Downlights lath and plaster ceiling advice please

[PJH2903]

Been asked to put a load of downlights into a lath and plaster ceiling. Done plasterboard but not lath and plaster. Is it easy enough to do or will it be a right pain?

 

[Wilko]

I'd also be interested in recommendations for the best down lighter to use to tackle lathe and plaster.

Hi - perhaps look for one that has a wide range of spring movement, like these for a GU10 solution .

Aurora EN-DLM981X GU10 Fixed Compact Professional Fire Rated Downlight

Electrical2Go Sell Discount Aurora EN-DLM981X GU10 Fixed Compact Professional Fire Rated Downlight for Both Trade & Home Use. Big Name Brands, and Free Delivery.

www.electrical2go.co.uk

 

[PJH2903]

Went to do the job on Friday.
Warned the customer that it could potentially be very messy and parts of the ceiling could come down (worst case senario) to which the customer replied - will there be much dust as a couple of years ago we were going to have some work done and the other company found asbestos in the ceiling when they tested it.

My reply was sorry in that case I can not drill loads of holes in your ceiling to put downlights in. I suggest you look at getting a company in to replace the asbestos ceiling if you still want downlights.

Lucky escape I think. If I had not mentioned the mess would they have thought to mention the asbestos?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Excellent result, for you!

 

[telectrix]

Went to do the job on Friday.
Warned the customer that it could potentially be very messy and parts of the ceiling could come down (worst case senario) to which the customer replied - will there be much dust as a couple of years ago we were going to have some work done and the other company found asbestos in the ceiling when they tested it.

My reply was sorry in that case I can not drill loads of holes in your ceiling to put downlights in. I suggest you look at getting a company in to replace the asbestos ceiling if you still want downlights.

Lucky escape I think. If I had not mentioned the mess would they have thought to mention the asbestos?

just wear a mask, then you can charge double. any comebacks..... it was not me in that mask. honest, judge.

 

[Malcolm]

Best way I found was to mix up a runny plaster mix and pour it from above where you are going to cut the holes,then leave it to dry. Then cut the holes from below.

 

[Robeato]

Folks, I read this and was nervous as I had 5 to install. The job went really well so had to feed back:

Material:
Dewalt combo drill, tungsten carbide hole saw (the really sharp one which cuts through metal), few £ on eBay from china.
LAP Cosmoseco LED spots

1. Marked locations
2. Made some small holes with 8mm masonry but first (not hammer drill) to understand there was no beam where I intended to drill, adjusted accordingly.
3. The hole saw worked great, High speed, low pressure, perfect round holes, cut the plaster, lathes, even a few nails.
4. Holes were clean but material would soon loosen with repeated light insertion - removal so I PVA’d the edges- put plenty on exposed lath ends to keep secure. The edges are now like concrete.
5.The LAP LED spots accommodate a really thick ceiling so absolutely no issues with the install.

rob

 

[Mike Johnson]

I tend to use Tungsten Carbide bit hole saws now days as they go through anything and give a clean hole, TLC also have a large too small hole convertor plate to cover large DL conversion to smaller could be used to cover a broken edge hole: Downlight Converter Kits - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Lighting_Downlights_Index/Downlight_Converter_Kit/index.html

 

[pirate]

Thanks for that info Mike J...always good to hear about new products. I may be old-fashioned in this, but i like to browse hard copy catalogues as that is often where i spot stuff i didn't know existed, and which is not so easy to do when browsing online. Indeed, another thread on here today about the quinetic range alerted me to a product i didn't know they made, but when the new catalogue arrives i'll be having a good browse!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Those downlight conversion kits have been around for some time, I used them first in a bedroom when the GU10 LED's first became available, just thought I spent a lot of time and money on Tungsten bulbs that blew with regular monotony, now days the LED GU10's seem to last quite some time in comparison, even the cheap one's from China.

 

[freddo]

We did a referb last year, downlights in L+P, we cut out a square cutting the laths just before the nails in the joists, builder repaired with plasterboard and filled in. Nice plasterboard to cut the lights in. Went back a few weeks ago to do a load of alterations. now it's painted you would never know.

We did the same there for the sockets and switches. With a section removed, this gave space to get a drill in the stud wall for a hole for the cables and also allowed space to securely fix a nogging in to fix the back boxes. Probably a bit drastic for small jobs but it works really well.