I am planning to install a living room ceiling fan and would like some recommendations on the best way to provide a robust ceiling box to support the fan. The ceiling is made of 2 x 4 scissor trusses on 2' centers and I have access in the attic. The fan is a typical unit, probably weighs on the order of 25 pounds. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Go to a local big box store and buy a specially design box that that can be slid on an adjustable spreader bar between rafters or trusses. - Costs about $10-$15.
With this you can install it without access to the attic by just cutting a hole where the fan will be, inserting the box and spreader bar, turning to expand to the truss spacing and sliding the box into position. Working through a 4" hole in the sheet rock is not always easy if you have big hands, but is not that difficult.
Since you have attic access, you can always get above and put in a 2x4 between trusses and nail a box to the 2x4.
My problem has always been getting power to a new fan location.
Thanks a lot Dick for your quick reply. It occurred to me that since I have attic access, and if I'm lucky, a truss may be located where I want the fan. In that case, could I use one of the boxes with metal mounting tabs and nail/screw it to the truss?
Yes, the easiest way (which is also a very strong and solid way) is to screw a pancake box to the underside of a joist.
For a fan you can pickup power from any general circuit running thru the attic. Since most fans have remotes or are capable of adding a remote, you don't even have to install a switch on the wall if you don't want to, just bring constant hot power to the fan and use the remote to control the lights and fan.
Yes, the easiest way (which is also a very strong and solid way) is to screw a pancake box to the underside of a joist.
For a fan you can pickup power from any general circuit running thru the attic. Since most fans have remotes or are capable of adding a remote, you don't even have to install a switch on the wall if you don't want to, just bring constant hot power to the fan and use the remote to control the lights and fan.
Thanks Lockset for your reply. I prefer to keep the ceiling "clean" of any boxes so I'll use the box concealed in the attic. The remote is a great idea which I have previously used and plan to do this time as well.
Once you have the location for the fan figured out, then you know what kind of fan box you need.
Or you can go buy the several types and return what is not needed.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
DIY Home Improvement Forum
3.1M posts
319.6K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Helping You to Do It Yourself!