How to fit a ceiling rose over artex, plasterboard or lath and plaster

Most advice on fitting a ceiling rose assumes a flat, sound, modern ceiling. Real homes are different. Here is how to deal with the three ceilings we are asked about most.

Plasterboard

The easy one. Clean and dry the surface, mark the centre, and bond the rose with a suitable plaster-based or heavy-duty adhesive. On larger or heavier pieces, add screws into the joists or use plasterboard fixings through the rose, then fill and paint over the heads. Historic small plaster enrichments were fixed in a similar way, with plaster or adhesive, screws or wires^[2], and ceiling joists in domestic building control guidance are tabulated at 400, 450 and 600mm spacings^[3]. Support the piece with props or tape while the adhesive cures. Our fitting instructions cover the steps.

Artex and other textured ceilings

Stop first. Textured coatings applied before the year 2000 can contain asbestos^[1]. Do not sand, scrape or drill into an unknown textured ceiling. Have a sample tested by an accredited lab, or assume it is present and get advice. HSE advises against repairing or removing asbestos materials yourself without the right training and, if you know or strongly suspect asbestos, says it is often safest to leave it alone while it is in good condition^[1]. It publishes separate task sheets for drilling, screwing into and removing textured coatings, written for trained workers^[4], and treats removing coatings over asbestos insulating board as higher-risk work for a licensed contractor^[5]. If it is clear, you have two options:

• Skim over it. A plasterer can skim the area, or the whole ceiling, to leave a flat surface for the rose. (HSE says enclosing or sealing asbestos materials should only be done by people with the necessary training^[1].)
• Fix through it. A small, shallow texture can sometimes be cut back locally. Never do this without a clear test result.

Adhesive does not grip a deep texture well. A flat bonding surface is what makes a rose stay up.

Lath and plaster

Older houses often have thin timber laths with plaster pushed through the gaps to form keys. The plaster is only as strong as those keys, and they can be tired: the nibs formed behind the laths act as the mechanical key^[6], and loose or delaminating plaster can stem from poor keying^[7]. Historic England's guidance on plaster ceilings stresses that failed plaster or unstable fixings can bring a ceiling down^[8]. Do not hang anything weighty from the plaster alone. Instead:

• Find the joists and fix through the rose into them.
• Check the ceiling is sound: tap it and listen for hollow, loose areas.
• Re-secure loose plaster with ceiling washers or repair it before you start. Conservators use stainless steel screws and washers for this, though not where plaster is simply springy^[7].

Our guide to repairing cracked or damaged plaster helps with the preparation.

Whichever ceiling you have

1. Check the surface is flat, clean and dry.
2. Dry-fit the rose and mark the outline and centre.
3. Fix to a joist wherever you can on larger pieces.
4. Use screws as well as adhesive on anything heavy, or for peace of mind.
5. Fill the joint and screw heads, then paint. See how to paint a plaster ceiling rose.

If a pendant is going to hang from it, read whether a rose can carry a heavy pendant first.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you fit a ceiling rose over artex?

Only once you know the coating is safe. Artex applied before 2000 can contain asbestos, so have it tested first. A flat skim over the area gives the adhesive a good surface to grip.

What adhesive do I use for a plaster ceiling rose?

A suitable plaster-based or heavy-duty adhesive, plus screws into the joists on larger or heavier pieces, then fill and paint over the screw heads.

Do I need screws as well as adhesive?

For anything large, heavy or on an uncertain ceiling, yes. Adhesive plus screws is the safe combination.

Is lath and plaster strong enough for a rose?

Only if it is sound. Tap the ceiling for hollow areas, re-secure loose plaster and fix through the rose into the joists.