I’m wanting to hang a porch swing from the ceiling of my front porch. The house was built in 1914 and has bead board covering the ceiling of the porch. The roof of the house overhangs to create a roof for the porch and the trusses run perpendicular to the porch itself. Any ideas on how to find the trusses (joists) to screw the hardware into? I don’t think a stud-finder will do the trick due to the thickness of the tongue-and-groove bead board.
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I have about the same type porch. I got up in the attic and added three 2x6 sister together. sitting on house wall and porch beam. for each end. That way the swing is on the 2x 6 and not the roof memebers. Plus I coule put them wherever I wanted
I don't have an answer, but I have resized your photo so everyone will be able to view it.
Someone should be along with an answer for you.
View Image
Thank you.
Now that I have seen the photo, it is clear that this ceiling has furring placed parrallel to the house and perpendicular to the finish beaded stock. easy to see where those are.
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I bolted a 2x4 to two joists and put the swing lag/eye bolt in the center of the 2x4.
i know first hand what happens when you miss a rafter. some quite eve and the suns going down ...all of a sudden the bottom falls out with no warning!man those were the good ole days. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
"I don't think a stud-finder will do the trick"
But have you tried it???
The better ones can do it. They operate primarily on magnetic sensing. If the ceiling was up up with nails or screws, the metal is what they are looking for.
You might also be able to use one to find the metal where the hurricane clips tie the trusses to that outer beam for reference.
If you have attic access, you could slide a scrap of angle iron right tight next to the joist and read where it is and move over 3/4".
Failing all of that, you could make up a trim plate for the ceiling. Kind of a long medalion with scalloped corners and detailed edges. Glue and screw that up right wherever you want the swing.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
here's what I'd do.
pull the light ... and see if that gives any access. Pull the box, if need be.
then ... hopefully U have a little bit of room ... 'coupla inches.
now ... get a bent coat hanger up in there. Bend it in a U shape ...
one long leg goes in the hole ...
one short leg U hold. Since it's U shaped ... the short leg registers where the hidden/ long leg is hitting.
slowly turn it ... hopefully U hit a ceiling joist.
pencil mark that ... then swing and try to find the "other" one.
now ... U got 2 joists marked .... it's an old house so U kinda/sorta have your spacing ... multiply and see where it lands where U want the swing.
then ... to check ... very high tec method ...
knock on the ceiling.
test drill with an 8th" bit.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Nice. That should do it.
Thanks a lot.
Use a magnetic nail finder to locate the nails holding the beaded ceiling up. Some of the electronic stud finders have a metal detector setting, which can be used instead of the magnet.
Once you think you've located the joists, drill holes with a small diameter drill bit where you want to install your hooks. If this test hole hits a joist, you can then drill your pilot holes for your hooks; if it doesn't hit a joist, the small hole will be easy to patch and paint over.
George Patterson, Patterson Handyman Service
Thanks for the idea.