Need opinions for ceiling repair

Question

I know this sounds like an odd problem, but here it goes... 
 We have a few holes in the ceiling by previous light fixtures - a 10 by 10 square under a medallion and the smaller holes (that are currently capped, like in the pic) are about 4 inches (the size of the 'lid' on the cap). We are wanting to see if we could remove the medallion as it makes the chandelier kind of low for our 8 foot height in ceilings, and the caps on the smaller holes as well.
 We have been considering one of the usual ways to have it repaired, until finding out upon further research (looking at MSDS sheets) that even though 'Gypsum' is natural, most drywall contains 'crystalline silica' (and sometimes other not-so-healthy stuff). With all of the dust, it would probably be just too much for my sinuses (and I'm pretty strict about things being eco friendly when it comes to repairs, partially due to that reason.) 
 This leads to my set of questions... 
 - Would there be any other ways of fixing these without the use of drywall? 
 - Are there any eco friendly alternatives and less 'messy' applications? 
 - Is there a way of maybe having something recessed in there (sort've an inverted medallion or the like, if you will) for the larger 10 by 10 hole? 
 Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance, as this would really move the renovation right along! :)

Becky · Answer

April, have you considered bead board for the ceiling? I searched on Pinterest and there are a bunch of DIY posts. Doesn't look too complicated just need many extra ' hands'. I am convinced this is my solution and maybe it's yours as well. Good luck!

Tegma · Answer

Yes, I agree.... If you have a lot of 'patching' to do, perhaps beadboard is the answer. However, you can get a bucket of spackle and patch with that. You would have to use screen patch, like you do on walls to cover any large holes first, if you don't want to use gypsum, and by the time you're finished, chances are, you are still going to have a lot of work matching it all up. I'd go for beadboard, or even old planks, tho' the beadboard would be much simpler and quicker to put up. As Becky said, you just need some extra hands to hold it up while it's glued and nailed.

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The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Why did you take the lights out? I know you said that the chandelier hung too low but why not put in recessed lighting? or other lighting?

Kc Corun · Answer

My sister and I were refurbishing a100 year old house that had a wood-slat  ceiling in the dining room. Dust fell out every time the grands played upstairs. We went to Home Depot and bought impressed wall paper. It's commonly referred to as lincrusta. We cut the paper into 2' x 2' squares, and wall paper pased them to the ceiling. You have to be careful, and keep the pattern going the same direction.  When you finish patching your holes, and painting the new paper, you wind up with a foux tin ceiling. Everybody loved ours!

Plastering Books · Answer

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Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

perfect time to use some of the holes for speakers for music system. They now have wireless types that use holes around that same size.

If your concerned about silica etc. Have a professional come in and do the patching and painting for you. Patching holes can be tricky and if not done properly will stand out more then those caps on the ceiling do now.

H.O. Electric · Answer

According to the National Electrical Code, electrical splices must be accessible and cannot be buried in a ceiling. As a result, these holes cannot legally be patched.

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H.O. Electric · Answer

Thank you for the clarification

Raya Deych · Answer

Hello, Why Remove any of that old Stuff, Leave it as is as long as it is Secure: Just Glue Ceiling Tiles Over it with Ceramic Tile Adhesive, Adjust Thickness of Adhesive to make level and you have a beautiful ceiling. Leave as white or paint in any water based colo. See this Link:http://www.ceilingtilesbyus.com/store/index.php/ceiling-tiles/20-x-20-styrofoam.html And These Links: http://www.ceilingtilesbyus.com/ http://www.ceilingtilesbyus.com/store/index.php/ceiling-tiles/20-x-20-styrofoam/20-x20-royal/r-37.html

Denise · Answer

Cover with some updated medallions (those plastic ones are awful!), and hang a hook for a plant, drape some fabric, illuminate a painting. Or just the medallion, hang extra ones around the room to make it look like it was intentional, incorporate it into a pattern. Replace Chandelier with a ceiling fan?

