Ceiling Joists advice (+ photos)

emydawn started this discussion · 11/26/2010

Hi, Im trying to figure out the best and safest placement for my pole... I have tried knocking (cant seem to hear a huge difference) and stud finders (I find these to be very erratic!) but am still a but unsure where my joists in the ceiling are, would anyone be able to advise based on photos? There are a few visible lines running across the ceiling, perhaps that is where the joists are? Here you can see the lines to the right of the red lines I have drawn... the blue cross is where I would ideally like the X Pole to go, and the green circle is roughly the size of the dome in relation to the ceiling... http://localhosthttp://i52.tinypic.com/308cy8k.jpg My inclination is perhaps to put the pole with the centre of the dome directly on the line nearest where the light fixture lies... but Id rather get some opinions before I do it wrong and crack the ceiling! 😀 Thanks in advance!! Emy

6 replies

ShakOldProfile · 11/26/2010
Hi, I found that my joists were inline with my light fittings and smoke detector. I have drawn on your pic where i think it should be. The lines you can see on your ceiling are probably where the plasterboard is joint up. If you push your hand flat up against the ceiling you should be able to feel if there is any flex in the ceiling, keep trying with your hand until you feel resistance if you can't hear the difference in the knocking.
Spinderells · 11/26/2010
I could be wrong, but I think it depends on where you live. In the US, the joists are further apart, so the pole has to be mounted directly beneath a joist. But in Europe, the joists are closer together, so the pole should be mounted inbetween two joists, like your green circle shows. And your red lines are correct, those look like the joist lines on your ceiling that you traced w/ the red line.
emydawn · 11/26/2010
Thanks for the swift replies, I will continue pushing it when I get home but to be safe I will probably end up putting the pole on the third red line, also in line with the smoke alarm. I live in the UK and the lines I drew on the photo appear to be spaced right to be joints which is why I guessed they were where joints are... but my friend also suggested that those lines may be where the plasterboard is joint up. Are the spacing of the red lines about right to be where the plasterboard joins up? Thanks again! Xx
chemgoddess1 · 11/26/2010
Go an buy a thin nail and a hammer. Nail it in where you think a joist may be. If it goes in way too easy it is not a joist. In the US joists are typically 24" apart and are about 1.5" wide.
Journey · 11/26/2010
I've heard of joists being 16" or 24" apart (it's 16" for wall studs so it can line up perfectly with a standard sheet of drywall, not always the case with ceilings). I'm in the US, though. The joists SHOULD be right under the seams in the ceiling... the seams should be from the spackle where it was applied over the screw holes and at the edges of the drywall (assuming you have drywall). The edges of the pieces of drywall have to be attached to something (again, assuming you have drywall). I've never seen or heard of drywall not being screwed to the studs at the edges... I would assume that would be bad construction because drywall can warp over time, buildings shift as they settle, etc. which are all things that would bust a ceiling open if the drywall wasn't attached by the edges. So I think it's usually safe to assume that there's a joist under visible seams in a ceiling, although double checking by using a stud finder or knocking is always a good idea.
emydawn · 11/26/2010
Thanks all for the advice, I have continued knocking , pushing etc and have put up my pole with more confidence (although not 100%) and it seems to be fine at the moment Cheers again!!! 😀