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Assistance Required

I've bought a couple of these canopy things to go over my kids beds, how do I attach them to the ceiling? They only came with a standard hook and a tiny (wall) plug. They're going to take a bit of punishment from a 7 year old and a 3 year old swishing them about, so I just dont think that will cut it.

I know the best way is to locate a ceiling joist and screw directly into that but how do i locate the joist without one of those locator gadgets or taking up the carpet/floorboards of the floor above. I've tried the tapping thing but cant seem to hear any difference. Also tried putting in test holes with a braddle every inch for approx 18 inches and didnt hit wood! I know which way the joists run so i know i wasnt doing that wrong.

Can anyone help :

Hi wilsonian, looks like your only other option is to buy a stud detector you can get them for less than £10.

You could always take it back after you have used and say its broke, and get a refund

Cheers



bah! I was hoping for a trade secret response which didnt involve me spending more cash, but I guess the gadget would come in useful again.

will it detect the beams in the ceiling or am i better trying the wall and hanging the canopies on a bracket?

my delightful daughters are bugging me and I will get no peace until this job is done and without meaning to conform to stereotypes being a girl I aint much good at this stuff -their Dads marginally better but has got well bored with this pink frilly canopy task!

Thanks though

Are you sure you know which way the joists are running??.........because if you couldn't find a joist within about 16", I suspect they are running the other way!!

If its a ceiling in an upstairs bedroom, some older houses like ex council sometimes had ceiling joists at 24" centres.
What sort of ceiling is it? PLasterboard?

You could use a couple of these, but probably not adequate for children to swing from!

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro ... 5&id=12229

Thanks for the assistance. It is an old house and I think its a plasterboard ceiling but I dont really know -the braddle went through fairly easy after an initial push! I think I'm going to go with the detector thingie though.

Nowts ever easy!