plastering a ceiling

[siralexbateman]

I'm working with a construction company who are adamant they plaster ceilings before our lights are cut out! I've never seen this done before and think its a crazy approach as you are more likely to cause more problems than you'll solve. Has anyone else come across this or am I just working with a bunch of idiots?

 

[Andy78]

Worked with plenty of plasterers that are happy to skim over downlight cutouts. Usually ends up looking fine.

If they are insistent all you can do is wire and measure, keeping a decent drawing and marking on walls, unless of course you have access above the ceiling after skimming.

Recently worked with one that insisted they skim first so made us take precise measurements then over boarded. Then changed the light positions after they skimmed. Enjoy your patching lads.

 

[WiiDave]

Yeah it happens all the time. I tend to cut them out before anyway. It's a matter of standing up for yourself and telling them no! At the end of the day it is harder to correct problems when the ceiling is plastered. Explain that to them and they might change their mind. Otherwise there is nothing they can do to stop you from going up on your steps and cutting them out regardless.

Whatever happens it is very important to have a set of detailed marked up drawings showing the exact locations of all lights as you never can tell when you are going to come in Monday morning and find that some swine has plastered a ceiling you weren't expecting them to!

 

[siralexbateman]

Yeah, we've given up arguing with them. The plasterer works for the main contractor and were just subbing so its their man against us. I just thought its ridiculous! I can understand in some situations but the main contractor is aware our drawings are wrong and that these light positions will inevitably change... So a finished ceiling will mean a lot of patching. I just wanted confirmation that this isn't the normal procedure or most cost effective. Lights should be cut out/patched before the ceilings are skimmed to save time/cost when inevitably a cable is missing or trapped against the plasterboard.

 

[telectrix]

agree with you there. i don't mind them skimming the ceiling before drilling out for the lights, as long as i have an accurate plan and there's no possibility of changes. if builders/plasterers bugger things up, then the hammer comes out.

 

[Phoenix]

I came across this method a couple of months ago, I didn't like the sound of it but I measured up having been told to! Came back and the holes had been drilled out for me. Some of them (not many though) were even in the right place and some were missing totally. The tw4t did the same with the sockets; I left my cables clipped to the walls and taped together prior to boarding out. He then moved every single socket / switch, even after he had put noggins in stud walls! A 'fair and frank exchange of views' took place followed by some work with a hammer. Now I resist it at all costs but If I have to do it again I would leave EXTRA long cables in the void.

 

[chrish_1977]

Had exactly the same thing on a house conversion I was involved with, plasterer was a knob and wanted an easy time, so after several arguments about how he only wanted to plaster easy and get down the pub, I cut all my holes and said rollocks to him, and when he finished shouting at me, I then proceeded to butcher the ceilings he ha already plastered over my cables and all my marks I had left on the walls, as the plan I had didn't tally up after he an the builder decided to build the walls out by a good 6 inches and not tell me that they were going to do that when I was marking everything out with the customer.

 

[Hants-Spark]

I think it depends who the plasterer is really, we have a couple round my way which as mentioned above want the easiest life possible and will do anything to skim a smooth board, and we also have others who will bring all the cables through, in line at the exact place when tacking etc, making good after the fact is a pain for all involved, some just cant see it.

 

[amo]

if the builder aint having it. take measurements of where exactly to cut out. we've had a few "no you cant cut before plastering" builders but always worked out ok in the end. any screw-ups there going to finish the decorating anyway. should have listened in the first place.

 

[Richard]

Well i'm going to disagree with the majority and say its your problem not the plasters! I always leave cables above the plasterboard and draw a good plan. I'v never once lost a cable or hit a timber. At least my way you get the lights exactly where you want them.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

I think its all down to the job, if its simple enough and you have a detailed plan as to where the lights go and are suuuure they wont clash with a joist etc, then let em skim. So far, havent had any major issues unless its been client/builder changing or adding lights. In which case as Tel has said, the persuader comes out to make a mess

 

[Rockingit]

Yeah, its a bit of a non discussion, really. Do a decent job of measuring out in the first place, make a map, doesn't matter then what happens.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Yeah, its a bit of a non discussion, really. Do a decent job of measuring out in the first place, make a map, doesn't matter then what happens.

One of the favourite sayings...

Measure twice, cut once!

 

[Stroppy]

I make a lovely little map of my downlights, with measurements taken from walls, and of and from adjacent joists, so that if the walls 'move' by being unexpectedly dry-lined then I can find the joists with my magnet and get my bearings off them. Works every time. It may take a while working out at first fix getting them all evenly spaced, and measuring and marking out at second, but the customer thinks its magic when I drill in exactly the right place and all the cables are there.

To quote a customer I went to see when someone had had a few 'false starts' finding their cables, and had drilled the holes too big for the lights so half of them popped through: "I've spent thousands on these effing ceilings, now look at them!"

 

[Kiers1970]

I've started marking the floor with a screw, lined up with a laser Plumb bob. As well as a drawing, as sometimes builders build out the walls as previously stated! (Grr)