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Hi there - I'm trying to patch and paint over a roundish hole in the ceiling after removing an air vent that no longer works. (Approximately 26 cm wide.) I know the usual recommendation is to cut the hole into a rectangle to make it easier to add a new piece of gyprock. However, there are timber beams running behind the hole.
Making a rectangular hole will mean I have to make the hole wider, which would then mean that the timber battens that I need to put inside the hole - that will probably need to sit perpendicular to the wooden ceiling beams - will not sit at the very edges of the hole.
What should I do? Should I try and simply cut the gyprock in the shape of the existing hole so that I don't need to make it bigger?
Hi @Chel28,
Undoubtedly, the easiest way to fill this hole is to cut it slightly larger. By shaping it into a square or rectangle, you expose more of the surrounding ceiling joints, which makes the patch much easier to measure, cut, and install. Patching a circular hole directly is tricky, particularly when you need to tape and skim coat over the joints.
Cut the hole slightly larger so you have a clean, square edge with enough lip around the original hole, making it easier to screw your repair piece of plasterboard in firmly. For extra stability, you can glue small pieces of timber, such as paint stirrers, to the backside of the plasterboard using a strong adhesive like Liquid Nails. These act as backing supports for the edges, although screwing into the joists will already provide solid strength.
Once the patch is installed, fill any small gaps around the edges, apply plaster tape, then skim coat over the top. Sand smooth, apply a second skim coat if needed, and then undercoat and paint. This approach is much easier and cleaner than trying to match the existing round shape and ensures a strong, long-lasting repair.
I've created the rendering below to assist.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
