Repairing hole in ceiling

pineapple

Due to leaky roof/guttering I had a damp problem last year. Now that the roof etc has been done am redecorating. The bedroom ceiling at the window end curves down to meet the wall. When chipping off some loose ceiling paint at the join, some plaster came away leaving a hole about the diameter of a 10p piece. It is probably about 5mm deep but there may be a gap extending further back which I can't see. Don't want to end up with a major job so thought about some deep fill polyfilla. But what about that expanding foam stuff which solidifies? I'm thinking that would be the better option as it would be better at filling and bonding any cavity.

Leif

Expanding foam is vile stuff, albeit good for filling large voids. The problem is that after squirting in a small amount, it continues expanding, and explanding, and ends up chasing you down the garden like a scene from a B movie.

Anyway, for a hole that small just use a bit of filler. Easi-fill is good, although you will only use a tiny amount. Bung some in, making sure it extends above the surface as it shrinks. Leave overnight. Sand level. If you underfilled, just slap on a bit more, leave overnight, and sand again. Use a thin bladed spatula to apply.

You can of course use ready mixed Polyfilla or similar, which is harder to sand but to be honest for such a small hole it would be fine. Just sand level and you'll get a nice finish.

But, if the hole is deep, you could squirt in a bit of foam I suppose, just don't overdo it, and if it overflows, don't touch it as it is so sticky you'll be in a right state. Or just build the filler from the sides, with several applications until the hole is filled.

ormus

if the hole appears to be very deep, then i use a bit of plasterboard joint tape first, then polyfilla over the top.