Reply To: Miscellaneous Electric Tips

Pashuteh Yid-

1)Reading light-

d) Lath-and-plaster (commonly found in older houses) is stronger than sheetrock. Also, the odds are good that your screw will go thru a wood piece of lath which will hold a lot better than sheetrock.

e) Speak to the salesman at the store you buy the reading light re: its weight and support requirements.

2)Ceiling fixture-

a) Fixture boxes should always be secured to a beam.

b) For heavy fixtures or ceiling fans make sure you use a box that is properly secured and can support the weight and vibration. You may want to get a fixture box with expandable brackets so that it can be attached to two beams (especially since attaching a box flush on a beam may cause the box to protrude below the ceiling). In a finished space this can mean some chopping and patching.

3)Shelves-

a) Depending on the weight of the shelves and their loads, you can use anchors, toggles or go straight into the studs.

An electronic stud-finder can be bought cheaply at hardware stores and is quite useful (pretty much a necessity) for projects like these.

[not sure about the “expertise” part, but it’s a pleasure to help]