Yeah Option #2 is definitely my favorite Method. I had to hang a ceiling fan and I wasn't comfortable until I found a Soild Joist stud to hang it from. 👷🏿
Any extra notes for Wooden Engineered Joist I-Beams? Can you still fasten screws directly to their bottoms? How should you add blocking to them, by notching it and screwing it into the webbing? Some extra details on them would be nice as they are in a lot of new construction.
Thanks! I have a tiny room and I can't spare the space for a solid chair. So I am looking at hanging a fabric and rope chair from the ceiling. Option 3 sounds good. I think I will use blocking twice and spread the load out over two anchor points.
What are you thoughts on using that same blocking size & length but securing it to the joist like you would to sister a joist… Is that just as strong as end screwing? Thank you!
The work around for the exposed cleats is to lean into it and make it a feature by adding more. You can do a grid look ceiling or false beams. Then you've got lots of support wherever you need it.
Hey black swan, I want to! But at this point, I’d probably have to team up with a good contractor to do it since I’m not running my own jobs anymore. But it’s on the table!
When screwing directly into a 2x4 joist (part of a truss), there is probably a limit on the size of screw I should use, right? The weak spot created by a really large screw might begin to weaken the joist, wouldn't it?
Any of your normal #8 or #10 screws will be fine, Barry. And a 1/2” lag is fine, too. You just don’t need much more than maybe 1-1/2” of thread in the joist lumber.
One caveat about cutting the drywall and insetting the cleat: In a garage or a condo or apartment, the drywall is fire-rated, so you don't want to cut holes in it.
@@entltyq I dont think you watched the video fully... the "insetting cleat" option bores out the entire outline of the 2x4, which is 3.5" x however long you need... which could be 12-36" easily. That's not a little hole, AND some apartments do yearly inspections, which if they notice, will be a problem for you. Not to mention, you're perverting the integrity of the fire proofing. The purpose of 1-hr rated construction is in its name, in that it should provide you 1-hr of burn through time, to get out of the structure. If a fire occurs near the area that you bore out, and the fire is able to get through in 30 minutes, and someone dies... you could be held responsible due to negligence. Just because you don't own it, doesn't whisk away your responsibility.
How long has it been fire rated for? Like since what year? My dad’s Garage has a Large 4 x 16 Foot Shelf that hangs from the ceiling via Nails… who knows who thought that was a good idea, but as we were prepping the ceiling and walls to be painted, we also noticed that the drywall on the ceiling was also placed with nails?
A tip for fixing drywall if you cut where there's no backing: use drywall clips. They saved me when I replaced my bathroom fan and there was absolutely nothing to attach drywall to and no easy way to fix the ceiling from the attic. And a tip: if you drill into the ceiling and don't get sawdust, you're not drilling into a ceiling joist. I was hanging an antique lamp last week and my stud finder lied to me.
In my house I get wood chips or sawdust wherever I drill in the basement or first floor ceiling, those are filled with it for insulation and noise reduction, yey for old school construction!
This is probably extreme overkill but when I hung my heavy bag and gymnastic rings for my home gym I used a 4x4 as blocking and screwed 6” lag bolts through the sides. Then I used through bolted some fairly thick eye bolts using large washers. So far it’s been pretty solid.
Also: I am not a carpenter like our friend here. Hell,. I worked on engines in the military, and then went to college to work on finance as a career. But I am a heavy DIYer, as I have spent years fixing up my own distressed foreclosure purchases that I have lived in. So here is what else I will add: Before you do anything else...right now...before you pull out your next power tool: learn to drywall. It is not hard. Once you learn, you can do it before you get any experience to get better at it (you just have to sand more at first). But once you have the confidence to cut open a wall, EVERYTHING you need to do becomes 100 times easier.
@@amberfrazier575 wait, belay my last. If the ceiling is popcorn, don't worry about smoothing it out after you patch the hole. Use the thing with a wet rag only if you have a smooth ceiling. If you have a popcorn ceiling, it isn't going to matter whether you're dollop of drywall mud is smooth.
A lot of newer construction utilizes I-joists or truss joists. How would you approach hanging, for example, a suspended storage rack in a garage with those types of joists?
Will the bracing method work with engineered I-joists? Trying to figure out a way to hang gymnastics rings from the exposed ceiling in my basement. Thanks!
WOW! I have watched a trillion “helpful” construction/carpentry/etc videos and this one has got to be the most thoroughly explained that I have ever seen! This is TRULY helpful and I am so grateful I found you!!!!
Thank you, Lauren! I’m going to have a lot of stuff like this in my first online course later this year. Full builds that explain all sorts of carpentry concepts. 😄
The fact that you had a mock ceiling was so awesome. Thank you for breaking things down so that even the beginner can understand! Your channel is awesome. Keep em coming
Good video. Might I suggest when adding blocking. Feed a zip tie through the pilot hole to make it easier to spot. Since most attics don't have the best lighting.
Hi, I am looking to hang set of gymnastic rings in my basement ceiling where the joists are mere 1 inch thick and 10 inches apart. What would be the best way to do it and please suggest me right hardware for the same, if possible.
I LOVED this video!!! Not only did I learn but I highly appreciated that the content was: • well organized • well paced • clear specific verbiage • simple visuals • included only relevant information • tone, speech and delivery of instructor was captive • length of video was great Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I know this is a US market channel, but I wish you made a portion of this video for us european smucks! Our homes are made of brick walls and concrete, I was looking for some tips for hanging a heavy celling fan, but your walls are made of wood and paper of there so no use for people like me... Joking on the paper and wood, was a joke lol :D
Thanks for the tips and info. I used the "add blocking in between the ceiling joists" to support a screw in hook to hang my bike in my utility room. I added two hooks and I can use it to do pullups at over 300ibs and it feels super strong.
what if your hanging from a truss built out of just 2 X 4's spanning over 40 feet. Ya know, like a 90's or later build? I always worried about screwing into the bottom of one of those to mount stuff because I worried it would lead to the truss sagging and other issues down the road
Oh my gosh, thank you for this!!! Option 5 is exactly what I needed to see for our weird ceiling situation! (Drywall overlaying old plaster and lath, with a heavy chandelier being installed in between joists) This is fantastic!
