Just bought x pole...then discovered there are no beams in ceiling

Nat Cat started this discussion · 12/14/2015

After seeing Veena's videos on youtube, I was inspired to buy my first pole. I got my package and tried locating a beam tonight, only to be informed by my neighbor that our apartments do not have beams in the ceiling because we are on the second floor, with no apartments above us. I do not want to ruin our ceiling by attempting to set my pole up as is. Are there any suggestions of how I could possibly install my pole without risks due to not having beams? Or am I doomed to get rid of my new pole? :(

16 replies

poleisnewtome · 12/14/2015
It seems very unlikely that there are no beams or joists.
Veena · 12/14/2015
Hi! I'm glad my video inspired you!! It does seem odd that you wouldn't have joists! Do you have a stud finder you can use? The only thing I can think is if you have a concrete ceiling, or old plaster and lath (I believe there are joists under plaster but stud finders won't pick them up because it's too thick), if you have either of those you can put the pole up any where. Some plaster ceilings will be more durable than others so if that's what you have tighten slowly!
Nat Cat · 12/14/2015
That's what I was thinking but he works in construction and has lived here for years, he says there is basically an empty space between the ceiling and roof with no beams because no one lives above us, it's just the roof. I know nothing about buildings but that doesn't sound right to me either. We have popcorn ceilings so it is also very difficult finding a stud so maybe he is right... So bummed!
Nat Cat · 12/14/2015
Our ceilings are popcorn & my stud finder picked up on some things but I was told by our neighbor it is probably just random metal pieces. I am unsure what to do at this point, I don't want to break through the ceiling or get hurt if it isn't going to hold my weight.
poleisnewtome · 12/14/2015
But the ceiling has to be supported by something. For the popcorn ceiling, try putting a thin piece of plywood against the ceiling while running a stud finder over it.
TangledGiddy · 12/14/2015
There may be no BEAMS but there are STUDS, that's how the popcorn stays up there. Are there any ceiling lights? Fixtures specifically?
Veena · 12/14/2015
That's what I was going to say, try using the term stud or joist! If he's thinking beam, I'm guessing to him that's a BIG support not found in all construction! The ceiling wouldn't have a finish if it didn't have drywall which needs stud/joists! Suspended or false ceilings are rectangular panels not popcorn finished.
Nat Cat · 12/14/2015
Well it sounds like there may still be a chance it could work then. I will have to try the plywood trick. There is a ceiling fan/light in our bedroom where I would like to install the pole. I think I probably confused my neighbor with what I was saying. Thank you for all of your input, I am not going to give up yet after all :)
Catsanctuary177663 · 12/14/2015
If there is nothing above you but an attic can you get access to it? I went up in mine and drilled small holes through the ceiling on each side of the wooden supports so I could be sure to screw the pole into the center of the support. Unfortunately I found my beams don't run down the center of the room so had to install one but that's another story.
TangledGiddy · 12/14/2015
Ok that ceiling fan is installed on a stud minimum. The stud runs the length of the room, so you have a starting point. Stay in between the fan and the wall and there will be a stud there. There will be two spots to check but you narrowed it down. Looking up at the fan, if you had a big + the fan would be centered and then the stud would go to the walls. So you can pick 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions to check depending where your furniture is. But if you check 12 then check 3 with the plywood and stud finder and vice versa. Thin plastic or any other non reactive item would work also. Have a floppy cutting board? The goal is to see which way they run the length of the room. ||| or = .You can then use the fan and the wall as your guide with what your stud finder finds to be certain you have support.
TangledGiddy · 12/14/2015
And no don't give up your almost there!
Ariabella · 12/16/2015
I am on third/top floor with concrete floor p, hurricane building codes, and floating ceiling. - stud grid with electrical and plumbing lines in the ceiling. This combo confuses stud finders. Magnets allied the nail/screw holding the Sheetrock to studs plus other metals to be outlined on the ceiling using thumb tacks.
catmoves2718 · 12/16/2015
I've lived in several older houses where the stud-finder had a difficult time finding the joists. If you don't have a piece of plywood, you can try using a paper grocery bag, I have found that it can smooth things out just enough to help the stud-finder. I also map out relatively large sections of my ceiling, to make sure I have a joist. So I'll use the stud-finder to map out the joist about 12-18" along the joist on either side of where I want to put the pole. I figure if I can't find the joist a foot or so down from where I thought I found it before, it's not really a joist. Then I move perpendicular to the joist about 16-24 inches and look for the next joist on either side. It's a fair amount of work, but it helps convince me I've really found a joist, even if I'm getting a lot of false positives from my stud-finder.
catmoves2718 · 12/16/2015
I should add, I use a pencil and a ruler or other straight edge to help out here. Just mark lightly, because it's hard to erase from paint, and putting touch-up paint on the ceiling is not fun.
Kimmaaaaay · 12/17/2015
I second the magnet suggestion. If your ceiling confuses your stud-finder (my ceiling and walls do because they are are plaster/lathe and plaster/blueboard), try using a small strong magnet (one of those 3/4" round fridge magnets works) to find nails that are in studs. The magnet will stick to the nails - sometimes it helps to tie a piece of dental floss around the magnet and let it dangle just a teeny bit so you can let the magnet "seek" metal objects in the ceiling. You can mark the nail locations with tiny dots. Once you find several nails, it's pretty easy to figure out from the pattern where the stud is. Best of luck putting up the pole!
litlbit · 12/18/2015
If you are in a condo or apartment complex, all electrical wiring is run through conduit, which is metal, stud finders don't work on that type of building. I've installed poles in both, also the metal used to attach the joists, or stringers in your ceiling will throw it off with a false reading. All of my ceilings have been plaster and popcorn, that material has nothing to do with a stud finder working properly (I spoke with an engineer when I tried putting up my 1st pole). He told me to use a drill with a very small finishing nail (you can replace the drill bit and use it like a bit, locate the nearest light fixture, then measure out from that at 14 and 16 inches in all directions, then use the drill with the nail in it (the holes barely show and you can put a tiny bit of caulking to fill them and you won't even be able to find the holes again! Anywho, that's how I have found the joists, and have never had a problem. I've had my poles in 4 different homes. I used to put my pole up in hotel rooms when I traveled, because the floors between them were concrete, so I could put them anywhere! haha!