Pendant Ligth Fitting - 6 Branch

[Sandy Beech]

I am about to change the light fittings in the main room. The present ones are fixed [via screws and plastic plugs] into a substantial plaster centre piece.

The centre pieces are well fixed but I feel that the lights should be fixed to a timber batten to spread the load.

Advice please.

 

[Spark123]

How heavy? Is there a timber batten above? Put a hole through the plaster and use some long screws to reach into the batten.

 

[Sandy Beech]

Thanks Sparks.

I fixed a batten above each one (luckily one room above is boarded and the other has a carpet due for replacement so not too bad a job to fix them properly.

 

[pbar]

Fitting into the plasterboard is usually fine, for all but heavier fittings, and there are a number of ways to do this from standard rawlplugs, to those stronger screw in type (there are plastic one's for electrical fittings), and those springclip toggle one's.
There are a couple of ways to use battens. The ultimate for strength is to cut a piece of wood that will slot just right inbetween two rafters, you can then screw through the rafters into the batten, very secure.
Or you can have someone simply hold a smaller piece of wood above the fitting while you screw into it.