Ceiling Downlighters - how to make these look better?

[Obiwanquinnobi]

Hello again,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this so if there's a better sub forum please someone suggest.


Just moved into a fairly recently built house (14 years old) and there are downlighters in the two upstairs bathrooms and some on the staircase walls - pics attached.

On the face of it, they look OK but on closer inspection, the plasterboard and paint around the bezels has gotten flaky and is a bit of a mess - probably due to condensation etc. Not to mention the decorator that 'spruced the house up' before the previous owners put it up for sale made a right mess with loads overpaint etc. Can anyone recommend how I can make these lights and the surrounding plaster\holes good?

The bathroom looks to have suffered from some condensation issues (as most bathrooms do) and I was thinking along the lines of putting up some of that PVC ceiling cladding, cutting bigger holes in the plasterboard and making holes in the cladding for the lights to go though. This would be a bigger job though - or would it?

Any suggestions or help greatly appreciated.

 

[pilsbury]

Jesus, is that ceiling skimmed or artex?!

2 options in my book.

Easy, quick, cheap way, removed spot, fill and sand. Paint and replace.

Expensive more hassle way. Reskim ceiling. Paint, replace.

 

[Obiwanquinnobi]

Jesus, is that ceiling skimmed or artex?!

2 options in my book.

Easy, quick, cheap way, removed spot, fill and sand. Paint and replace.

Expensive more hassle way. Reskim ceiling. Paint, replace.

Neither mate - just a really, really bad paint job that is flaking. It's not even washable paint - its matt!!

 

[pilsbury]

Just re read your first post about ceiling cladding. Would cover a multitude of sins if you like the look.... but it wouldn’t be my bag.

 

[Obiwanquinnobi]

Just re read your first post about ceiling cladding. Would cover a multitude of sins if you like the look.... but it wouldn’t be my bag.

I'm not so keen either but I've seen it installed and it can look nice if done properly.

Can you get bigger\wider bezels for these types of downlighters? If so, would sanding the ceiling, repainting it and then putting bigger bezels to hide the mangled holes be an option?

 

[pilsbury]

Not sure mate. As far as I’m aware downlighting is much of a muchness with those GU10 bulbs. If it was me and I was going to redecorate, I’d give the whole ceiling a sand to even out the crap finish, fix the holes up then repaint. Pain in the ass and dusty as hell but the cheapest option with a result that would be far more acceptable than present.

 

[pilsbury]

On second look, are they “normal” spots with gu10 bulbs? Measure the diameter and then look at “normal” ones on the net.

 

[old_diyer]

Just a guess but they look more like halogen bulbs so will be 12v with a transformer somewhere above. Needs checking out if you do intend to replace. Personally I prefer downlighters that use GU10's with LED bulbs - much more eco-friendly. As for the decorating - yuk!

 

[Keithmac]

One of my friends clad his bathroom ceiling and it looks good, wouldn't suit hallways or living room though.

 

[Obiwanquinnobi]

Just a guess but they look more like halogen bulbs so will be 12v with a transformer somewhere above. Needs checking out if you do intend to replace. Personally I prefer downlighters that use GU10's with LED bulbs - much more eco-friendly. As for the decorating - yuk!

On second look, are they “normal” spots with gu10 bulbs? Measure the diameter and then look at “normal” ones on the net.

They are small starlights. LV200 I think. - I've got a spare at home I'll post more details later. There is a transformer in the loft yes and I think it powers the very same light configuration in the second family bathroom - also a bit of a mess. And yes there is a lot of questionable decorating in this new house. Lots of work to do

One of my friends clad his bathroom ceiling and it looks good, wouldn't suit hallways or living room though.

I would have thought it as a good option for steamy\damp bathrooms. It may still be an avenue I go down.

 

[Obiwanquinnobi]

Ok as promised. These are pictures the starlight fittings. Theres definitely transformers in the loft powering both sets of lights in the bathrooms. I also have a set in the ceiling going up the stairs.... which I'm not concerning myself with at the minute.



These are currently fitted with 10w bulbs and the 2p piece gives a sense of size to the fittings. They are not very big - 38mm if my measurements are correct.

What are my options here?

Can I get plastict bezels for these lights which will hide the horrible holes in the plaster? If so, any idea what I should be looking for?
Can I replace these with bigger lights (which will require cutting bigger holes - hiding\cutting away the damaged plaster of the horrible holes that are now present)
Can I take out the transformers and fit different, more energy efficient lights without too much trouble?

Thanks again for any replies

John

 

[Obiwanquinnobi]

OK. ..just thought I'd follow this up.

I'm going to arm myself with some more knowledge about my installation\transformers\lights and post some questions in the electrics forum as this has veered a little off topic with regard to the redecorating.

Thanks for replies everyone.