Thank you so much for this video, I’ve been wanting to hang an 80 pound boxing body bag in our garage but wasn’t sure if the joist would hold, this video made me confident it will. Also Dewalt impact drills are the way to go, totally worth the money, plus Star Bits and screws to match. Love your channel!
You explained and gave visuals at every step!! You deserve a gold metal 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. This is literally the only video I found with great detail, education and no fluff. ’m purchasing and installing a heavy bag for my 10 year old in our home and was unsure of how to do it. I feel very confident after watching this. Thank you!! I just subscribed
We have concrete ceilings where I'm at, so for me, it's the usual dyna bolt or other similar expansion bolt designs. The biggest problem with this is hitting rebars that cause drill bits to warble to either side and cause oversized holes. This happens more often with larger holes like 10mm or so. You could use rebar cutting bits but I think they should be used as a last resort as they could weaken the ceiling structure.
I have a concrete ceiling beam- attached to a concrete ceiling. I want to put an 83x10x 1/2 thick wood plank on it. Can you please give me a suggestion on how to it?
I’ve often had to attach some blocking for an electrical box that will carry the weight of a ceiling fan rather than just a ceiling light. Good video as always
@@dwayne7356 Exactly! I wish it was standard for places where it is a reasonable probability. That would keep me out of those attic spaces, lying on my belly putting in blocking!
For my autistic sons swing, I put blocks, 3 on their side, screwed them together and through the joists on the end, then I put some particle board over the top so the load is spread not just on the screws holding the blocks but also across the top of the joists. I know I went overboard, watching that has made me realise that, but I’m happy too especially since my father in law told me I did it wrong at Christmas.
Dude, this is the best video I've ever seen on hanging stuff from a ceiling. You are a master at explaining super useful techniques in a quick, complete way that makes it possible for amateurs like me to feel confident in considering all the options and knowing why and how to do a job a certain way. Creating the fake ceiling in your workshop to SHOW your work is genius. Btw, a few years ago I helped my daughter move into an apartment with limited space and needed a way to hang her bike in a closet with a plaster/lath ceiling. I eventually came up with something resembling the surface cleat idea. It worked, but I wish I had seen this video first to think about how/where to best install the cleat. I didn't think about installing it on a diagonal. Duh. That would have helped me. Next time I'll know! Thanks again!
Tie rod might be ideal if there were wires, ductwork, or plumbing in the way preventing you from placing the block where you needed. But the rod is small enough to get past the obstacle.
Wanted to add an additional note about using the toggle bolts with the plastic snap-off guides - I've seen a lot of negative reviews on them from customers at Home Depot and other big box stores. The truck up using them successfully is to actually engage and disengage the swivel mechanism several times (CAREFULLY so as to not snap the plastic) to make sure that it can swing into the open position more easily once you slide it into the hole you've made. I've gone so far as to add a little bit of lubricant to the hinges. What I've found is that the dust and grit from drywall, sheetrock or plasterboard can get into the contact areas and make it difficult to swing the metal toggle into position once you've got it inserted all the way. Those fancier toggle bolts are not cheap so if you've got to use a bunch of them it pays to make sure you've got them in correctly. I also err on the side of gently jiggling it a bit more to ensure that it's properly placed rather than brute-forcing it because the plastic guides are super fragile if any kind of lateral force is applied to them. But once they're in they work perfectly. I have 2 supporting a protector and another 2 for a motorized projector screen.
You. Have. Read. My. Mind. In a great way. I have lots of things I'm wanting to hang to use vertical space. Most are plants, which can get heavy. And most spots I can to hang them dont have joists. Its been driving me crazy having these projects unfinished. Ty! Perfect timing!
The cleat system worked great for hanging things in my garage. Looks didn't matter too much so I put up a couple 1x2s cross wise to the joists giving lots of flexibility for the things I wanted to hang today plus the things I will want to hang later (whatever they are).
I've used a board to spread very light loads over a plaster ceiling, but prefer supports to be many times stronger than necessary so usually attach to joists. However, more often than not the desired position isn't aligned well with a joist, so I employ a variation of option 3. Instead of screwing a single piece directly to the joists, I screw a block of 4x2 on each end of a bridging member, and then screw the side blocks to the joists with the bridge touching the ceiling underneath, ready to attach the fixture. This way I have screws embedded in lots of material, and all through face or edge grain. I'm only a DIYer so a little more time and material isn't an issue.
Thank you for the 5ways to do this safely. I got my first Dungeonworld book. I liked it, & will try get the next. I intend to get all and eventually donate to my library for kids.
I like using the Franklin Sensor stud finders. They have 11 sensors and lights that show the full width of a stud so you easily see the center of the stud. Some also have an electrical sensor to let you know if a hot wire is near that stud.
All very good suggestions. I'm always nervous about the weight-bearing capability of ordinary fasteners in drywall alone - these ideas will let me sleep better!
This video came at a great time when I’m going to hang a work light in my garage over my chop saw. It’s not heavy but I want to make sure it’s supported so it doesn’t come down on my head. I can’t see the numbers on my old saw so a light was really needed to get proper measurements. Great options for me, someone who doesn’t normally do this. Thanks!
You have the best and most informative videos. They are logical easy to follow and especially love how your explanation matches the examples shown in your video.
