light fitting

[fm1886]

Want to put a light fitting up on a plasterboard ceiling
but am unsure about drilling and fixing on plasterboard.
What's the way to go?

John

 

[Deluks]

Downstairs/upstairs? If upstairs and you can access the other side of the plasterboard in the loft, then fix a bit of 4x2 or other timber between 2 joists and screw through the pb into this.

Otherwise use the plastic or metal screw-in drywall anchors with the correct screw.

If it's a heavy light fitting then could be trickier.

 

[RedHerring2]

The 'knockout' hole in a ceiling rose is often off-centre so that the cables can be inserted and both screws still fix into a joist. It's obviously necessary to have the cables exiting the ceiling right next to a joist though.
If I have to fix some other type of light with a cable entrance in the centre of where it's fixed to the ceiling, e.g. rise & fall fitting, I've drilled a hole upwards into the bottom of the joist to exit the side of the joist and threaded the cables through. (Drill smallest hole necessary. Ensure power is isolated and take care not to damage cables)
These holes are not within the permitted areas for drilling joists, but I've always taken care to drill a hole small enough to retain some timber either side of the hole at the bottom of the joist.
Otherwise, as Deluks suggests.