Ceiling Box + Engineered Joists

Perhaps you should look for an “old work” ceiling box, or an old work ceiling box with a fan support if you are mounting something where weight will be an issue.

Here is a picture of a kit, the rod for spanning the joists operates like a turnbuckle so you dont need to worry about screws in the end or cutting and patching drywall. Install the rod and attach the box with U-bolts, or whatever type of bolts your kit includes.

-- I found the board stretcher... finally!

J,

I used one very similar to what you showed us it works perfectly.

The thing is, I can’t see how the kit you are showing wouldn’t work because it should hit dead center on the I-Beam. The box would be at the right height.

Jimi,

Are the I=beams a wood product or a plastic product? If so, I believe they sell the brand of remodel brace in J’s post at Lowes. It should clear the the bottom of the I beam and get a really firm grip.

About the 2X4 idea. If you are trying to use celing brace you already own (and possibly can’t return). A table saw would cut the right depth for you in a few passes. That is assuming you have a table saw.

If you are working with minimal tools, I’d say skip the rest of the headaches and get the remodel brace that is intended to sit a little higher than the bottom of the flange and comes with a deeper box. That advice only comes from the experience of trying to make the wrong part work so I can save a few bucks. I think saving a few bucks has paid me about 50 cents an hour.

Best of luck to you and please share the solution that gets the job done.

-- Working on my home for 2 years and counting.

@J – I am using an old work kit very similar to that, however it looks like that one has a deeper box and thus the feet sit up higher. That might be all I need to get over the lip of that flange, so I’ll look at that one.

@Mark – The joists are particleboard. The old work brace I have was bought at Lowes (or HD, they sell similar stuff). I actually have two – one is a Westinghouse Saf-T brace and the other is Hubbel/Raco. I actually do woodworking as well, so I do have a tablesaw and dado set, so doing a lipped 2×4 wouldn’t be too much of a problem.

In your comment to Mark I see you have the two available options; they should both work. All you need to do is set the adjustable bar at the right height and pick the metal box that meets your needs. It looks like you are there, right at finished.
I hope your project goes well.

-- I found the board stretcher... finally!

I am with J on this one. That ceiling box should work fine to solve your problem. I am not an expert in this, but I had my brother over to help set up the ceiling fan box. Initially, we had trouble because the box was not flushed with the ceiling, but we managed to deal with it. You might need to brace yourself for possible mishaps, our ceiling fan actually fell on us as we were setting it up. Luckily, the blades are made of plastic. But once you are done, you will feel like you have accomplished a great achievement.

This old work ceiling box really works. J has provided you with a good idea. Go for it!

-- Love my Work!

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