Tip for spot lights in ceilings.

[nopes]

I used to hate skimming ceilings where the holes have been cut out for the spot lights. Bits of wet plaster dropping over me when I lay on over them and bits of dry plaster dragging in to the work when troweling.

I came up with a simple solution though, I just scrim over them. 2 lengths of scrim is enough to cover the hole. Make sure they're about 60cm long. If they're too short the weight of the plaster can make them fall off (I found out the hard way).

Only takes a couple of minutes and once that's done it's like skimming a ceiling with no holes in . Just cut them out with a stanley (best to use a new blade) towards the end of the hit. You won't lose where they are as they bulge down a few mm due to gravity early on and when they've nearly gone off (they're flat by then) there is colour difference. I usually dig the corner of my trowel in the center of them after I trowel over them too just to be sure.

It might sound like too much hassle to some but it works for me and just thought I'd share.

 

[Dansouthcoast84]

just get them spotlight beads from beadmaster i think they are from.
takes 2 seconds to staple one on ceiling. job done

 

[lurpak]

just don’t go over them with a trowel full. Have to be stupid to do that. Go up to/from hole layin on. Trowel over em when flatten. Never had a problem

 

[Groove37]

just don’t go over them with a trowel full. Have to be stupid to do that. Go up to/from hole layin on. Trowel over em when flatten. Never had a problem

Same as that

 

[Djr]

Same as that

Same here

 

[Deleted member 32554]

Let the Sparky's tyres down

 

[smoother09]

 

[knblues]

I just use my angle brush to wet the edge a bit

 

[lurpak]

I just use my angle brush to wet the edge a bit

 

[Danny]

I have an even better solution and mine works a treat @Rossi46

 

[John j]

I prefer this . Its a f**k**g dream

 

[Fatarm]

I jus pva the raw edge of the hole?....


That sounds a bit sleazy

 

[smoother09]

I prefer this . Its a f**k**g dreamView attachment 43930

I’d of pushed them cnts up and said sparky will get that

 

[John j]

I’d of pushed them cnts up and said sparky will get that

Theyve f**k**g clipped em to joist.

Which means their doing cut out into joist . Is that even allowed

 

[Rossi46]

I have an even better solution and mine works a treat @Rossi46

Danny sent me a box of different sized cardboard cutouts to slot into the light hole. Works a treat! Next job I need them I’ll get some pics on to show everyone.

 

[John j]

I.ve just bought a load of tape with holes in of this silly c**t i met. Was thinking of selling it to use for this purpose. Stick it over holes then cut out when finished .

 

[smoother09]

Theyve f**k**g clipped em to joist.

Which means their doing cut out into joist . Is that even allowed

That’s a bit backwards don’t worry not your problem once you’re paid

 

[jamesthefirst]

just get them spotlight beads from beadmaster i think they are from.
takes 2 seconds to staple one on ceiling. job done

did a job yesterday and took the lights out but it was a tight fit, if I’d used your method I don’t think the lights would have gone back in!

 

[Stevieo]

I’d of pushed them cnts up and said sparky will get that

Yeah...until you come back and find sparky has drilled fifty holes, said plasterer will get that, been paid and run off.

 

[Deleted member 14228]

Yup!!

 

[Dansouthcoast84]

did a job yesterday and took the lights out but it was a tight fit, if I’d used your method I don’t think the lights would have gone back in!

its for before the lights go in not when they are in.

when doing refurbs i just drop the light 20-30mm and put bit of tape round it

 

[johniosaif]

Not a problem to me , I pva the edges too , just go around the carefully

 

[jamesthefirst]

its for before the lights go in not when they are in.

when doing refurbs i just drop the light 20-30mm and put bit of tape round it

luckily I could remove these as it was on a hall and landing a bit tight for trowel space.

 

[Bricktop]

its for before the lights go in not when they are in.

when doing refurbs i just drop the light 20-30mm and put bit of tape round it

Different downlights require different sized cutouts though. Are they adjustable or something?

 

[bobski]

Not a problem to me , I pva the edges too , just go around the carefully

Yep
Neat sbr is even better.

 

[tapit]

I used to hate skimming ceilings where the holes have been cut out for the spot lights. Bits of wet plaster dropping over me when I lay on over them and bits of dry plaster dragging in to the work when troweling.

I came up with a simple solution though, I just scrim over them. 2 lengths of scrim is enough to cover the hole. Make sure they're about 60cm long. If they're too short the weight of the plaster can make them fall off (I found out the hard way).

Only takes a couple of minutes and once that's done it's like skimming a ceiling with no holes in . Just cut them out with a stanley (best to use a new blade) towards the end of the hit. You won't lose where they are as they bulge down a few mm due to gravity early on and when they've nearly gone off (they're flat by then) there is colour difference. I usually dig the corner of my trowel in the center of them after I trowel over them too just to be sure.

It might sound like too much hassle to some but it works for me and just thought I'd share.

great idea mate, i like it, thanks for sharing. Some of the guys on here are reluctant to change.

 

[benpattinson]

Does anybody else just drill out the holes after you've skimmed? this is what ive done in the past as long as you have measurements of where the wires are you can just pull the wire down afterwards or if you have access to the loft/floor above you can push the wires through.

 

[Deleted member 46546]

Does anybody else just drill out the holes after you've skimmed? this is what ive done in the past as long as you have measurements of where the wires are you can just pull the wire down afterwards or if you have access to the loft/floor above you can push the wires through.

That's the Sparky's job to map out the ceiling not a plasterers. Board over them, assume the sparky has mapped it, get out and get paid. His problem if he hasn't

 

[Bricktop]

As a sparks I hate it when they are pulled through the board. You would have to be an idiot to think the sparks is going to cut the hole where they’ve been clipped to the joist. Just push them up and board over them and the sparks can cut them out afterwards.

 

[Deleted member 46546]

As a sparks I hate it when they are pulled through the board. You would have to be an idiot to think the sparks is going to cut the hole where they’ve been clipped to the joist. Just push them up and board over them and the sparks can cut them out afterwards.

Amen, they're just clipped there so the plasterer doesn't move them to far away from where they're meant to be. Now they've got a hole in the ceiling probably in the wrong place that you'll have to go back and patch up and get laughed at in the process

 

[megamix]

great idea mate, i like it, thanks for sharing. Some of the guys on here are reluctant to change.

I’ve tried it . Works a treat .

 

[ChrispyUK]

Put all the wiring in for spots on my sisters hall ceiling a few years back. Drew the map of measurements on the wall so I wouldn't forget. Went in early on a saturday to skim out, everything going to plan but something niggling me. Just finished the last wall, then realised what was niggling me!

 

[FreeD]

If the sparky doesn't drill the holes after I just stuff newspaper in the holes and expanding foam

 

[Danny]

Danny sent me a box of different sized cardboard cutouts to slot into the light hole. Works a treat! Next job I need them I’ll get some pics on to show everyone.

have you actually been using them?

 

[themucky1]

Just fcukin board em up and let them c**t electricians dig em out