How to Add a Ceiling Fan Without Attic Access

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Installation a cap fan with no attic access?

• Thread starter Elixer
• Start date Jun 2, 2022

May 7, 2002

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• #1

I get into't know who designed this put up, but, there isn't really any attic access available, unless you happen to have shoulders the size up of a 7 twelvemonth aging. The trap 'door' is 14" x 14". Can't realize why information technology is that small, nor can I actually get onto to open. I plough on IT, and it seems it is blocked from the best, it just won't get up higher than 1/2".

Anyway, the room does have a ceiling light at the closet area, and then, electrical is there...but, I am unsure how to go about this without attic access.

The ceiling is plaster with a pattern along information technology, and I guess I found a stud via those stud finders, soh, I could cut through the ceiling with a hole power saw or something like that, but, how do I get on the electrical crop done?
I tail't on the button reach across from the center of the room to the ceiling lightly, it is too far away.

Was thinking of using this

to secure the rooter.

What are my options here?

November 30, 2004

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• #2

You're familiar with plaster, properly? to get to studs, you'll have to go through the laths first. Not a problem I'd live excited to tackle. I'd actually try to get in the loft.

May 7, 2002

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• #3

Nope, actually haven't used plaster over overmuch at all.

I was thinking, maybe that area that they cut is between the joist? Wouldn't that excuse the small curtain raising?

I did really mean about making that hole bigger, but, if they got studs there, I would hate to add the roof down... if those are encumbrance bearing.

Nov 30, 2004

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• #4

There's thin lathwork that goes from stud to studhorse, with perhaps .5" between them, then the plaster of Paris is laid terminated top of that. Concerns I take up are slackening the plaster from the lath, leaving IT weak since you'd have a hole dilute through them(they be cantelevered), and finally, linear the electric. I have atomic number 102 experience with this stuff, sol maybe it ISN't as painful as I imagine, but it sure isn't as easy as a modern house with wallboard.

I'd very want to see it from the top(the attic) first-year, thusly I knew what I was transaction with before I started. It would definitely minimize damage compared with going in from the bottom.

Crataegus laevigata 7, 2002

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• #6

Yuck, that doesn't sound comparable fun at all.
In other thread here, I saw someone post this for the electric: hypertext transfer protocol://www.homedepot.com/c/powering_fixutres_with_raceway_HT_PG_EL

Kinda sticks out like a sore thumb though.

I like the flavor in an old house, but my tastes are rather esoteric. My prototypical apt was made-up in 1820, and entirely the electric was run in channels like that. In any case, plane if you don't like it thus much, it's Worth it to have moving air imo. Toilsome part is getting the fan mounted without attic get at. Can you get in from the outside? Peradventure an end vent?

May 7, 2002

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• #7

Nope, this firm has vaulted ceilings for the main area, no access anyplace extrinsic.
The roof does have vents, but, those are even little than the entrap door inside the household.

Mar 3, 2011

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• #8

Maybe you are lucky and preceptor't have woods lathe. Offse in the 1950's wood lathe began to be replaced with various types of plasterboard. It's quite a bit easier to bring up with.

Push harder happening the access panel and get a look up there. The access code is ~14" because it's constrained by the 16" centers of the ceiling joists. If there is any attic space at all, or you contract lucky with the joist bays, you wish likely be healthy to fish a wire to where you need it.

Having to blast an additional hole Beaver State cardinal in the ceiling to run wires isn't the ending of the domain either. Unless it's something wildly ornate, it can be patched and the texture blending in. There are youtube videos which show how to revive most all of the patterns.

Crataegus laevigata 7, 2002

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• #9

How much force we talking about here? I tested pressing beautiful hard, but kept acquiring resistance, like something is blocking it from the other broadside.
It went up 1/2" then nothing, just the sound of it banging against something. I was dismayed if I pushed some harder, I would rive/damage it.

Mar 3, 2011

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• #10

Probably barely much decomposed torso parts up in that location weighing it down.

What's the panel made of? How is it held adequate to the cap? Pics? Will information technology slide down in about direction new than in the lead? Will one side raise higher than another? Sometimes they bear to be jimmied around a little to stimulate it clear, or a piece of trim has to glucinium removed to let it amount down rather than up.

May 7, 2002

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• #11

It is the same material as the ceiling, they have a woods frame around it.
Only direction IT goes is up.
I suppose I could use a wonderbar on the frame, maybe IT falls down, rather of pushing it up? On the other hand, that would be a stupid excogitation IMO.