I've used surface-cleats in my garages. When it's in a garage, I don't really care if it doesn't look finished. I used to live in an old building in Chicago with a row of garages behind the building that I think used to be a horse stable 120 years ago. The ceilings were very high -- maybe 16 feet. I mounted some surface cleats, attached some pulleys to the surface cleats, and then built hoists to hang bicycles above my car. This way I could store a couple bicyles as well as our car in our 1-car garage. I'm about to do a similar thing to mount a surface cleat plus pulleys across a span of joists in the garage of our current house to mount my wife's paddle board to the ceiling. I agree with you that you don't get as much holding power with a screw in 1x or 2x material mounted flat, but if you're handing something with many individual screws then it'll probably be fine. In my case, my pulley brackets each have 2 mounting holes, and I'll mount 3 pulleys plus a fixed-pount pad-eye, which actually has 4 mounting holes. I think I'll use a scrap 2x6 as my surface cleat. So then the weight of the paddle board will be distributed across 10 screws that will go through the full 1.5 inches of the 2x6. With #10 construction screws, I would guess that it could easily hold 1000 pounds, although I only need it to hold ~40 pounds.
I have an awesome idea for hanging multiple hanging plants and grow lights from the ceiling, but was sketchy on how to support the load. I started doing a search but couldn't seem to find the right wording to get the answer I was looking for. Your video was spot-on and answered all the questions I had about how to properly support my project. Thanks so much! I have subscribed and looking forward to seeing other videos in your playlists. 😎
Need to mount an aerial silk to the bedroom ceiling, so I'm either going with option 2a (screw 2x6 between joists w/ metal eye hook) or lay wood flat on top of joists and run a longer metal post. I'm wondering if that is overkill & I could have screwed directly into the joist? In any case, thank you!
Omg! So, I went to Walmart and picked up the screw and anchors that you show us, then bought a the long loop screw the carabiner. I had everything else except for the string, I’m intentionally not listening to you right now but I must have watched your video repeatedly 20 times! I live in a brand new apartment complex in Plymouth Massachusetts , you know, where we ran all the previously settled families from the their homes and businesses?? Plymouth Plantation? Well, I live 2 seconds from Plymouth Rock These apartments are all brand new so any damage is mine! I can’t even try to blame it on another tenant
This is really a great instructional video! I randomly came across it via an outside link, and am now subscribed to your channel. Information like this is already important for safety, too often ignored, and it’ll only get more needed as people keep downsizing and optimizing their living spaces. I’m sure you’ll just keep getting views and likes on posts like this one.
Awesome video, but I have one question in regards to the Blocking option: I'm looking to hang a hammock from my deck joists. Because there would be a lot of angled-force (ie: towards the center of the hammock), should I angle the blocks so that the screw hooks aren't twisting/pulling the blocks or joists?
Those heavy duty Toggler bolts would be a waste to use if you only trust them for 10lb. They will easily hold 100lb from 5/8in drywall (as reported on the package, which has specs for both tension and shear load, and from the many tests on RUclips). But there's also an argument to be made that anything you hang from the ceiling should support 200+lb force in case someone trips and grabs the thing.
Is there a right or wrong way to drill into engineered "I-Joists" in a garage ceiling? When drilling into I-Joists, do I use the same concept (bracketing) as drilling into dimensional lumber (2x10 or 2x12)? I've searched You Tube for an answer to these questions with no luck. Thank you.
My garage ceiling is 12ft high and is finished but has no insulation above it. The joists look to be 2x4’s. I want to use a strut channel system in an “H” pattern and hand an electric hoist from it to lift the hard top of my Jeep wrangler. I plan to use channel trolley track to hold the strut channel, and plan to distribute the load across 5 or 6 joists with 3/8x6in lag bolts. My best guess is that in total, I’m looking to hang close to 400-500 lbs from the ceiling. Do you think this would work? I can’t access the joists from above, and for me…cutting out drywall ceiling isn’t an option. I plan to just screw the lag bolts straight through the drywall and into the joists. Thanks for your reply and input.
Stumbled across this video looking for some suggestions for some attentional projects, good job! Moving recently to South Florida, I've found that folks confuse joist with trusses. Trusses are used nearly exculsively on new builds and folks don't under stand that the bottom load of a truss is drywall weight and nothing else. Without some extensive reengineering of the ceiling support you can't hang squat.
Great stuff, enjoyed it thanks. Been a while since I watched (taken to watching what is sent to the homepage…….fascinating) your workshops come along nicely. Bob England
Thanks for the vidoe. Very informative. Would you also tell me the max allowable loads that we can hang for each method? I recently bought a heavy chandelier (270 lb) and I don't really know how to brace the ceiling joists.
Great video! I put up a clothing rack by using the toggle bolts. I don't have crumbly drywall, my house is old and has very thick plaster or cement thick type material. How much weight do you suggest I hang on it?
I hung yesterday a 55 pound object on the plaster ceiling, really not feeling comfrotable about it reading about how much load it can take. The load is screwed with 4 screws (the ones with plastic you show in the video). I have a feeling the load is too much, 4 screws are probably half a foot apart. Would screwing extra 2 screws directly into the concrete ceiling that is 10cm above the plaster wall resolve the issue?
Love your videos, but I’m the jerk who nitpicks. You mentioned that placing your 2x4 blocking vertically makes it stronger, but I disagree. The wood is stronger, but with the same screws on the ends, you are holding onto half the drywall area. Screws and drywall are your weak spots, you’re never gonna snap a 2x4 first. So you are stronger lying it flat, and better yet, making it thee inches too long, and mounting it on top of the joist with screws pointing down if you can extend your device that far.
I'm trying to add a punching bag without doing to much potential damage to the house.. I'm renting, so I'm looking for a alternative.. Great explanation and choices
Stronger on edge...I think the strength of a beam is proportional to the _cube_ of its vertical dimension, which is crazy,. I remember a problem from Calculus I class to determine the dimensions of the strongest rectangular beam that you could get from a circular log. I just don't remember _how_ to do the calculus. 🤷♂
Can you please share the load bearing capacity for method 4. I intend to hang an Ariel silk from it and need it withstand loads up-to 600lbs while moving. I appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks!
