Client asked to mount ceiling fan where light fixture only exists, so I need to retrofit reinforced mount and box. No access from above, will have to work through existing box hole.
I’ve seen expanding mounts that I imagine wedge against floor joists, but never installed one. Any brand you’d recommend or pitfalls to avoid would be appreciated.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
Replies
I don't remember the brand, but I've done a couple of those jobs using whatever they sell at Home Depot. A bit of a PITA trying to work thru a small hole, but it's do-able.
The standard units they sell at HD (Westinghouse, IIRC) are fine. They come in two depths and I like the deeper one. (More room in the box is always a good thing!)They have "legs" that rest on the top side of the ceiling to position the box, but depending on the ceiling, e.g., wood lath & plaster, you may need to trim them a bit to keep the box from sitting too high.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
You should check the existing to determine if it's mounted on a joist or mid-span. If on a joist you can maybe use one of the joist-mounted fan boxes (the style that mounts on one side, not the straddling style), relying on the fan base to cover the slightly enlarged hole.
Mid-span you'll have to remove (or move out of the way) the old bracket and then install the new one.
Arthroscopic surgery is always fun.
You just need to make sure the expanding brace is 90 degrees to the joist. With all the wrassling you will have to do to get in in and up there, it's easy for it to shift off axis while you are tightening it up.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.