Installing a ceiling fan on a concrete ceiling

[MichaelD]

So my kitchen has a concrete ceiling and no metal outlet box in the ceiling like normal. The wires just come out of the concrete. The current light is held up on a hook...works well enough. But the light weighs like 1 pound.

I'm putting up a ceiling fan. It came with a mounting plate that has to be attached to the ceiling, then the fan hooks to the mounting plate. The fan kit came with wood screws to mount the plate. Who has a wooden ceiling? Log cabin FTW?

Anyway, what's the best way to mount the plate to the ceiling? I was thinking bigass screws with bigass plastic hollow wall anchors.

Ideas?

1. Superglue
2. Duck tape
3. Epoxy
4. ????????

 

[dartworth]

Tapcons

http://www.concretefasteners.com/anchors-fasteners/tapcon-screw/index.htm

 

[dug777]

Rawl plugs?

 

[TheoPetro]

Originally posted by: dartworth
Tapcons

http://www.concretefasteners.com/anchors-fasteners/tapcon-screw/index.htm

those things are amazing. Make sure you predrill the hole anyway because I have snapped a few heads off of them in my day

 

[MichaelD]

Ah, Tapcons! I forgot about those. :thumbsup: I'll have to see if I can find them around here...

Um...let's assume I can't find them. What would be second best?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: dug777
Rawl plugs?

Moly bolt? WTF is one of them? :|

Anyway, google 'rawl plug'.

It is what you want. i think. I don't care what you call them :|

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: dug777
Rawl plugs?

Moly bolt? WTF is one of them? :|

Anyway, google 'rawl plug'.

It is what you want. i think. I don't care what you call them :|

Ah, Lead Anchors. Exactly the same function as a plastic hollow wall anchor except it's made of lead (soft steel?) but serves the same purpose. We've got those.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: dug777
Rawl plugs?

That's the UK name too.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

tapcons.


period.

 

[WolverineGator]

You can find tapcons at Lowe's / Home Depot. Use an impact drill and a masonry drill bit. Trivial job.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: WolverineGator
You can find tapcons at Lowe's / Home Depot. Use an impact drill and a masonry drill bit. Trivial job.

You can use a regular drill and just tap it into the concrete, but it will take longer. Also, I started a bit of a fire after some of the ultra hot concrete fragments fell out of the whole onto something flammable. Since you will be drilling up I suggest you pay attention

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Who has a wooden ceiling? Log cabin FTW?

It's the rafters you are mounting it too.

Tapcons would probably work.

I am hoping your concrete ceiling isn't really drywall though.

 

[vi edit]

I don't know if I've ever seen a concrete ceiling in a conventional home. How thick is it? How old is it? I'd be worried about the rocking motion of the fan cracking the concrete or pulling the screws out.

Is there nothing above the ceiling rafter wise that you can't hang a brace from, then cut a hole and attach the fan to the brace?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Who has a wooden ceiling? Log cabin FTW?

It's the rafters you are mounting it too.

Tapcons would probably work.

I am hoping your concrete ceiling isn't really drywall though.

Or it could be plaster.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Thinking about it, this has potential. Make sure your wife is recording your DIY efforts in case anything untoward should happen

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

yeah, if it's not concrete, it could be plaster. how old is your house. concrete would be unlikely, but anything's possible