Ceiling Mount Older House

[kinda]

Hello,

Sorry, latest in a flurry of questions from me at the moment.

I think I've got the position for my projector scoped out in my new house. It would be a ceiling mount. The house is a 1930s build.

I did this previously in a new build apartment (2004) plasterboard ceiling using 'butterfly' retainers that I then screwed into.

I would have tried something similar, but my other half says the ceilings in these older houses are not the greatest, can easily come down, and are just sort of thin wood strips with plaster in between, so I'm a bit worried.

I wondered has anyone mounted a ceiling in an older house like this and knows what I should be looking out for and the best way to mount it? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Clare Newsome]

As you've got to buy a new projector screen as well, i'd strongly advise finding a dealer that can both supply and professionally fit it. An install specialist has got years of experience, has almost certainly fitted screens into near-identical houses to yours, and will cost less than you think.

The best starting place would be a CEDIA member- you can find your local dealer/installer here. And don't be put off by all the pics of massive cinema installs - they do plenty of 'everyday' work, too

 

[andy_s]

Hi,

if you must tackle this yourelf my advice would be to measure where you want the projector and screen to go, give or take an inch or so, then go upstairs and do the same on the floor, if you can get a floorboard or two up in that area you can work out where the joists are and use them for support, if you get the holes in the right place you will be able to screw into the joists from below.

 

[6th.replicant]

Assuming your house has suspended timber floors - ie floorboards attached to joists - then your ceilings are also attached to the same joists.

So, if you atttach your projector's ceiling-mount by screwing through the ceiling-plaster into a ceiling/floor joist, in effect the joist will be bearing the load, not your "thin wood strips with plaster in between"-type ceiling

 

[6th.replicant]

... go upstairs ... if you can get a floorboard or two up in that area you can work out where the joists are ...

Good advice.

And be careful and take it slowly, floorboards are very prone to splitting during removal, make sure to use a proper Floorboard Lifter tool:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=floorboard+lifter&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1254&bih=683&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&ei=6Pw6TqS4NsezhAfUmKCUAg&ved=0CDoQrQQ

 

[Paul.]

You can buy scanners that find joists, as well as pipes and wires to avoid drilling holes in to.