reboard and skim an old ceiling..

[pmx_super]

Hi,

I want to renovate the bedroom ceiling in my flat. It has a ceiling rose and ornate plaster coving that I want removed, a crack all the way across the middle and paper that is lifting at the joins.

I'm after a really good finish, and having read other threads on the subject think reboarding over the existing ceiling then skimming seems a good approach. What I'm unsure of is that conventional advise suggests screwing new plaster board into the existing joist, however my ceiling doesn't have joists. It's a purpose built block of flats (built 1979) and the only time I drilled the ceiling I went through a layer of plaster straight into concrete.

I'd really appreciate some advise regarding what my options are.

Many thanks,
James

 

[JerryM]

i would give it a go at just re skimming.

much depends on how good a person is at skimming on how good a finish can be obtained. i find mine although not as good as my walls once painted are good enough (no one really notices ceilings except for cracks).

overboarding would as you say be a good choice for a timber ceiling as these tend not to be flat due to movement of the timber (shrinkage) over time. but given the concrete it would be a right nightmare attaching the boards.

i would also think about a simple repair as this may be good enough ie caulk the crack and local finish/skim where rose and coving has been removed.

 

[Richard C]

DIY plastering & a “really good finish” are rarely compatible unless you’ve had considerable practice & ceilings are a much harder than walls! Local repair & skim can work but, again, you need to be competent with a trowel to blend in & give an invisible repair. Cracks across the ceiling will be the most difficult to hide without skimming; caulk wont really hide them & it's unlikely to last.

If the existing plaster is basically sound, you’re probable better going for a re-skim as suggested. You must prepare the ceiling first by removing any lining paper & removing any loose material & filling. Get whoever is doing the plastering for you to look at it & advise what they are happy for you to do by way of preparation & so save a little money.

 

[joe-90]

Definitely a skim job. Not difficult with practice but a nightmare for a learner.

 

[JerryM]

caulk won’t really hide them & it's unlikely to last.

had pretty much the same impression until i experimented a little.

it certainly won't give anywhere near the same result as skimming.

the technique i use is to dig out the crack a little (saw blade or like) so as to be able to get a decent bead into the crack. then use a flat blade scraper to smooth level. then final finish by hand to blend in using a spray bottle (old window cleaner or the like) of strong diluted washing up liquid (1:5 washing up to water). if it's a big crack you have to build up the caulk in stages as it does shrink a little if applied thickly.