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Discussion Forum

Light fixtures/Ceiling Fan hanging from cathedral ridge

damunk | Posted in General Discussion on July 11, 2013 11:04am

Do you people think the canopy should sit on a boxed out surface?  Or are you ok with the 5″ canopy hanging outside of the 8/4″ x 8″ decorative ridge beam that spans the cathedral ceiling in my new family room?  Thanks!

Reply

Replies

  1. patrick_mccombe | Jul 11, 2013 01:11pm | #1

    fan box on ridge

    One of these is what you need:

    http://www.aifittings.com/catalog/pdf/sections/fan-and-fixture-mounting-boxes-for-sloped-or-cathedral-ceilings.pdf

  2. User avater
    MarkH | Jul 11, 2013 02:16pm | #2

    I would just put the canopy up and let it overhang the sides of the beam.

    1. damunk | Jul 11, 2013 02:56pm | #3

      I think it would look fine, right?  Not breaking any rules here?  Canopy covers box so electical inspector is covered.  Just wondering if peeps would think the canopy needed to bear on a flat, all encompassing surface.....

      1. User avater
        MarkH | Jul 11, 2013 09:21pm | #4

        It's not the ideal situation, but I don't see a problem.  The inspector may differ, but I doubt any one else would notice. 

      2. calvin | Jul 11, 2013 09:42pm | #5

        da

        I have something around the canopy on all the installs I've done.  Just think it looks better.

        To me, anything less looks like a trimmed cover plate-sure, it works, but doesn't look "planned" for.

        1. damunk | Jul 11, 2013 10:05pm | #6

          I could pad out beam at fixture location.  Trying to think whether a 6"x6" box above the canopy perhaps calls more attention to the issue.  I gave some thought to a ridge beam 6" wide running the whole length but figured a massive ridge "doesn't make sense".  The beam is "decorative"-ceiling is 1 x6 white oak t & g sq. edge with false rafters 32" o.c. The whole ceiling is an 8 1/2 over 12 in a 15' x 22' room with 12' of the 22' cathedral.  Canopy is what, 13' + above floor.

          1. calvin | Jul 11, 2013 10:10pm | #7

            da

            I've done the padding out at the beam to fit just beyond the canopy diameter and also, run the block out till it touched the rake of the ceiling.  Since you evidently have something up there to work off of-mock it up and ask the wife.  I usually ask the homowner.

            13' up is the eyeline of someone about to doze off....................

          2. damunk | Jul 11, 2013 10:34pm | #8

            The wife will have the last say.  I was just hoping that I could tell her I knew what I was doing.  I actually think it will look smoother/less noticeable w/o padded box.  But she'll be sure to tell me otherwise.

          3. sapwood | Jul 12, 2013 11:46am | #10

            Finish the job

            Why in the world would you install a beam that is "decorative" and not follow through with an aesthetic choice for its appendages? The very fact that you've posed this question leads me to think that you know you should provide a light base but, maybe, you just don't want to be bothered. 

            You can probably guess my opinion on what you should do, but I'll say it anyway. Provide a suitable mounting surface... something that appears to be needed and part of the structure. Don't let this fixture dangle. To do otherwise is akin to installing one of those faux stone columns onto a floating wood deck. Totally ludicrous.

  3. DanH | Jul 12, 2013 12:12am | #9

    Make sure that whatever you do it's well mounted.  Fans have a tendency to fall off the ceiling.  There is a lot more vibration than you might think.

  4. calvin | Jul 12, 2013 05:21pm | #11

    da

    It would be a hell of a lot easier to see if you took a picture and posted it.

    thanks.

  5. User avater
    Mongo | Jul 13, 2013 11:02am | #12

    I recommend you box it out.

    Two choices in my simple mind's eye:

    If, for example, your fixture is oil-rubbed bronze, you could paint the box a dark brown/bronze color to match the fixture. The box becomes part of the fixture.

    The other option is to build the box out of the same "natural" wood that the beam and rafters are made from. Then the box becomes part of the framing.

    The box doesn't have to be huge. Just wider than the canopy, wide enough to provide full bearing for the light's canopy. Not much more than a fairly simple "U" that can wrap the beam, and detailed or trimed out to fit in with the style of the light fixture or the framing depending on if it's painted or lnatural wood.

    Make it look like it belongs.

    1. damunk | Jul 13, 2013 11:36am | #13

      I like it.

      Going to run some 8/4 x 5 1/2" stock (my rafter mat'l.) down ea. side of ridge which will give me a 5 1/2' x 5 1/4" "face" for canopy to bear upon.  I'll leave it natural as with the rest of the framing.  What do you think about dropping this "face" down below the bottom of the ridge beam?  Kinda make it look like the bottom of a mast.  Maybe 6 or 12 inches.

  6. sapwood | Jul 13, 2013 11:44am | #14

    Haste makes waste

    I suspect that if you allow only 20 minutes to this task then the result will most likely look worse than simply mounting the fixture to the beam. 

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