I was rerouting a cable through the ceiling and walls and had to punch a couple good sized holes (4" diameter) into the ceiling to snake the cord (snake got stuck). I've finished routing the cable and patching the holes in the walls, and was just wondering the best way to patch the holes in the ceiling.. The ceiling is plaster not sheetrock, texture is flat, and the holes are squarish.

Sean, December 2009

Hi Sean.
if the holes are as you say squarish , firstly obtain a piece of wood at least 8 inches long and 4 inches wide , next screw in a long screw in the middle of the wood to hold onto , next push the wood into the hole holding onto the long screw ,using the screw, pull the wood flat against the plaster holding the wood tight put a screw into the left of the hole , when this is done put a screw into the right side of the hole this should hold the wood tight to the ceiling, remove the long screw then cut a bit of spare plaster to the shape of the hole and screw it into the hole ,cover with plaster and job done. hope this helps

jim, January 2010

The best way to do it would be to get a plasterer to do it, but you could save a few quid by having a go yourself.
Firstly block the holes, preferably with plasterboard which you could hold in place with another bit of plasterboard over the top, or glue. Tape over the joints with scrim tape and cover over it with finishing plaster or polyfilla trying to smooth it off as best as you can using a plasterer's trowel.
Leave it to dry for a couple of days, then paint over it.

Adam, December 2009