X-Pole cracked ceiling! :(

Viva started this discussion · 2/26/2011

Hey guys, Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if there is some way to stop it occurring again? I put my pole up where I thought the beam was, and there is now a pretty big crack right next to the top dome!! I took pole down and the plasterboard is Aldo dented at one point where the dome sat. Eek!! I've been too scared to put my pole back up as we are renting, but really miss it :( Was thinking maybe if I put a board between the top of pole and ceiling it might be ok? Please help! Thanku!

12 replies

Tovah · 2/26/2011
Unbelievable! Did you use a stud finder to know exactly where to put the pole? Perhaps I am also thinking if where you are if the house/building is old or newer. If it is older and maybe even new that structure wise there is something wrong. Maybe if it's wood beams that are rotting, and if it's steal beams then no. You may be doing the owner a favor without knowing.
Viva · 2/26/2011
I didn't use a stud finder, but my dad was here helping put it up, and he looked in the roof to find it. Still, he had to check in the garage which is next to the lounge room where the pole was, so maybe the beams didn't line up? Or he could have tightened it too much? I'm thinking of buying a joist finder and putting it up in another room, making sure it's over the beam and doing it myself so I know it's not too tight! Aarrgh
Madfelice · 2/26/2011
We had it happen first time I put my pole up. My son was a little too energetic in his pole play and the pole although placed under a beam, was not properly centered there. We found exactly where the beam was and marked it, but we also go a large piece of foam about 3/4 inch thick, glued it to a board, placed the board on the ceiling(having of course marked where the beam was through it)and then put the pole up. This has left no marks from the dome or anything else. We pained the board the same colour as the ceiling so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.
Viva · 2/27/2011
Ok so I finally bought a stud finder and discovered the pole had actually been just next to a beam! Oops!! Thanks for the tips, I bought some foam for extra padding and def have it centered over the beam now!! Yay, can't wait to be pole-ing at home again!! Just hope landlord doesn't look up during inspection ;)
spinnygirl · 2/27/2011
Yeah...I'm noticing a little crack in the drywall too. I have it centered on the beam too (husband is an architect so finding the beam with a no-brainer). Maybe the ceiling is a little uneven or something. Also, the pergo on the second story popped up a little and spread some of the paneling apart. Oh well, still worth it to have a pole in the house!
Mary Ellyn · 2/27/2011
It's pretty common to over-tighten poles as we're all trying to be safe. But there could be any number of reasons for a crack in the ceiling or the abo ve flooring lifting up...like a weak or damaged ceiling, etc. these poles were designed from ceiling jacks that are used to support ceilings in construction when the main support beam is taken down. They not only hold up ceilings but can LIFT them up if proper pressure is applied. In fact, when we remodeled our studio and had to move a wall the construction workers used a couple of XPoles to support the ceiling!!! Anyway, as you spin on a pole there is a bit of "lean" if you will that is created...spinning form one side to the other, the pressure on one side of the dome to the other side of the dome changes. Especially if your pole has become bowed from over - tightening at any time, but even if it has not, that lateral pressure as you spin around the pole will put varying degrees of pressure on the edges of the dome pushing the ceiling UP on either side of the joist as you spin. I hope that makes sense? Think of a quarter dropped on the floor and how it rolls and wobbles in place along it's edges for a few moments until it falls flat - thats the same movement that CAN occur with the dome. So even if your pole is installed correctly, it can cause cracks. The best way however to avoid this is to take your dome down once a month or so and allow your ceiling to rest for a few minutes and settle in place. YOu should never repeteadly tighten your pole but take it down and start over every once in a while to allow your ceiling to ease back in place a bit.
spinnygirl · 2/27/2011
Very helpful Empyrean! Thanks!
CaseyT · 2/27/2011
I have a piece of mdf about 3/4 of a metre square, covered in a yoga matt between my ceiling and the pole and my pole has been up for about 8 months with no issues, but then again I don't use it daily!
nyte rayn · 7/19/2012
this just happened to me last night. Is it safe to use?😮
Veena · 7/19/2012
nyte rayn, its always a good idea to re-tighten and check your pole before every use. If your ceiling cracked, the pole was more than likely not put up along the joist properly or it was over tightened. The pole should still be find, but I would still check it out. 😀
Medamaid · 7/19/2012
The same thing happened to me last week! I have since added a board to even out the pressure. So far so good.
nyte rayn · 7/19/2012
Thanks!!!! I think it's a case of over tightening.(at my very protective husband's wishes) He says it's just very close to the seam of the dry wall. but we will double check before any pole play😁