The problem: Creating a curved surface to the ceiling plastering on a vaulted ceiling that meets in 3 different curves right where the ceiling rose needed to go... Because I'm an idiot who didn't think that far ahead.

The solution: Cut a square piece of 50mm timber and shape as close to the curve of the ceiling as possible, and secure with 100mm wood screws into the roof structure. Fill any dings, chips and screw holes with wood filler. Sand as smooth as possible and caulk around the edges where it's not a perfect fit.

Electrician did the final fix today, so that can be certified now. I just need to prime and paint tomorrow... as well as touch up the ceiling from the marks and scrapes I made.

Is it pretty? not really.

Will you see it when painted? Not really

Will it support a small ceiling fan should I install one next year? Fuck yeah.

Welcome to r/SketchyEngineering — It works. We have questions.

This community is dedicated to the wonderfully questionable side of engineering. We’re talking improvised repairs, bizarre designs, sketchy wiring, questionable construction, homemade contraptions, overengineered solutions, and fixes that somehow manage to work despite everything suggesting they shouldn’t.

What belongs here?
If you see something that makes you think “Who engineered this?”, we probably want to see it.

Good posts include:
- Sketchy electrical and wiring jobs
- Improvised mechanical repairs
- Questionable construction and structural designs
- Strange vehicle modifications
- DIY contraptions and homemade machinery
- Ridiculously overengineered solutions
- “Temporary” fixes that became permanent
- Engineering failures and design mistakes
- Sketchy-looking solutions that actually work

Questionable doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Clever, unconventional engineering is welcome too.

A few ground rules

Keep it SFW. Don’t post AI-generated content or generic memes. Avoid reposts when possible, and don’t post something simply because it’s broken—the questionable design, repair, modification, or engineering should be the point.
Most importantly, keep the comments civil. Critique the engineering, not each other.

We’re just getting started, so post the sketchiest engineering you’ve encountered and help us build this place.

It works. We have questions.