Installing hanging light fixture w/ no attic?

Question

We have a two story house and would like to hang a chandelier over the dinning table. There is not one currently there, plus there is no attic access. Is there any other way, other than to tear up a lot of the ceiling and notch the beams acroos to the fixture to get electrical wiring to it? My husband is a great electrician and great w/ drywall as well- the problem is the ceiling has a slight texture. From a prvious leak and repair, I know how hard that is to fix so it is not obvious. With the light from a chandelier, it would almost have to be perfect.

Any tips, suggestions or things I 've not thought of would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

The way I like to do it is to cut a round hole into the ceiling in the location you want to have the light. The size of the hole is the size of a ceiling mount box. You will want a ceiling fan mount box, a Chandelier is heavy, so use a box that can handle the weight. How you proceed from here depends on the ceiling/floor joists above.

If you are in between two floor joists(this is actually better by the way), you will use a compression mount that screws itself apart to hold on two joists. If you are right on a joist, use a saddle type box that attaches directly to the joist.

Now you have to get electrical to it. If you are lucky, the joist run in the direction you want to switch. The wire you need can run along the joist to the wall. Getting into the wall will require that you cut another hole in the ceiling or the floor above in order to thread the wire through the double top plate of the wall. You will need to drill a through that double top plate, which is 3" thick, 1/2" hole will to it. I cut a rectangular hole in the wall the size of a remodel switch box. I use 4' long flexable drill bits so that I can drill holes without having to cut big holes in the drywall. I try to pull my power from an existing lighting curcuit rather than an outlet. Lighting curcuits usually have #14 wire and a 15 amp breaker. #14 is easier to wire into the small light fixture wires. If you do have to pull power from an outlet, you will need to run all your wire in #12 as you will be protected by a 20 amp breaker. Breakers protect wires, not fixtures. The thin #14 wires would burn before a 20 amp breaker will trip.

Running across the joist is more of a problem as you have to drill through each one to the wall. The long drill though, means you can drill through two before you have to cut another hole in the ceiling. Do not notch joists! When you do this, you will weeken the joist and could cause a floor failure. All holes must be in the middle third of the joist. This is per the building code. the bottom is the worst place to cut any load bearing beam. The hole need only be 1/2" but you can cut them 1" if you want.

The holes that I do cut in drywall are 6" diameter and cut with a drywall holesaw. This gives me room to put my hand and tools inside the wall. The holes are easy to patch, because I use the cuttout to make the patch. To patch, back the hole with a 10" x 4" piece of scrape plywood. Put two screws into each end of the plywood, This will hold it tight to the back of the drywall. Now it is each to screw the patch into the hole. Another method, when you want a bigger hole, is to cut with a rotary cutter in between supports as big as you need. Save the cut out and use it to patch the hole later. Fix with setting type of drywall patch. and texture to match. Don't be afraid to try the texture patch, it can be done. Practice on some scrap drywall. You can get the hang of it.

Good luck with this, it can be done.

Answer 2

Replacing old, outdated light fixtures is an easy, effective way to update the look and ambiance of a room. New lights can add subtle style, create an architectural focal point or simply provide better illumination. Feeling apprehensive about working with electricity? Relax. Switching out old fixtures is perfectly safe and straightforward. In most cases, you simply attach the new fixture to the existing wires. Just remember to turn off the power at the main electrical panel.

Here, we’ll show how to replace a dining-room pendant light with a stylish new chandelier. In many ways, this installation is similar to replacing other types of light fixtures, except for one significant difference: Standard electrical boxes have a maximum load rating of 50 pounds. Most full-size chandeliers are too heavy to hang from a standard box. Therefore, if your new fixture weighs more than 50 pounds, you must install an appropriate support system.

Answer 3

Installing Pendant Lights

Answer 4

This is a case for using a test light, or a voltage meter. You need to turn the switch on, but without the wires touching anything, and determine which wire is "hot". That's the one that goes to the black wire on your fixture. The fixture will light up whichever way you wire it, but if you do this wrong, you'll end up energizing the outer edge of the lightbulb socket instead of the little point in the middle. That poses an electrocution hazard if anyone ever goes to change a lightbulb when the switch is still turned on. I recommend you take the time to find out which wire is hot, first.

Answer 5

Find the ceiling joist and install a hook in it to hang the chandelier from is the easiest---run the chain and wire to the wall and then down or through the wall. Some ceiling boxes are designed to saddle the joist to minimize the size hole that needs to be cut but then wiring is an issue though it can be done.

Answer 6

How about coming down,rather than going up. Maybe you could get to a circuit on the second floor, access the joist space from a closet or something and fish through the joist spaces.

At the John Muir House in my town, the sprinkler contractor gently pulled up boards on the second floor, and installed piping that way.

Answer 7

A great electrician can use one of these and drill and fish the wire up the wall from an existing electric box to a new switch and then up and over to the fixture location with a minimum of tearing out the drywall. It is not easy, but great electricians can do it.

https://www.milestek.com/search1.asp?ltype=2&search=1&skw=MTTDB01B&x=0&y=0&color=945507

Answer 8

first determine how the floor joist run. they should be the same as your basement if you have one or determine how the drywall is hung.there is a natural pocket there for fishing wires.you will still end up notching beams and doing drywall work.you also need a switch leg.try to pick a spot above a power source for your switch and in line with the ceiling fixture.you could use conduit also

Answer 9

wiring is an art sometimes engenuety is needed a cane pole or a plummers snake? depends on the situation if you have room between celing and roof you can put board across joists? i know im rambling but who knows ideas come sometimes. a bigger scution plate above fan?if exsisting wires tape new wires to old and pull through?a sling shot and a rock with a string tied to it?sheet rock is cheap replace cieling?

Answer 10

there is no short cut to your problem,if your husband is good in electrical and sheet rock it should not be a problem.i had ti install recessed lights like that about 8 of them.