Plasterboard ceiling fixing solutions

[bontjack]

I intend replacing a pendant light fitting with a new light and fan unit (heavy weight), however the screws of the pendant were only fixed into plasterboard and not into the joist because the wiring exited the plasterboard in between the two joists.

The plasterboard is not going to support the weight of the new light fitting even with the expanding raw plugs..

What is the best solution for fixing the heavy light fitting at this point, as I cannot repoisition the wiring over to the joist as the ceiling is artexed.

Any ideas, solutions that i could use or try?

Thanks

 

[colshaws]

Have you thought of these You can find it by searching our forum here, electrical advice. And of course tiling advice, and uk tiling forum. , will hold kichen cabinets or radiators, they should hold a light/fan
Didnt realise I couldnt post a link to s***fix,try these http://www.leofixings.com/fixings-p..._Plasterboard+Metal+Cavity+Anchors-8-122.html

 

[Deleted member 9648]

The only PB fixings capable of any real strength are the spring toggles that open up like a butterfly.....but only on sound PB and installed in a carefully drilled hole so the PB is not damaged.
I wouldnt hold up anything heavier than an ordinary pendant with the spiral fixings....If you use them for something with a bit of weight,it'll fall down....guaranteed....whatever the manufacturers say.

Noggin all the way.

 

[rocker]

Have you thought of these You can find it by searching our forum here, electrical advice. And of course tiling advice, and uk tiling forum. , will hold kichen cabinets or radiators, they should hold a light/fan
Didnt realise I couldnt post a link to s***fix,try these Plasterboard Metal Cavity Anchors - Leo Fixings UK

These only work on the vertical, unfortunately.

 

[Des 56]

You can use all the fancy fixings that can be dreamed up,but in the end any fixing into the plasterboard is only as strong as the plasterboard itself

Loft insulation ?,no problem
Even german snipers didn't have to breath the stuff as they crawed around on their belly
We electricians become immune to any shock horror reactions by Joe public

Either get up there and fix the wood and do the job correctly, or get someone who deals with it on a regular basis to do the job

 

[nikmet]

I suggest wearing ballet slippers for "feeling" your way across the roof joists ;-D

 

[rocker]

Just feel through the insulation for the first joist, and crawl it. Cut through the insulation where you need, bish bash bosh. I'd wear a mask, and be prepared for an itchy evening - it's not the end of the world. Don't know how long you've been doing this, mate, but you're going to have to get used to putting faith in the idea that the joist should be there.....

 

[BlueToBits]

If you're worried, lay a 6' plank of timber across the top of the insulation across the direction of the joists. You may need two if yoy want to bucket brigade them to the point. Shove a long rod (I use a couple of fish rods) up through the hole where you want the fan, take a joist, kitchen bread knife, hammer, saw and some decent nails up there with you. The rod will likely fall so make sure there's nothing to damage underneath when it does.

 

[truckster]

If you're worried, lay a 6' plank of timber across the top of the insulation across the direction of the joists. You may need two if yoy want to bucket brigade them to the point. Shove a long rod (I use a couple of fish rods) up through the hole where you want the fan, take a joist, kitchen bread knife, hammer, saw and some decent nails up there with you. The rod will likely fall so make sure there's nothing to damage underneath when it does.

I'd use screws, hammering nails into the joist can spring the plastrboard fixing leaving you with holes in the artex.

PS careful laying boards across the f/g insulation when it's that thick, I have pushed a ceiing down doing that

 

[Daveyboy]

You guys wanna try these. They are amazing but I can only get them in my local homebase. Use them all the time, I do alot of new build work which is all plasterboard and these are the only good plasterboard fixings i've found.
The ones that say hammer in metal plug.
http://www.blackanddecker.co.uk/BDBrochureStorage/piranha/range_1.pdf

 

[johnboy6083]

if youve got a light that will allow it, drill as large a hiole under the light as you can, and then push a block of wood into this hole. screw through the plaster board into the wood. then this sill hold it in place, so that you can screw your light to it. its the same way that you canm access voids to find cable in plasterboard walls, and patch them up after.

as othres have said, in this situation there is no real substitute for a noggin though, as those fans can put a lot of strain on the fixings

 

[Octopus]

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