Can you hang a garage ceiling rack on the blocking? It seems my joists are too far apart for the kit I have. I was hoping to use one side on the existing studs and the other side using new blocking per your video. Not hanging anything super heavy on the rack, just bulky stuff, like coolers. I think it would work based on what you said. THANKS in advance. Keep up the good work.
Looking to install a Trx mount into my joist into the basement but don't have access to add blocking. Do you think just installing into the joist would be enough? I'm not gonna be doing any hanging on it but will be putting weight/pulling with the suspension trainer. Also which method provided the heaviest weight load? Thanks for the great video👍🏻
How about hanging olympic rings from my garage ceiling for pullups and dips. I can drill into the beams in the ceiling and use the ring hangar without a problem. Should that be strong enough to hold a 200 pound guy? Thanks
Thanks for the great explanation and different options to use. How would I find the joists if my ceiling has strapping. Furthermore, how do you mount something to hang if the strapping sits lower than the joists? Thank you.
Thank you for this brilliant explanation as I'm completely clueless. I have two children and we have hung swings indoors before but they were light and now they're older. We need an adult swing with heavy loads. We have a plasterboard ceiling so I'd love your advice. What's best as there is a specific space I'd like to make sure its robust and strong. Thanks so much.
I am going to give you another option for finding joists in a ceiling, which came from overcoming my own inabilities. The stud finder won't work in most cases, in your home, because of the love of that popcorn crap by builders. I do not know why they love it, but they have plastered it on every ceiling of every house I have ever owned. Option B, of knocking to find the joist...well...that's where my own inabilities comes in. I just cannot hear the difference, and whenever I think I do I end up making a bunch of holes where I "thought" I heard the difference. So, for a ceiling...here is my work around "option c:" Go up to the attic, and drill a hole through the ceiling right next to the joist you want (OR, to figure out what joist you want, drill up from the under side where you want to hang something). Drop a straightened wire hanger through it. Go to the other side, hang what you are hanging...and then fill in the extra hole you made next to the joist with a thumb full of drywall mud. Hey...whatever. It works.
Im looking to hang an aftermarket rim from my ceiling, its only 23 pounds but lets call it 30 to be safe. Id like to hang this from the ceiling and then put a light bulb through the center cap. How should I go about dealing with this? I was thinking if its possible hanging it from chains would look cool too. Thanks anyone!
OK I have a hard one for you! I had my kitchen remodeled and there is a window over the sink. The backsplash is tile and now in the corner where the sink and window are the tile goes to the ceiling. Now the hard part, the designer created these custom curtains and we do not want to drill into the tile. I have a crazy idea (per my wife) that maybe we could hang them from the ceiling, I thought of some type of toggle bolt but I would want to use the smallest wire I could find and don't want anything showing in the ceiling. The curtain is very light, maybe a 1-1.5 lb max. Am I crazy to think this might work? Would you know of a way to do this or any other ideas? (I thought of tension rod but would have to have a custom hook fabricated to connect the curtain to the rod). Thanks!
Yeah Option #2 is definitely my favorite Method. I had to hang a ceiling fan and I wasn't comfortable until I found a Soild Joist stud to hang it from. 👷🏿
That’s how I always feel, W!
🙋♂️THANKS ETHAN ,WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP OTHERS WITH PROJECTS, in an easily understood way 🤔 GLAD TO SEE YOU HANGING IN THERE 😁👍💚💚💚
Any extra notes for Wooden Engineered Joist I-Beams? Can you still fasten screws directly to their bottoms? How should you add blocking to them, by notching it and screwing it into the webbing? Some extra details on them would be nice as they are in a lot of new construction.
You explain things so clearly! I really enjoy your channel. Thank you for all your hard work.
Thank you, Neolithic! 😄
3/4 million subs, here we come!
I agree 100% with your comment "explain things so clearly" this is my favorite channel.
Agreed
I can't thank you enough for this video, but I'll try. THANK YOU! BIG HELP. I appreciate your time put there to share this knowledge with us.
Thank you for watching, Marcin!
Thanks! I have a tiny room and I can't spare the space for a solid chair. So I am looking at hanging a fabric and rope chair from the ceiling. Option 3 sounds good. I think I will use blocking twice and spread the load out over two anchor points.
Where are my manners. Thank you for making this video and sharing it with your admirers! 🙏🙏🙌🙏🙏
This was a great video, it's definitely a topic worth discussion.
What are you thoughts on using that same blocking size & length but securing it to the joist like you would to sister a joist… Is that just as strong as end screwing? Thank you!
The work around for the exposed cleats is to lean into it and make it a feature by adding more. You can do a grid look ceiling or false beams. Then you've got lots of support wherever you need it.
Ethan, have you ever considered doing some videos on stair remodeling? Such as newel post placement, types of hangers to use etc
Eric
Hey black swan, I want to! But at this point, I’d probably have to team up with a good contractor to do it since I’m not running my own jobs anymore. But it’s on the table!
@@TheHonestCarpenter Ya I'm preparing the tackle my stair remodel. New treads, new railings.
eric
Thanks
When screwing directly into a 2x4 joist (part of a truss), there is probably a limit on the size of screw I should use, right? The weak spot created by a really large screw might begin to weaken the joist, wouldn't it?
Any of your normal #8 or #10 screws will be fine, Barry. And a 1/2” lag is fine, too. You just don’t need much more than maybe 1-1/2” of thread in the joist lumber.
What if you do not live in a wood house?
I only have one hard and fast rule when hanging things from the ceiling... “Let me do it!”
Only way to be safe 😆
One caveat about cutting the drywall and insetting the cleat: In a garage or a condo or apartment, the drywall is fire-rated, so you don't want to cut holes in it.
