How do you decide where to drill the ceiling

[AndyPRK]

Can't believe this has had 12 replies and we still don't know if the light has been fitted!

I can't believe its still only on one page . These things usually run to 3 pages !

 

[Jupiter01]

Sorry if it was unclear @conny. The light has been fitted and I used my old approach of gritting my teeth whilst drilling the ceiling board. If it's hollow, I will use a plug and if it hits timber, I will screw straight into this. As I said, my experiences thus far have all been around lighter light fittings and hence the strength of a timber fix hasn't always been necessary. My main concern was the risk of hitting a cable. Hence the need for this post.

Following advice from everyone, I am now inclined to use the drill in a controlled fashion and stop as soon as it pierces through the board. I can then react to the situation behind the board. Also, if I am working with heavier lights, I could use a pilot drill or small screwdriver blade to locate a joist. I have also noted the magnet approach.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Sorry if it was unclear @conny. The light has been fitted and I used my old approach of gritting my teeth whilst drilling the ceiling board. If it's hollow, I will use a plug and if it hits timber, I will screw straight into this. As I said, my experiences thus far have all been around lighter light fittings and hence the strength of a timber fix hasn't always been necessary. My main concern was the risk of hitting a cable. Hence the need for this post.

In some really old installations, I would sometimes find a diagonal hole had been drilled through the joist, so the cables would appear coming through the centre of the joist below the ceiling.