Patch ceiling before skimming

[LennyM1984]

Very annoyingly, we have managed to damage our ceiling the week before it is due to be skimmed. The damage is smallish (10 x 12cm) but I assume will need to be fixed before it can be skimmed over.

Would a simple patch (I have some leftover plasterboard) suffice or do I need to enlarge it and fix a larger piece of board to the joists?

[OutInTheShed]

Personally, I'd dress that into a slot, remove anything loose and get a piece of plasterboard behind. Fill with plaster and let it all dry out before skimming.
You could get away with removing anything loose then filling with plaster. It would shrink a bit, so a couple of cycles of filling..

[SteBrown91]

If it’s being skimmed just get the plasterer to sort it? I imagine they wouldn’t charge much more than the skim?

[JuanCarlosFandango]

I'd imagine whoever is skimming it will sort it pretty easily but my answer would be a patch screwed into a bit of OSB or even another bit of plasterboard above the damaged bit. Wouldn't worry about fixing it to a joist for that size.

[scot_aln]

Just be careful cutting it about to repair depending how old that artex is. I think 80s or thereabouts they only stopped asbestos use. The percentage used was quite low so I think the risk not significant but just be aware.

Edited by scot_aln on Friday 14th February 22:55

[M138]

Would some scrim over it be good enough for the plasterer?

[PhilboSE]

A proper fix would be to cut out a hole, fiddle something like timber, ply or plasterboard up into the cavity, screw that to the rest of the ceiling board then fill the hole with some more plasterboard and fill/sand.

However, given you’re reskimming imminently, you could wet the area with a spray gun and then use expanding foam (one that expands less rather than more). When it’s set use a saw blade flush with the ceiling to trim any excess. The plasterer will then scrim and plaster on top.

[wolfracesonic]

Having skimmed many a ceiling myself, my thoughts: is the plasterer going to use Blue Grit or similar before skimming? If they are, they’ll have to come the day before skimming to apply it, as it has to go off overnight, they can apply some scrim and plaster to fill the hole then. If they are applying PVA and doing it all in the same day, they can apply the scrim and fill the hole whilst they are waiting for the PVA to go tacky, neither option I’d expect them to charge you for. I would though send them that pic, just so they’re forewarned.

[Rough101]

I’d probably scrim and fill that before the plasterer got there, if he doesn’t like it he can easily pick it out

[LennyM1984]

Thanks all, I've emailed the plasterer and asked him how he wants it. Sounds like a small patch or even just some filler and tape may suffice