Anna · Answer

You can create a stamp and stamp the sealing after you fix the hole with plaster. Mix paint with fine sand and glaze,i used a old 8x5 cores micro mop( you can use any stamps).This is inexpensive and looks like a pro job!

Denise · Answer

I would prefer the Chandelier as well! A touch of sparkle!

Raya Deych · Answer

The Only 12x12 are Acoustic Ceiling Tiles and you may find them in the Armstrong Line, but not easily available. With your fixture, it can be removed, wires caped or etc for safety cut a small piece of Wood to fit hole or look for small discarded Drywall at a local construction location or local hardware if they have a small piece. Then use spackle and fill the hold, let dry and cover with our Styrofoam 19.5' x19.5' Ceiling Tiles.
Just a suggestion

Teresa Mahnke · Answer

Good ideas here! We may have to fix our ceiling too. It has a raised texture on it, which will be difficult to replicate. We need to remove our old box light & have already bought a replacement. We are not sure how much, if any damage there is right now. We will know more after removing the box.

Liliana Wells · Answer

Think of the ceiling as another wall to decorate. I like the idea of the ceiling tiles or a droppedceiling with similar tiles. I would alsoconsider stenciling the ceiling with vines or have someone paint a mural in theceiling (think Sistine Chapel), thus disguising the holes in the picture. Good luck.

Pam Donahue · Answer

Do a Michaelangelo and dress them up to go with your decor. Cover them with tissue paper, wrapping paper or even a light-weight fabric and revamp your ceiling, Some thing like some do with switch plates to update a refurbished room.

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

I don't know how large your ceiling is and that may make my suggestions cost prohibitive, but I would suggest fixing the holes with anything that can be covered and then use a paintable wallpaper. I used it to cover an ugly ceiling in my bathroom upstairs. You will need to sand down the texture on your current ceiling but it would cover a multitude of sins. I applied wallpaper glue right to the wallpaper without getting it wet and then attached it to the ceiling, let dry and then painted the ceiling. It was so beautiful...

Pam Donahue · Answer

No problem. Good luck in your endeavors!

Tegma · Answer

Yes, wallpaper is a great alternative, but it wouldn't work in your case because of the lifted design on the ceiling. You would have to scrape all that off, and talk about a messy job! Squirting fabric softening and then scraping it off little by little, is a lot of work, and talk about the mess left behind. Had your ceiling been smooth, the wallpaper would be simple and relatively inexpensive. And there are even some wallpapers that look like 'tin' ceiling. But... unless you're willing to do an awfully messy and intensive amount of work, wallpaper wouldn't even stick that well to your ceiling.

Marlene Wilson · Answer

I don't know how many holes you have to fix but I remember when I was a kid there was a chimmny vented into my bedroom up staires,and it had a cover over it and it had a picture painted on it .Trees and children playing.Don't know if they still make stuff like that or not.It would be a conversation piece.You could paint your own.

Rich · Answer

@April , check out your local hardware store and see if you can find a 4' round patch to fit the whole, Make sure the wires are dead and capped, for safety, Some patches glue on and some attach with dry-wall patch. Takes very little sanding. If dust is a problem, use wet sanding technique.

April · Answer

UPDATE:

I've been thinking a lot about this recently and all of the extremely helpful suggestions here. We're seriously considering painting the caps and attaching a flatter and less protruding medallion or a ceiling tile. We've been trying to find a no odor, no voc and eco friendly caulk or spackle, but it's almost impossible. So my only concern is figuring out something to recess in there or to be able to attach something where the wires can still get through but it would keep the bugs out. As he texture on my ceiling would prohibit the medallion or tile from being totally flush against it.

Any ideas on this particular idea?

Marlene Wilson · Answer

April,why couldn't put in recessed lighting?I don't know how big they make them but you could check.I see it on tv all the time!

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Call in a plasterer and see if it can be Skim Coated!

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