Putting plasterboard on ceiling and plastering ... how hard can it be?

[JP_]

OK, so all I need to do to finish my bedroom is put new board up on the ceiling (over the top of, well, underneath, the old board) and plaster and decorate.

I am hoping to get a plasterer in to do this. But this is proving harder than I thought (although hopefully will get somebody in).

Anyway, I have been looking at these contraptions and thinking, I could do put the board up myself.

Plastering, never done. I don't care if it is not perfect, by time the furniture and pictures are up, there'll only be a tiny bit of wall visible. Can a novice get an OK finish first time?

 

[garyo]

I do it all the time and don't bother with those things. I just use whatever A frame ladders or 2x4's I have around, get it in to position and then use plasterboard props to hold it tight while I screw it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drywall-Plasterboard-Builders-Adjustable-Props/dp/B003C5IW46

 

[JP_]

Not sure I'd manage that ... maybe with smaller boards ...
but it's the actual plastering / skimming that I am most concerned about.

 

[cdbe]

Consider taping and filling, like the Yanks. I'm personally not a fan of it but I think it's got to be the easiest way for a non plasterer to get a reasonable finish on a ceiling.

 

[^woody^]

I'm intrigued how you will hide dodgy ceiling plaster with pictures and furniture.

 

[tomfe]

Don't try and plaster a ceiling on your first time plastering.
You'll get 1/4 of it done and swear so much and you'll just give up.

 

[securespark]

I did manage boarding a ceiling once, but never again!

It was a bathroom where I'd taken down some painted T&G and behind was a real mess so I ordered some 8 x 4 as I wanted as few joints as possible.
But what a pain! I was using a couple of lengths of 4 x 2 to prop it up then trying desperately to get some screws in to hold it in place. Nightmare!!
Should have done it in smaller pieces.

But I left the skimming to the plasterer.

 

[Ian H]

I made a big T from 3x2 to hold one end, my missus pushed the middle up and I balanced the other end on my head while I put a few screws in.

If you can mark the boards where you need to screw it will be much easier.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I've double boarded all of my ceilings by myself. I used a 3x2 timber with a T on the end.
(I did use 6x3 boards though.)

Andy

 

[Ian H]

(I did use 6x3 boards though.)

Pussy!!!!!

 

[endecotp]

Boarding is fairly easy with a friend. Some props will still be useful. I found some proper extending props very cheap in B&Q a couple of yesrs ago (e.g. https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/d10/Builders+Tools/sd140/Extension+Support+Prop/p66745 ) but 3x2 with a T-piece at the top is just as good.

By myself, I’ve done just one 8x4 board; the room was quite small so the others were all smaller pieces. I fixed a batten along the top of the wall, leaving a slot that I could get one long edge of the board into.

Cutting the boards in half would make it much easier, but of course harder to skim perfectly.

 

[23vc]

I use 6x3s and get it up in to position, then hold it up with 1 hand and grab the auto feed screwdriver from my belt and whack a couple of screws in then can let go and do the rest of the screws. I’ve only got a cheap (ryobi) auto feed screwdriver.
Skimming wise, I had the same dilemma 15 years ago, and after doing it fairly regularly since, I’m a bit better now. But if you’ve not got any interest in getting into plastering in future I’d give it a miss and get someone to skim it.

 

[JP_]

"auto feed screwdriver" - tell me more. Link?

 

[23vc]

Just google auto feed screw gun, they’re generally quite pricey but I bought a ryobi one for about £150 years ago. Definitely paid for itself

Can’t find the ryobi now but if I find a link I’ll post it

 

[JP_]

New tools! Some on Amazon, one for £76
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_s...field-keywords=Auto-Feed+Drywall+Screwdriver+