Material in the ceiling of a house from '76?

[Andreas A.]

Was Treetex used as an interior ceiling in the 70s?

I'm planning to hang a ceiling lamp that weighs quite a bit and am wondering what the ceiling can support.

Anyone know?

See picture of the material, thickness about 14mm

 

[Fotografen]

Is it hard or soft if you poke it?
My memory of the 70s is that it was the decade of particleboard, but if it feels like treetex, it might be some conservative builder who put some raw planks in the ceiling, and then treetex on top? That's what they did in the 40s and 50s...
How does it feel where you're going to make a hole, does it respond?
If it is treetex, I find it hard to believe that they would have put treetex between beams, it would probably have fallen down by now.

 

[Andreas A.]

It feels relatively soft, though not spongy. Feels fluffier and more "tough" than a (modern) chipboard.

 

[Lutte]

I would say it's tretex. The one we had in the walls was exactly 14mm thick.

It should probably be attached to shiplap or sparse paneling.
Screws hold poorly in tretex, so I wouldn't hang anything heavy at all in the tretex.

Edit: There is a type of tongue and groove masonite that's just as thick, but it is rock hard.

 

[Andreas A.]

Would it work with anchor plugs or another type that expands on the inside?

 

[Andreas A.]

My stud finder (simple model) can't find any studs in the ceiling. Can Treetex interfere with it in some way?

 

[Lutte]

Disc expander or something similar should work if you don't have tongue and groove underneath. Try screwing in a screw to see if there's anything behind.

 

[Stefan N]

Was Treetex used as an interior ceiling in the 70s?

Had it in my house from '74. Hanging something just on treetex might be silly; it's best to locate a beam underneath and screw into it.

 

[Andreas A.]

Had it in my house from '74. Hanging something only on tretex might be foolish; the best is to locate a joist underneath and screw into that.

Yes, that's kind of how I feel.
The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any joist where we want to hang the lamp.

 

[Stefan N]

In my case, it was nailed in with a million small nails with cc30 nail rule, try using a strong magnet to see if you can locate what they're attached with? Otherwise, you can take a decent needle and poke through to see where they are.

 

[Magnus E K]

Assuming there's another floor above? If it's an attic, can't you investigate from above how it's constructed?

 

[Fotografen]

Would it work with a drywall anchor or any other type that expands on the inside?

No, the treetex is too weak.
Find a stud.