Them wooden things in the ceilings

[Chris]

Hi,

I feel over the past few years more people are moving towards recessed downlights, on new builds its easier as you can mark out while there is no ceiling and know where they will land. But when retrofitting i have a hard time missing all the joists, are those stud finders any good? Or does anyone have any advice/tricks to help with them?

Thanks

 

[telectrix]

1/4" pilot hole bent coat hanger.if it hits nowt you're good to go.

 

[buzzlightyear]

pilots bent hole looking at his hanger.if it hits nowt you're good to go.

LOL.

 

[Nebu1a]

I use a small drill bit or bradawl method. Magnets are great for finding steel capping in the walls

 

[naylorpd]

Get hold of the plans for the building, should show how the joists are laid out, within reason.

Optimistic - on my newbuild house the developer won't give me any plans at all. I'm having to work it out for myself. I use a FLIR thermal camera to work out where the pipes for the heating system are and the dabs of plaster that fix the plasterboard walls (they're colder than the rest of the wall). I haven't had to work on joists yet.

 

[leo79]

As others have said, tap the ceiling, small drill bit, lift floorboards. I always make sure spots are evenly spaced out and alignment is spot on.
Bathroom fitter I used to do work for used to cut the holes out before we got there and he would literally eye it up and just drill random holes. Never hit a joist and customer always chuffed to bits with the bathroom.
Makes you wonder if sometimes we go a bit over the top with setting out.

 

[Deleted account]

1/4" pilot hole bent coat hanger.if it hits nowt you're good to go.

That's my method.

But I love the magnet idea from Ferg.