Paint ceiling before or after fit spotlights ?

deejaybee

Hi,

Soon will be having ceiling plaster-boarded & skimmed, then we want spots fitted ( inset into ceiling )

Is it best to do the mist coat + subsequent coats of paint before or after having new spots fitted ?

Thanks

Crinkmeister

Paint first, having carefully marked where the spots are to go. I presume you will be installing wiring before new plasterboard goes up?

deejaybee

Cheers for feedback !

I didn't realise the new wiring should be done before boarding..

I have agreed a price for the boarding ( and a couple of other bits & bobs ) but don't have a definite date for work - but it will be done this month..

I have not been able to contact my usual sparky for the spotlights work, and I would have got relevant info from him... so looking like I may need to find alternative, which is a pain, but needs must.

brightontraveller

Really depends how its previously wired , number and position of lights , if light go with way joist run etc If you can get above, loft space, room above etc no real biggy but can mean lifting carpets , flooring etc. If not personally I’d map out light positions clip cables to correspond, fit plasterboard, paint miss coat, drill lights holes, ensure cables go through, then paint subsequent coats, then connect up and install lights. If rooms above I,d consider adding soundproofing before ceiling goes up ?

firsttimebuyer2013

Personally I would drill your holes before having your ceilings skimmed. That way should you make any mistakes (putting them in the wrong place/deciding you want more etc) they'll be covered over and no risk of cracking the plaster when drilling. And be prepared for a lot of dust when drilling them.

You can make the wires safe and tuck them up out of the plasterers way, then either connect them up and put bags over them to paint (remove bags if using lights), or if you don't need the lights, leave the wiring tucked up and fit when all painted.

phil24_7

If the ceiling is counterbattened (2"x1" roofing batten is cheap) first then it will be dead easy to run cables after everything is done. This is what I have done. The only downside is you have 2 lots of obstructions to worry about when deciding where to place lights!

deejaybee

Thanks for all the feedback folks - appreciated.

Got a sparky round this evening, who was highly recommended.

He is going to do all the prep work for spots before the plasterboard crew do their stuff, so it looks like all back on track again.

Cheers all

eastonian

I prefer to cut holes last = perfect paint finish with no cutting in round the light fittings but that's just me perhaps...

ceredigion

firsttimebuyer2013 wrote: »

Personally I would drill your holes before having your ceilings skimmed. That way should you make any mistakes (putting them in the wrong place/deciding you want more etc) they'll be covered over and no risk of cracking the plaster when drilling. And be prepared for a lot of dust when drilling them.

You can make the wires safe and tuck them up out of the plasterers way, then either connect them up and put bags over them to paint (remove bags if using lights), or if you don't need the lights, leave the wiring tucked up and fit when all painted.

You are not a plasterer then.

firsttimebuyer2013

I take it you mean due to having to skim around holes in the ceiling? I don't see the issue to be honest. My plasterer didn't have any issues with it.

firsttimebuyer2013

But you don't need to cut in if the light fittings aren't put up into the holes.