You don't own it anyway. What isn't known won't hurt anyone. A small little hole that likely you will only make. Just being honest.
@@entltyq I dont think you watched the video fully... the "insetting cleat" option bores out the entire outline of the 2x4, which is 3.5" x however long you need... which could be 12-36" easily. That's not a little hole, AND some apartments do yearly inspections, which if they notice, will be a problem for you. Not to mention, you're perverting the integrity of the fire proofing. The purpose of 1-hr rated construction is in its name, in that it should provide you 1-hr of burn through time, to get out of the structure. If a fire occurs near the area that you bore out, and the fire is able to get through in 30 minutes, and someone dies... you could be held responsible due to negligence.
Just because you don't own it, doesn't whisk away your responsibility.
@@alexbishop5004 You're correct. I didn't know about those things before. Much appreciated.
How long has it been fire rated for? Like since what year? My dad’s Garage has a Large 4 x 16 Foot Shelf that hangs from the ceiling via Nails… who knows who thought that was a good idea, but as we were prepping the ceiling and walls to be painted, we also noticed that the drywall on the ceiling was also placed with nails?
A tip for fixing drywall if you cut where there's no backing: use drywall clips. They saved me when I replaced my bathroom fan and there was absolutely nothing to attach drywall to and no easy way to fix the ceiling from the attic.
And a tip: if you drill into the ceiling and don't get sawdust, you're not drilling into a ceiling joist. I was hanging an antique lamp last week and my stud finder lied to me.
Good advice, Lori!
Drywall clips are new to me. Thanks for mentioning them.
In my house I get wood chips or sawdust wherever I drill in the basement or first floor ceiling, those are filled with it for insulation and noise reduction, yey for old school construction!
I've used those before on a vertical fix, over some pipes. It's seamless if done right. You'll still need to use a copious amount of mud.
@@savageredbeard Molding would look nice on a ceiling to cover up any imperfections.
This is probably extreme overkill but when I hung my heavy bag and gymnastic rings for my home gym I used a 4x4 as blocking and screwed 6” lag bolts through the sides. Then I used through bolted some fairly thick eye bolts using large washers. So far it’s been pretty solid.
In one thousand years, archaeologists are going to find that setup and be able to infer that there used to be a house around it.
Also:
I am not a carpenter like our friend here. Hell,. I worked on engines in the military, and then went to college to work on finance as a career. But I am a heavy DIYer, as I have spent years fixing up my own distressed foreclosure purchases that I have lived in. So here is what else I will add:
Before you do anything else...right now...before you pull out your next power tool: learn to drywall. It is not hard. Once you learn, you can do it before you get any experience to get better at it (you just have to sand more at first). But once you have the confidence to cut open a wall, EVERYTHING you need to do becomes 100 times easier.
How do you hang a butterfly anchor from the ceiling with ceiling heat, I’m a renter I can’t afford to drill through the wire.
@@amberfrazier575 wait, belay my last. If the ceiling is popcorn, don't worry about smoothing it out after you patch the hole. Use the thing with a wet rag only if you have a smooth ceiling. If you have a popcorn ceiling, it isn't going to matter whether you're dollop of drywall mud is smooth.
A lot of newer construction utilizes I-joists or truss joists. How would you approach hanging, for example, a suspended storage rack in a garage with those types of joists?
Will the bracing method work with engineered I-joists? Trying to figure out a way to hang gymnastics rings from the exposed ceiling in my basement. Thanks!
WOW! I have watched a trillion “helpful” construction/carpentry/etc videos and this one has got to be the most thoroughly explained that I have ever seen! This is TRULY helpful and I am so grateful I found you!!!!
Thank you, Lauren! I’m going to have a lot of stuff like this in my first online course later this year. Full builds that explain all sorts of carpentry concepts. 😄
The fact that you had a mock ceiling was so awesome. Thank you for breaking things down so that even the beginner can understand! Your channel is awesome. Keep em coming
I wish I would have found this video just a few minutes ago before making a huge hole in my drywall ceiling.
Good video. Might I suggest when adding blocking. Feed a zip tie through the pilot hole to make it easier to spot. Since most attics don't have the best lighting.
Hi, I am looking to hang set of gymnastic rings in my basement ceiling where the joists are mere 1 inch thick and 10 inches apart. What would be the best way to do it and please suggest me right hardware for the same, if possible.
I LOVED this video!!! Not only did I learn but I highly appreciated that the content was:
• well organized • well paced • clear specific verbiage • simple visuals
• included only relevant information
• tone, speech and delivery of instructor was captive
• length of video was great
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
🙏😄
I know this is a US market channel, but I wish you made a portion of this video for us european smucks! Our homes are made of brick walls and concrete, I was looking for some tips for hanging a heavy celling fan, but your walls are made of wood and paper of there so no use for people like me... Joking on the paper and wood, was a joke lol :D
Thanks for the tips and info. I used the "add blocking in between the ceiling joists" to support a screw in hook to hang my bike in my utility room. I added two hooks and I can use it to do pullups at over 300ibs and it feels super strong.
I'm just impressed that you can do a pull-up at over 300 pounds. I'm not a girly man but no way I can pull my fat ass up.
You're over 300 lbs and you can do a pull up?? ....I'm over 70 years old and I can run a mile in under 4 minutes.
@@kimstockdale632 thats super impressive
what if your hanging from a truss built out of just 2 X 4's spanning over 40 feet. Ya know, like a 90's or later build? I always worried about screwing into the bottom of one of those to mount stuff because I worried it would lead to the truss sagging and other issues down the road
Oh my gosh, thank you for this!!! Option 5 is exactly what I needed to see for our weird ceiling situation! (Drywall overlaying old plaster and lath, with a heavy chandelier being installed in between joists) This is fantastic!
Absolutely loved the clear instructions with the demos. Thank you so much for making this video!
