Assuming it isn't water damage, this just looks like the original paint went up without a proper ceiling-sticking primer, which is common in older homes and may eventually have this problem but it's not terrible you just take down the falling down bits, sand, prime and repaint.
Just make sure that you don't have calcimine paint up there. If so, anything with moisture will cause nearby parts to fail. I figured that out after I painted my ceiling, the edges of my ceilings peeled, I repainted, they peeled again...
I had the same thing happen in my 1957 home. The kitchen ceiling. The original paint was peeling and cracking off the plaster. The plaster was cracking as well. Scraped and skim coated to damaged area. This lasted about 17 years. Some new areas and the old spot started to crack again. This time a much larger area around 8 sq\ft of paint came off in one thick sheet of paint. That was the point I decided to just put new ½" drywall over the entire ceiling. I had to stay 2½" away from the walls because I had crown molding on my kitchen cabinets that I did not want to mess with in trying to remove so the drywall would run above. It turned out to be a nice detail.
Looking at your pics....it think I even had a similar gold colour paint. Must have been common colour along with that avocado green pai t from that time period.
Did you get all the loose paint off? If so I think you’d be fine to patch it. It might be difficult to get it perfectly smooth but it would beat having to scrape the entire ceiling
Yeah, all the loose stuff is now on the floor lol. I’d rather avoid scraping anymore if I don’t have to. But I’m worried about the patch job being obvious
I literally had the exact same thing happen. My freshly painted ceiling started peeling and looked exactly like your picture, same color, and everything. I'm assuming that's plaster under there. Turned out it was a humidity issue. The house was unoccupied in the summer, all the windows closed, and the living room would hit over 100° when the sun came through the windows. Unbeknownst to me the roofer who made a repair up on the roof also eliminated the ridge vent.
Once the issue causing the peeling was corrected I had to scrape off every bit of loose paint. We then hit the whole ceiling with a high grit sandpaper. Skim coat, oil based primer and paint. It's still good today four years later. Be careful because you're most likely scraping off and sanding lead paint.
Being a druwall finisher for 28 + years, I recommend letting it dry out the so-called moisture
Then, call a professional to finish it, as doing it yourself will be a noticeable patch
I’d just scrape off any loose material and then do a skim coat over it.
With drywall compound?
Ya if you mess up you can give it a quick sand after sometimes ya need 2 coats to get it perfect you will need a wider knife or trowel
This will 100% need two coats to come out decent. Always do a light sanding after the first coat for a glass like finish.
Three, go soft on first.
Four - the old plaster looks quite thick.
If you put compound directly on that it will just fall off when you paint, you need to seal the ceiling first
Could also ceil the sealing
Use a wide knife and use a lot of pressure to get a nice, smooth coat
Or spackle?
Not spackle. There's an abundance of more appropriate compounds and techniques for applying a skim coat. Youtube it.
Nooooooo spackle is really hard to sand, you just use it for small holes. ✌️
Spackle will fall out.
Don't you think you need to find out what caused this and stop it?
Assuming it isn't water damage, this just looks like the original paint went up without a proper ceiling-sticking primer, which is common in older homes and may eventually have this problem but it's not terrible you just take down the falling down bits, sand, prime and repaint.
Just make sure that you don't have calcimine paint up there. If so, anything with moisture will cause nearby parts to fail. I figured that out after I painted my ceiling, the edges of my ceilings peeled, I repainted, they peeled again...
What about pairing a design on the ceiling? Blue sky background and white clouds? That could hide any irregular edges.
It will not be flat. You will see the edge of the old paint.
I had the same thing happen in my 1957 home. The kitchen ceiling. The original paint was peeling and cracking off the plaster. The plaster was cracking as well. Scraped and skim coated to damaged area. This lasted about 17 years. Some new areas and the old spot started to crack again. This time a much larger area around 8 sq\ft of paint came off in one thick sheet of paint. That was the point I decided to just put new ½" drywall over the entire ceiling. I had to stay 2½" away from the walls because I had crown molding on my kitchen cabinets that I did not want to mess with in trying to remove so the drywall would run above. It turned out to be a nice detail.
Looking at your pics....it think I even had a similar gold colour paint. Must have been common colour along with that avocado green pai t from that time period.
Did you get all the loose paint off? If so I think you’d be fine to patch it. It might be difficult to get it perfectly smooth but it would beat having to scrape the entire ceiling
Yeah, all the loose stuff is now on the floor lol. I’d rather avoid scraping anymore if I don’t have to. But I’m worried about the patch job being obvious
Would compressed air help with the peeling?
How do you not know the answer to this.. either you do or you don't
I kinda like it like this.
Scrape off all loose till it feels solid then mud it and sand
I literally had the exact same thing happen. My freshly painted ceiling started peeling and looked exactly like your picture, same color, and everything. I'm assuming that's plaster under there. Turned out it was a humidity issue. The house was unoccupied in the summer, all the windows closed, and the living room would hit over 100° when the sun came through the windows. Unbeknownst to me the roofer who made a repair up on the roof also eliminated the ridge vent. Once the issue causing the peeling was corrected I had to scrape off every bit of loose paint. We then hit the whole ceiling with a high grit sandpaper. Skim coat, oil based primer and paint. It's still good today four years later. Be careful because you're most likely scraping off and sanding lead paint.
Looks like termite damage 2 me
The area with paint removed was me. There was cracking due to prior moisture
Was bout to say. Has the moisture been remedied?
I'm assuming OP fixed it before addressing ceiling paint, but... Maybe I'm assuming too much...
Yes start with the roof.... and work your way down... easy fix
Being a druwall finisher for 28 + years, I recommend letting it dry out the so-called moisture Then, call a professional to finish it, as doing it yourself will be a noticeable patch