Made a mess of replacing downlights

Adam

Adam

Adam

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,232
Both of my bathrooms had downlights added by the previous owner and they made an absolute mess of it. They didn't bother painting the ceiling so you could see all of the pencil marks, they didn't patch up the old hole in the middle of the ceiling and the old lights weren't installed very well.

I have a feeling to do a proper job I'll have to cut out the ceiling and start again, but hoping I can get some suggestions as to whether it's possible to patch up.

It seems the holes were cut correctly but the lights had been forced in, taking some of the plaster with it around the edge creating a gap. I intend to try and fill these with the light in situ as they are in relatively firmly.

I did notice when installing them that the small leg digs in to the plaster board and creates more damage. Is there any way around this?

They legs are identical to this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/robus-adjustable-round-fire-rated-downlight-brushed-chrome-240v/20764

The long legs go in vertically then the small ones grip on the outside and then go in to the hole so the long legs ultimately sit parrallel with the plasterboard in the loft.
 
You can just use a bit of easifill/pollyfiller to touch up any small damage but for the older hole you might need to cut a square out and replace it with a new bit of board and fill and then paint the whole ceiling. Not that difficult really but will depend when the joists are as to how you attach the new piece or you may have to get a little bit creative.

The legs on the lights are always a bit fiddly but they usually go in on an angle without causing any damage. It may be that the hole is just that but too small and needs to be made slightly bigger. As long as its covered by the shroud of the light it doesn't matter how big or what the hole looks like.
 
Mark M said:
It may be that the hole is just that but too small and needs to be made slightly bigger. As long as its covered by the shroud of the light it doesn't matter how big or what the hole looks like.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what it sounds like to me, the installer probably had a 70mm dia bit when the lights specified a 74mm so the spring part of the legs doesn't quite fit and needs shoving up the hole taking a chunk with it.
 
Thanks for your advice so far.

So the hole allowed the end of the light to pass through but not the clips, I had to force the clips in slightly which damaged the edge of the plasterboard around the hole. Sounds like the width of the hole is incorrect as pointed out. I'll check that later.

I have another 4 to do in the other bathroom so likely to experience similar issues.
 
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