Thank you so much for this video, I’ve been wanting to hang an 80 pound boxing body bag in our garage but wasn’t sure if the joist would hold, this video made me confident it will. Also Dewalt impact drills are the way to go, totally worth the money, plus Star Bits and screws to match. Love your channel!
I'm putting up a punching bag too and I was nervous about the same thing
You explained and gave visuals at every step!! You deserve a gold metal 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. This is literally the only video I found with great detail, education and no fluff. ’m purchasing and installing a heavy bag for my 10 year old in our home and was unsure of how to do it. I feel very confident after watching this. Thank you!! I just subscribed
Very informative. Thank you. I need swing hung and I really enjoyed your video.
We have concrete ceilings where I'm at, so for me, it's the usual dyna bolt or other similar expansion bolt designs. The biggest problem with this is hitting rebars that cause drill bits to warble to either side and cause oversized holes. This happens more often with larger holes like 10mm or so. You could use rebar cutting bits but I think they should be used as a last resort as they could weaken the ceiling structure.
Do you use chemical anchors?
I have a concrete ceiling beam- attached to a concrete ceiling.
I want to put an 83x10x 1/2 thick wood plank on it. Can you please give me a suggestion on how to it?
Another great video. I like that you explain things in a systematic way with many examples. The pace is also very good.
Thank you, Tommy! I appreciate the feedback!
I’ve often had to attach some blocking for an electrical box that will carry the weight of a ceiling fan rather than just a ceiling light. Good video as always
You never know what future light fixture or fan will be placed on that box later.
@@dwayne7356 Exactly! I wish it was standard for places where it is a reasonable probability. That would keep me out of those attic spaces, lying on my belly putting in blocking!
All good stuff. Never new about notching drywall to make a board more flush....filing that away for future use
For my autistic sons swing, I put blocks, 3 on their side, screwed them together and through the joists on the end, then I put some particle board over the top so the load is spread not just on the screws holding the blocks but also across the top of the joists.
I know I went overboard, watching that has made me realise that, but I’m happy too especially since my father in law told me I did it wrong at Christmas.
I go overboard with just about everything, rather have too much support than not enough.
What does your son being autistic have to do with anything?
@@HaggisMuncher-y2u because the swing is part of his therapy, it’s a particular autistic indoor swing, so it alludes to the kind of swing that I hung.
Cleat method is how I hung my clothes dryer on the wall above the washing machine. 👍
3:07 Notice only the threads are visible when the bit is held over the bolt.
I have a house full of trusses - can I do these things with a truss? It's been drilled into me - pardon the pun - to never screw, cut, notch a truss
Dude, this is the best video I've ever seen on hanging stuff from a ceiling. You are a master at explaining super useful techniques in a quick, complete way that makes it possible for amateurs like me to feel confident in considering all the options and knowing why and how to do a job a certain way. Creating the fake ceiling in your workshop to SHOW your work is genius.
Btw, a few years ago I helped my daughter move into an apartment with limited space and needed a way to hang her bike in a closet with a plaster/lath ceiling. I eventually came up with something resembling the surface cleat idea. It worked, but I wish I had seen this video first to think about how/where to best install the cleat. I didn't think about installing it on a diagonal. Duh. That would have helped me. Next time I'll know!
Thanks again!
That’s awesome to hear, Alan! I really appreciate the positive feedback. Thank you for watching and writing in! 😄
New subscriber: Jeffrey Epstein
I did learn a few things here in this video, awesome, thanks
Tie rod might be ideal if there were wires, ductwork, or plumbing in the way preventing you from placing the block where you needed. But the rod is small enough to get past the obstacle.
Wanted to add an additional note about using the toggle bolts with the plastic snap-off guides - I've seen a lot of negative reviews on them from customers at Home Depot and other big box stores.
The truck up using them successfully is to actually engage and disengage the swivel mechanism several times (CAREFULLY so as to not snap the plastic) to make sure that it can swing into the open position more easily once you slide it into the hole you've made. I've gone so far as to add a little bit of lubricant to the hinges. What I've found is that the dust and grit from drywall, sheetrock or plasterboard can get into the contact areas and make it difficult to swing the metal toggle into position once you've got it inserted all the way.
Those fancier toggle bolts are not cheap so if you've got to use a bunch of them it pays to make sure you've got them in correctly. I also err on the side of gently jiggling it a bit more to ensure that it's properly placed rather than brute-forcing it because the plastic guides are super fragile if any kind of lateral force is applied to them.
But once they're in they work perfectly. I have 2 supporting a protector and another 2 for a motorized projector screen.
Unless I was hanging a feather, I would be finding a joist.
That’s how I feel, Martha. But I was surprised by how strong the newer toggles were when I started messing with them in my ceiling setup here!
You. Have. Read. My. Mind. In a great way. I have lots of things I'm wanting to hang to use vertical space. Most are plants, which can get heavy. And most spots I can to hang them dont have joists. Its been driving me crazy having these projects unfinished. Ty! Perfect timing!
Thanks Ros! I bet you can get away with just toggles for most of those plants. You can even hang wire from two toggles! 😄
The cleat system worked great for hanging things in my garage. Looks didn't matter too much so I put up a couple 1x2s cross wise to the joists giving lots of flexibility for the things I wanted to hang today plus the things I will want to hang later (whatever they are).
Awesome info. What do you recommend for hanging a sensory swing for adults 300lbs or less?
i hung mine on a joist and it has held for 3 years or so
I've used a board to spread very light loads over a plaster ceiling, but prefer supports to be many times stronger than necessary so usually attach to joists. However, more often than not the desired position isn't aligned well with a joist, so I employ a variation of option 3. Instead of screwing a single piece directly to the joists, I screw a block of 4x2 on each end of a bridging member, and then screw the side blocks to the joists with the bridge touching the ceiling underneath, ready to attach the fixture. This way I have screws embedded in lots of material, and all through face or edge grain. I'm only a DIYer so a little more time and material isn't an issue.
