Afraid to make big holes in the ceiling when I'm putting up a lamp! Help please :)
Hello,
I live in an apartment and plan to install a hook in the ceiling to hang up a lamp. The lamp isn't particularly heavy, but when I previously tried to drill a small hole for a screw for a smoke detector, I barely started the drill and it went through the ceiling... Also, I've noticed that the previous owner made quite large holes in the ceiling when they tried to install something, so I'm nervous about it all going wrong.
I'm unsure about what material the ceiling is made of, but I live in a house from the 30s...
I would be very grateful for a response!
Happy New Year everyone
I live in an apartment and plan to install a hook in the ceiling to hang up a lamp. The lamp isn't particularly heavy, but when I previously tried to drill a small hole for a screw for a smoke detector, I barely started the drill and it went through the ceiling... Also, I've noticed that the previous owner made quite large holes in the ceiling when they tried to install something, so I'm nervous about it all going wrong.
I'm unsure about what material the ceiling is made of, but I live in a house from the 30s...
I would be very grateful for a response!
Happy New Year everyone
Most likely, it's plastered ceilings considering your description. The alternative is that it's lowered with gypsum, but that wouldn't be from the year of construction in that case. If it's plastered, there's probably wood above that you can screw into. You need a slightly longer hook to get through the plaster and straw. At least a 60 mm long thread.
This is how the holes look that are there from before, unfortunately doesn't look so nice!
It looks like a stretched fabric ceiling painted with distemper, which can be repaired.
I don't think it's stretched canvas, looks like plaster edges. It might be plaster hanging on a reed mat or something similar. The easiest way is probably to shine a light into the hole to see how it looks.
If it's plaster on wood, long screws through the plaster into the wood are best. Since you have a hole, it's easy to figure out the material and thickness, always something useful to have it for
If it's plaster on wood, long screws through the plaster into the wood are best. Since you have a hole, it's easy to figure out the material and thickness, always something useful to have it for
Yes, it looks like plaster, so there's probably wood above, but there's often a few centimeters of space between the boards, so you need to hit the right spot. If you can't find a plank, you might need to try a few cm to the side.
You can fill in the old holes with plaster.
But yes, when you drill, more plaster tends to come loose than just where you're drilling. However, you often don't need to drill through the plaster, as it's loose enough that you can just drive the screw straight through; the thread doesn't catch in the plaster, so you need to press and twist, and it'll go through. Press until it stops, then you've hit the wood and can start screwing. If the screw goes all the way in without stopping, you ended up between two boards and need to try a few cm to the side.
You can fill in the old holes with plaster.
But yes, when you drill, more plaster tends to come loose than just where you're drilling. However, you often don't need to drill through the plaster, as it's loose enough that you can just drive the screw straight through; the thread doesn't catch in the plaster, so you need to press and twist, and it'll go through. Press until it stops, then you've hit the wood and can start screwing. If the screw goes all the way in without stopping, you ended up between two boards and need to try a few cm to the side.
want to see the fabric-stretched ceiling that is my 10mm thickMissAnpassad said:
would think plaster on wood.
you almost have to find wood to screw into then
you almost have to find wood to screw into then