| Typical
fixing methods for poles are a fixed pole is screwed in position, it is
a good idea to use long screws, and most removable poles jack tension between
the floor and ceiling. In either situation when you are installing a pole
it needs to fitted securely between the floor and the ceiling both of which
need to be strong enough to support the pole.
If you have concrete ceilings then you can fit your pole
easily as concrete is very strong and will support your weight.
 However
the most common ceilings are made from plaster board.
Plasterboard is weak, but above the plasterboard
there are strong wooden joists. You need to install the pole beneath a
joist otherwise the ceiling will break and the pole will fall down. So
for your safety and the preservation of your home it is vital that you
locate the ceiling joist before installing your pole.
How to locate a ceiling joist.
To help you locate your joists you can buy a device called
a stud or joist detector.
 I
bought one of these, a rapitest joist and stud detector, for £15
from Homebase. I notice Amazon
sell them on line.
They work well on flat ceilings but not so well on artexed
ceilings. You place the stud finder flat on your ceiling, there is an
adjuster wheel which you turn until it beeps then turn it back until the
beeping stops. Assuming you are not already on a joist you slide the stud
finder across your ceiling until it beeps, this is where your joists are.
OK in practice it's not quite that straight forward but you will get a
feel for it.
If you push the ceiling with your knuckle you can feel it
flex if you aren't pushing against a joist. You can also tap on the ceiling
to listen for hollowness or not.
Using all this information you can locate your joist, if
any doubt go carefully when applying tension if you are fitting a removable
pole, if you think the plaster is cracking then stop, however the wooden
joists often creak when the tension is applied.
If you have access to the floor above you could lift a floor
board to locate the joists.
Please if you are in any doubt, get some professional help.
Once you have located the position of your joist it is a
good idea to mark it with a pen or blue tack so you don't need to find
it each time you fit your removable pole.
Another type of ceiling is suspended ceilings which are
usually too weak to to fit a pole too. The only options available to you
is to either cut a hole in the ceiling and fit your pole to a stronger
place above or to buy a free standing podium and
pole, which unfortunately cost more.
This guide is written in good faith, but you must take responsibility
of fitting your own your own securely. Please if you are in any doubt
please get professional assistance.
|