That’s right I will be hanging from the ceiling
Thank you for the 5ways to do this safely. I got my first Dungeonworld book. I liked it, & will try get the next. I intend to get all and eventually donate to my library for kids.
Finally somebody smart on the Internet, thank you!
I like using the Franklin Sensor stud finders. They have 11 sensors and lights that show the full width of a stud so you easily see the center of the stud. Some also have an electrical sensor to let you know if a hot wire is near that stud.
All very good suggestions. I'm always nervous about the weight-bearing capability of ordinary fasteners in drywall alone - these ideas will let me sleep better!
I Love and Trust your videos on your channel. You do a great job explaining and instruction!! Keep up the great work!!!
This video came at a great time when I’m going to hang a work light in my garage over my chop saw. It’s not heavy but I want to make sure it’s supported so it doesn’t come down on my head. I can’t see the numbers on my old saw so a light was really needed to get proper measurements. Great options for me, someone who doesn’t normally do this. Thanks!
You have the best and most informative videos. They are logical easy to follow and especially love how your explanation matches the examples shown in your video.
Thanks so much Letroy! 😄
I always learn something from your videos. Thanks
Great video and excellent advice! Thanks!
Thank you, Bill!
Second that
Once again Honest C….another great video brother! You rock! 💪🏼👊🏼
I've used surface-cleats in my garages. When it's in a garage, I don't really care if it doesn't look finished. I used to live in an old building in Chicago with a row of garages behind the building that I think used to be a horse stable 120 years ago. The ceilings were very high -- maybe 16 feet. I mounted some surface cleats, attached some pulleys to the surface cleats, and then built hoists to hang bicycles above my car. This way I could store a couple bicyles as well as our car in our 1-car garage.
I'm about to do a similar thing to mount a surface cleat plus pulleys across a span of joists in the garage of our current house to mount my wife's paddle board to the ceiling. I agree with you that you don't get as much holding power with a screw in 1x or 2x material mounted flat, but if you're handing something with many individual screws then it'll probably be fine. In my case, my pulley brackets each have 2 mounting holes, and I'll mount 3 pulleys plus a fixed-pount pad-eye, which actually has 4 mounting holes. I think I'll use a scrap 2x6 as my surface cleat. So then the weight of the paddle board will be distributed across 10 screws that will go through the full 1.5 inches of the 2x6. With #10 construction screws, I would guess that it could easily hold 1000 pounds, although I only need it to hold ~40 pounds.
Good idea, cluttered! I think you’re going to have more than enough strength there. 🙂
I have an awesome idea for hanging multiple hanging plants and grow lights from the ceiling, but was sketchy on how to support the load. I started doing a search but couldn't seem to find the right wording to get the answer I was looking for. Your video was spot-on and answered all the questions I had about how to properly support my project. Thanks so much! I have subscribed and looking forward to seeing other videos in your playlists. 😎
I used option 5 to install storage in my garage. Thanks for the video and tips.
Need to mount an aerial silk to the bedroom ceiling, so I'm either going with option 2a (screw 2x6 between joists w/ metal eye hook) or lay wood flat on top of joists and run a longer metal post. I'm wondering if that is overkill & I could have screwed directly into the joist? In any case, thank you!
Omg! So, I went to Walmart and picked up the screw and anchors that you show us, then bought a the long loop screw the carabiner. I had everything else except for the string, I’m intentionally not listening to you right now but I must have watched your video repeatedly 20 times! I live in a brand new apartment complex in Plymouth Massachusetts , you know, where we ran all the previously settled families from the their homes and businesses?? Plymouth Plantation? Well, I live 2 seconds from Plymouth Rock
These apartments are all brand new so any damage is mine! I can’t even try to blame it on another tenant
Another Excellent Verbal and Visual Demonstrations!!!
This is really a great instructional video! I randomly came across it via an outside link, and am now subscribed to your channel. Information like this is already important for safety, too often ignored, and it’ll only get more needed as people keep downsizing and optimizing their living spaces. I’m sure you’ll just keep getting views and likes on posts like this one.
Awesome video, but I have one question in regards to the Blocking option: I'm looking to hang a hammock from my deck joists. Because there would be a lot of angled-force (ie: towards the center of the hammock), should I angle the blocks so that the screw hooks aren't twisting/pulling the blocks or joists?
Those heavy duty Toggler bolts would be a waste to use if you only trust them for 10lb. They will easily hold 100lb from 5/8in drywall (as reported on the package, which has specs for both tension and shear load, and from the many tests on RUclips). But there's also an argument to be made that anything you hang from the ceiling should support 200+lb force in case someone trips and grabs the thing.
Is there a right or wrong way to drill into engineered "I-Joists" in a garage ceiling? When drilling into I-Joists, do I use the same concept (bracketing) as drilling into dimensional lumber (2x10 or 2x12)? I've searched You Tube for an answer to these questions with no luck.
Thank you.
very clear and helpful ty
I’ve gotten over 25 ideals from different people and your video was the best. Thank you.
Thanks for the valuable info! I was wondering whether hanging from a joist or blocking would support more weight? Any input is appreciated!
My garage ceiling is 12ft high and is finished but has no insulation above it. The joists look to be 2x4’s. I want to use a strut channel system in an “H” pattern and hand an electric hoist from it to lift the hard top of my Jeep wrangler. I plan to use channel trolley track to hold the strut channel, and plan to distribute the load across 5 or 6 joists with 3/8x6in lag bolts. My best guess is that in total, I’m looking to hang close to 400-500 lbs from the ceiling. Do you think this would work? I can’t access the joists from above, and for me…cutting out drywall ceiling isn’t an option. I plan to just screw the lag bolts straight through the drywall and into the joists. Thanks for your reply and input.
