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My neighbor watched me try to install a ceiling fan for an hour before saying anything
He finally came over and pointed out I'd mounted the bracket to the drywall, not the ceiling joist. I had to patch the whole thing and start over. Anyone have a trick for finding studs in an old plaster ceiling without making a bunch of holes?
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xena_anderson2mo ago
Honestly, that plaster ceiling thing is a pain. I've had luck using a strong magnet on a string to find the nails in the lath strips. Just swing it slowly and it'll stick to the nail heads, which usually line up with the joists.
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palmer.henry2mo ago
Ever notice how every fix-it trick has that one guy who pops up to say it won't work? Like there's always a hidden catch.
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johnfoster2mo ago
Actually, that magnet trick only works if the lath is nailed up. A lot of old plaster ceilings used wooden pegs instead of nails, so the magnet won't find anything. You're better off tapping for a hollow sound between the solid joists.
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