could be replaced for a halogen ..... now would that sort of heat be suitable next to dry combustible wooden sticks ?

 

[driverman]

If consulted at the beginning of the job, best to recommend over boarding.

 

[PEG]

Hi bud,lath and plaster ceilings were NEVER intended to be pierced,and apart from the variation of thickness,it leaves unsupported laths,loose and crumbly! Previous comment regarding fire risk is also pertinent,there are NO better fire-lighters than a handful of those sticks. The edging of all lath and plaster ceilings is a weakness,due to the nature of how the structure supports itself. Options are,overboarding,inserting section of Gypsum board between joists,or,worst of all,rip out! I have seen ingenious use of board and drywall adhesive,but any re-positioning of lamp may result in cracking. ...and don't forget to wash your hair twice :stooge_curly:

 

[ayjay]

try and find fittings with a wider rim

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I've used these Ceiling downlighter hole convertor downlight cover | eBay before when I had a crumbly ceiling. They worked very well!

They are metal, so they have a solid feel to them and you can choose from a variety of different inner and outer circumferences. I think they are expensive for such a simple piece of equipment but they certainly did the job!

 

[uksparks]

I hate lathe ceilings, turned a few down, and also done a few, IMHO you generally end up wishing you hadn't entertained it, not only that, the amount of crap that falls in your face when cut the hole not counting the problem when the hole cutter snags on the wood.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I hate lathe ceilings, turned a few down, and also done a few, IMHO you generally end up wishing you hadn't entertained it, not only that, the amount of crap that falls in your face when cut the hole not counting the problem when the hole cutter snags on the wood.

The day before, drill a small hole and pump in gallons of diluted PVA, then plug it.
The plaster soaks it up and stabilises it quite nicely!

 

[Farmelectrics]

yes its a nightmere get your spots in before the decorator let him patch up around fittings

 

[cliffed]

Thanks for all your input,yea all lights are in, decorater needs to patch,but not bothered for some reason.The lights are led ,with firehood placed over hole & fitting.The pva glue sounds a pretty good idea cheers.

 

[davesparks]

At the first fix stage you cut out a section of the ceiling between the joists at each light position and fix a bit of plasterboard in its place, once the plasterer has spread his much around it'll be as good as new and you have a stable ceiling.

If it's being over boarded you should still cut a big hole in the lathe and plaster so that the downlights only get fitted in to plasterboard and not the uber-thick lathe and plaster.

 

[cliffed]

Agree,but told not to do this,building being listed ,all original to stay,even had a specialist lime plasterer in,he used real ale,beer to make it stick ,even urinated into mix,then lime plastered.
cheers

 

[davesparks]

How did you get away with damaging the ceiling to fit downlights if the conservation people are being that small about it?

 

[cliffed]

They didn't feel we were damaging the ceiling,we are not actually pulling down ceilings to fix lights.
cheers

 

[davesparks]

You've got to love listed building wombles haven't you!

Whoever designed the installation with downlights in a listed ceiling needs to be taking the wrap for this!

 

[cliffed]

Hopefully light consultant will take the wrap,the larger size lights ain't too bad,it's the smaller,just over 25mm that's the problem
cheers

 

[Sparky_Steve]

just get out the crowbar

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Hi bud,lath and plaster ceilings were NEVER intended to be pierced,and apart from the variation of thickness,it leaves unsupported laths,loose and crumbly! Previous comment regarding fire risk is also pertinent,there are NO better fire-lighters than a handful of those sticks. The edging of all lath and plaster ceilings is a weakness,due to the nature of how the structure supports itself. Options are,overboarding,inserting section of Gypsum board between joists,or,worst of all,rip out! I have seen ingenious use of board and drywall adhesive,but any re-positioning of lamp may result in cracking. ...and don't forget to wash your hair twice :stooge_curly:

Ha! Youre right there,took a whole wall down once and thought the same, these 120 year dry as a bone sticks look like they'd be good kindling.... Wow nothing like it before or since.

 

[cliffed]

That's a real gud pic,scary

 

[davesparks]

The trick with these listed ceilings is to make good friends with the plasterers and know exactly when the historical wombles is due to visit.
That way a carefully planned removal of sections of ceiling and patching up before anyone sees it will be no problem.

(Not that I've ever got away with murder in listed buildings before )