By far this is absolutely the best Best video I seen. Thank you 🙏🏾
Stumbled across this video looking for some suggestions for some attentional projects, good job! Moving recently to South Florida, I've found that folks confuse joist with trusses. Trusses are used nearly exculsively on new builds and folks don't under stand that the bottom load of a truss is drywall weight and nothing else. Without some extensive reengineering of the ceiling support you can't hang squat.
Very helpful and thorough video. Thank you!
What size/type of screws do you suggest for fastening blocking to ceiling joists?
Great stuff, enjoyed it thanks.
Been a while since I watched (taken to watching what is sent to the homepage…….fascinating) your workshops come along nicely.
Bob
England
Thanks for the vidoe. Very informative. Would you also tell me the max allowable loads that we can hang for each method? I recently bought a heavy chandelier (270 lb) and I don't really know how to brace the ceiling joists.
I like using metal corner braces when attaching beams perpendicularly. The 15-degrees bolts are probably ok though.
Great video! I put up a clothing rack by using the toggle bolts. I don't have crumbly drywall, my house is old and has very thick plaster or cement thick type material. How much weight do you suggest I hang on it?
I hung yesterday a 55 pound object on the plaster ceiling, really not feeling comfrotable about it reading about how much load it can take. The load is screwed with 4 screws (the ones with plastic you show in the video). I have a feeling the load is too much, 4 screws are probably half a foot apart.
Would screwing extra 2 screws directly into the concrete ceiling that is 10cm above the plaster wall resolve the issue?
Love your videos, but I’m the jerk who nitpicks. You mentioned that placing your 2x4 blocking vertically makes it stronger, but I disagree. The wood is stronger, but with the same screws on the ends, you are holding onto half the drywall area. Screws and drywall are your weak spots, you’re never gonna snap a 2x4 first. So you are stronger lying it flat, and better yet, making it thee inches too long, and mounting it on top of the joist with screws pointing down if you can extend your device that far.
What if the ceiling is a plywood board that is held by farrings? I need to suspend an 11kg projector that is 2.85m wide idk what to do…
Your last method is great for hanging speakers used for Dolby Atmos, when you want to get forward firing box speakers, per Dolby Specs.
I'm trying to add a punching bag without doing to much potential damage to the house.. I'm renting, so I'm looking for a alternative.. Great explanation and choices
Stronger on edge...I think the strength of a beam is proportional to the _cube_ of its vertical dimension, which is crazy,.
I remember a problem from Calculus I class to determine the dimensions of the strongest rectangular beam that you could get from a circular log. I just don't remember _how_ to do the calculus. 🤷♂
Can you please share the load bearing capacity for method 4. I intend to hang an Ariel silk from it and need it withstand loads up-to 600lbs while moving. I appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks!
Can you hang a garage ceiling rack on the blocking? It seems my joists are too far apart for the kit I have. I was hoping to use one side on the existing studs and the other side using new blocking per your video. Not hanging anything super heavy on the rack, just bulky stuff, like coolers. I think it would work based on what you said. THANKS in advance. Keep up the good work.
Looking to install a Trx mount into my joist into the basement but don't have access to add blocking. Do you think just installing into the joist would be enough? I'm not gonna be doing any hanging on it but will be putting weight/pulling with the suspension trainer. Also which method provided the heaviest weight load? Thanks for the great video👍🏻
Ok buddy chill, a toggle bolt can take way more than 10 pounds...
How about hanging olympic rings from my garage ceiling for pullups and dips. I can drill into the beams in the ceiling and use the ring hangar without a problem. Should that be strong enough to hold a 200 pound guy? Thanks
Thanks for the great explanation and different options to use.
How would I find the joists if my ceiling has strapping. Furthermore, how do you mount something to hang if the strapping sits lower than the joists?
Thank you.
Thank you for this brilliant explanation as I'm completely clueless. I have two children and we have hung swings indoors before but they were light and now they're older. We need an adult swing with heavy loads. We have a plasterboard ceiling so I'd love your advice. What's best as there is a specific space I'd like to make sure its robust and strong. Thanks so much.
I am going to give you another option for finding joists in a ceiling, which came from overcoming my own inabilities.
The stud finder won't work in most cases, in your home, because of the love of that popcorn crap by builders. I do not know why they love it, but they have plastered it on every ceiling of every house I have ever owned. Option B, of knocking to find the joist...well...that's where my own inabilities comes in. I just cannot hear the difference, and whenever I think I do I end up making a bunch of holes where I "thought" I heard the difference. So, for a ceiling...here is my work around "option c:"
Go up to the attic, and drill a hole through the ceiling right next to the joist you want (OR, to figure out what joist you want, drill up from the under side where you want to hang something). Drop a straightened wire hanger through it. Go to the other side, hang what you are hanging...and then fill in the extra hole you made next to the joist with a thumb full of drywall mud.
Hey...whatever. It works.
Im looking to hang an aftermarket rim from my ceiling, its only 23 pounds but lets call it 30 to be safe. Id like to hang this from the ceiling and then put a light bulb through the center cap.
How should I go about dealing with this? I was thinking if its possible hanging it from chains would look cool too. Thanks anyone!
OK I have a hard one for you! I had my kitchen remodeled and there is a window over the sink. The backsplash is tile and now in the corner where the sink and window are the tile goes to the ceiling. Now the hard part, the designer created these custom curtains and we do not want to drill into the tile. I have a crazy idea (per my wife) that maybe we could hang them from the ceiling, I thought of some type of toggle bolt but I would want to use the smallest wire I could find and don't want anything showing in the ceiling. The curtain is very light, maybe a 1-1.5 lb max. Am I crazy to think this might work? Would you know of a way to do this or any other ideas? (I thought of tension rod but would have to have a custom hook fabricated to connect the curtain to the rod). Thanks!