1. Lesson 4 Levelling a Ceiling
Dave Winchester 2010

2. Levelling a Ceiling Learning Outcomes Recognise a Datum Line
Describe how to level a ceiling
Identify a levelling cradle, and its uses
Dave Winchester 2010

3. Question
Discuss among your group and write down your answers for the following questions
What is the point of levelling a ceiling ?
On what kind of work would it be beneficial to perform this particular task?
You have five minutes for this task
Answers
To provide a true level surface for running in - situ moulds on
Every time you are running a mould an in-situ mould
Dave Winchester 2010

4. Dave Winchester 2010

5. Levelling a Ceiling A Datum line is a level line
Snap a level datum line around the room about 225 mm from the ceiling.
If the room contains a beam, snap the line below the soffit of the beam.
Select a point on the ceiling about 150 mm in from the wall that looks as if it is the lowest point of the ceiling.
Dave Winchester 2010

6. Levelling a Ceiling
At this point, place a dot with a lath or piece of plasterboard bed on.
Hold a square onto the floated wall and the dot. Tap the dot in or pull it out until the square sits squarely on the wall and the dot
Dave Winchester 2010

7. Dave Winchester 2010

8. Levelling a Ceiling
Having positioned the first dot, a mark is made on the square in line with the datum point.
Further dots can be positioned on the ceiling and lined up with the marks on the square and the wall
Screeds can now be formed between the outside dots and the intermediate dots.
Dave Winchester 2010

9. Levelling a Ceiling
The ceiling can then be floated and ruled in to a true, flat surface
Devil and consolidate the floated surface and put on a finishing coat when the material has set.
Dave Winchester 2010

10. Dave Winchester 2010

11. Levelling a Ceiling
Concrete beams or plasterboard beams are floated to increase the fire rating (especially with plasterboard beams that are encasing a steel structure), also to improve the straight lines of the beams themselves.
Dave Winchester 2010

12. Levelling a Ceiling
The floating of a beam is not too dissimilar to floating a ceiling.
The beads can be squared in from a floated ceiling (as described earlier) by holding the square flat onto the ceiling and marking the square, where it touches the bead, at one end of the beam.
Dave Winchester 2010

13. Levelling a Ceiling
As long as the ceiling is true and flat, the square can be held along the length of the bead at regular spacing, so that there is equal distance between the angle bead and the ceiling.
Dave Winchester 2010

14. Ceiling at different heights
Question
You have been sent on a job, the job involves levelling a ceiling which has two beam running across , you notice that the ceiling is at different height between the beams
How can this be achieved without using a datum line or a laser level?
Beam
Beam
Ceiling at different heights
Dave Winchester 2010

15. Levelling a Ceiling Levelling Cradle Spirit Level
A Levelling Cradle is used when the ceiling has to be levelled around a beam.
Levelling Cradle
Beam
Spirit Level
Dave Winchester 2010

16. Levelling a Ceiling Bonding Compound Chalk Line Spirit Level
Beam
Beam
Chalk Line
Spirit Level
Plasterboard Dots
Levelling Cradle
Dave Winchester 2010

17. Recap What is a datum line Answer A Datum line is a level line
How do you level a ceiling
By using a series of dots and screeds set from a datum line
What is a levelling cradle
A Levelling Cradle is used when the ceiling has to be levelled around a beam.
Dave Winchester 2010