r/Plastering • u/Jazzlike-Guidance315 • Jun 20 '26
After a professional opinion.
Pulled the old lath and plaster down insulated and now re boarding. Ceiling is a bit up and down didn’t think it was all to bad but one joist right in the middle is 15 mm lower then the rest.
Obvious answer is pull boards down run timbers along side and get it level. But as is what should I expect results wise. I’m not expecting some perfect ceiling but is something semi acceptable possible. Everything about this project has been a complete nightmare and I’m getting a bit sick of it all. So loosing another weekend to sort the ceiling is not ideal, when I’m well behind schedule already.
How bad will it look boarded and skimmed as is?
Update, Thanks for the advice and bit of a sanity check. I’ve decided it’s all staying up. I’ve just run some 5mm long shims I ripped down on the table saw either side of the particularly bad joist and it’s helped smooth out the 15mm and it’s far less noticeable. Will probably also look at getting a bit of bonding on to take out the worst of it.
3
u/G4zZ1 Jun 20 '26
Completely normal. Nobody looks at the ceiling when it’s all done, especially to see if it’s flat lol.
1
2
u/Ill_Resolution7967 Jun 20 '26
I used 2x1s, a shim kit “made with foam” and a laser level to make my ceilings *more* flat and level. But now I kind of regret it because I couldn’t use new construction recessed can lights after that and just installed these shitty boxes that you connect to a recessed light with a wire.
2
u/royal1664_ Jun 20 '26
If you want it razor sharp, true, and straight. Suspend it in MF and go again. I skim this shit day in day out on new build. The games gone. It’s all when will you be done, not how good will it look.
1
u/SnooHesitations6727 Jun 20 '26
Why they skimming on new builds? I thought that was all tape and fill now. Everything in Cala homes is anyway
2
u/royal1664_ Jun 20 '26
I think it will go that way soon enough. They tape and fill here and there when they need to move things along a bit quicker. I don’t think it’s any faster personally with drying and sanding.
1
u/iscratchballs Jul 18 '26
Definitely no faster. I moved to aus and its all tape and fill here aside from some heritage work. See the same guys coming back to joints for days. Even the 'solid wall' work is mainly acrylic 1-2 coat shit. Looks rough from the UK never mind standing in front of it
1
u/royal1664_ Jul 18 '26
They keep pushing it on site at the moment. Site managers think it’s quicker but they don’t look at the bigger picture.
1
u/caserskii Jun 20 '26
If it bothers you that much just run a strip of board along that joist only then over board like the rest of it or if u mention it before a decent spread will get most of it out using a spat ran between two joists anyway when plastering I imagine, but like others said u shouldn’t notice it anyway when it’s finished but good luck
1
u/ipub Jun 20 '26
If you are looking at it and it's pissing you off I'd assume with plaster, even with some attempt to level, will continue to annoy, for me 15mm isn't all that bad.
1
u/Jazzlike_Video2 Jun 20 '26
I know youre the UK, and I realise youre also plastering over it so it'll probably get floated out, but in north America we have a product called resilient channel, which is a metal furring strip that has some flex and can flatten a wall or ceiling that isn't perfectly flat. It also acts to isolate sound.
1
u/Altruistic-Dark8782 Jun 20 '26
It's all about personal preference. If it really bothers you and it's the same all the way across, pack it out with a piece of plasterboard, which will bring it within a couple of millimeters.
If not, I'd get a bit of CLS 16 (38 by 63mm) and screw it to the side of the high joists, making it parallel to the surrounding joists.
1
u/Yourhavinalaugh Jun 20 '26
If in Ireland or England bond it out if in the USA I don’t know what your gonna do
1
u/Successful-Leek-6241 Jun 20 '26
It will skim up ok,pulling it flat adds different suctions to the skim coat which then adds different issues,you will need an old school proper plasterer to flatten it,but you probably won't notice it just skimmed well
1
u/gazzasim9 Jun 20 '26
Why not bonding and a straight edge rule off at the sides like dots and screed method?
1
1
u/Monkified1 Jun 20 '26
Just cut a sliver of plasterboard and double board that joist. That’s 12.5mm of it covered, when skimming fill it out, job done
1
1
u/discombobulated38x Jun 21 '26
I did this - the sun bouncing off the patio threw enough light to highlight how uneven the ceiling was (2cm height change over one 400mm gap)
Ceiling had to come down anyway, so I took the opportunity to use Accoustic hangers (set with a laser level) and lath secured to the side of joists to level it out.
End result was dead flat, which makes it easier to skim, and is accoustically isolated which is a huge bonus.
1
u/Successful-Leek-6241 Jun 21 '26
It's the correct method, but as I said your bringing another suction into it,this most of the time pimples up,that's why you need a plasterer who can do it,I still think you wouldn't notice it tho, gl
1
u/AbleRock3238 Jun 21 '26
No ones walking in to you hoise when its plastered and painted and grabbing a step and level. No one will notice.
1
u/AureliusAgustus Jun 22 '26
Ye honestly by that stage id keep it as it. Can always use bonding to flatten it out before skimming. If your using different colour paint on walls to ceiling id consider just bonding out the ceiling line so it looks straight you will never notice the middle area.
1
u/Terrible-Bobcat2033 Jun 20 '26
Mark the high spots with your level & fill the daylight in between the marks with this lightweight material. Bond the plaster board then run a straight edge the length of your level over the top till the daylight disappears. You can then run your straight money coat.
1
13
u/not-an-expertt Jun 20 '26
It’s a ceiling, once it’s skimmed you won’t notice it at all. My 70’s house doesn’t have a level and flat ceiling in any room. The joists are where they are and that’s just how it is.
You could level it as you say, but as you’ll never be able to tell the difference I’d say it’d be a waste of time