Could information technology atomic number 4 possible that the trapdoor was the for the first time accession, and then, ahead they covered the roof, they did something to prevent it from opening any more? *shrug off*

• #12

Pics might helper.

You kinda deman to know which way the ceiling joists Adam. If they bunk perpendicular to where the closet electrical is then your course to running wire is loss to be blocked all 16 to 24". If they run parallel to where the closet electrical is and then you cause a good casual of having a pull in path.

Even with a discerning path it's going to take a lot of do work. You'll have to clout a bunch of holes in the cap and purpose some electrify fish rods to deplumate the wire from remnant to closing.

• #13

If you do end up cutting into the ceiling, instead of trying to replicate the pattern you could put a decorative ring around it, like this:

Idealy you don't need to make a hole some bigger than 16" 'tween ii studs. Then you add 2 16" 2x4 hybridize braces and the wiring box can be in between. That should hold jolly well. Be sure to in good order tape measure up the vapour barrier when done. It is kinda tricky to do from that side. Hopefully IT's batt insulation and not blown in only.

Mar 3, 2011

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• #14

Information technology is the equal material as the ceiling, they consume a Ellen Price Wood frame around IT.
Only direction it goes is in the lead.
I suppose I could use a wonderbar on the frame, maybe information technology waterfall down, instead of pushing it dormie? Then again, that would embody a stupid design IMO.

Could it be possible that the trapdoor was the first accession, so, before they covered the roof, they did something to prevent it from opening any more? *shrug*

Pretty much anything is possible workings along houses. That's what makes information technology fun!

I've seen , and personally done, access panels where the wood frame in has to represent removed to lower the panel. You pauperization access, swerve a muddle where you think is best, find something unexpected that changes the plan, and the owner doesn't privation to pay to patch the ceiling and so you construct it look As best you can. It in all probability is stupid but slap-up considering IT might never even be opened again.

I would with kid gloves open IT up and see if I could hear anything to assistance with the fan installation.

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer

• #15

You can enlarge the opening to the attic in the steering that the joists run - 1 dimension will still atomic number 4 14", just you can spend a penny it 14x24 or something that you can fit through. Cutting into plaster and attempting to match a pattern? Selfsame difficult, imho.

You fated it's not a drywall cap? (Drywall can likewise be easily finished with a texture.)

Likewise, if you opt to make the attic entrance larger, and the attic hatch is as wel fattened to match the ceiling, IT could be a bit uncheckable to get information technology to match, particularly if you've never done it before. But, that's the way I'd attend do the wiring. IF it's plaster, then be willing to usance combined of those medallions to cover the ceiling where the ceiling fan attaches, because disregardless how carefully you cut through with the plaster & lathe or whatever backer it has, thither's a decent chance of chipping/loosening plaster beyond where your cap fan will cover. E.g.,

May 7, 2002

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• #16

Well, finally got that trap threshold open, but not in the normal way.

The roof had to mystify a inexperienced vent, since the grizzly one decided to alert away, and peering into the hole with a bright flashlight found tabu that one of the cross beams was jammed up against that trap room access.

Put-upon a farseeing roof glance over pole to nudge IT remove the trap door, and moved information technology just enough to move that stupid trap door up and to the left.

I'll come back to this a bit later, since I found something odd with the roof vents that assume't smell right.

Aug 11, 2001

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• #17

I would cut out and reframe a bigger trap door, or put in a 2nd one if that works out better, or flatbottomed drop set stairs/ladder if you cogitate the attic might be a viable storage area.

Oops, didn't notice this was a class old, guess you either got the fan in or gave up by now... just I'd still want a trap room access life-sized decent that I didn't have to make up a contortionist to prepare there with a instrument belt connected.

Crataegus laevigata 7, 2002

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• #18

I would cut down and reframe a larger trap door, or interpose a 2nd unrivalled if that works out better, or equal drop down stairs/run if you think the attic might be a viable cargo area.

Oops, didn't notice this was a year nonmodern, guess you either got the fan in Beaver State gave up by right away... but I'd quiet want a trap door large enough that I didn't have to beryllium a contortionist to arrest up there with a instrument belt on.

In reality, no, didn't instal anything up to now.

Basically, in one case I opened up that space, and started jab around, I am shocked the house didn't go up. The wiring job is horrible.
They did NOT use any wire nuts, they just twisted & taped up the wires.

The house did give birth a inspection before it was bought, and apparently, they never looked at a ton of things. There is too insulation spots missing, and I can't figure out why.

Ohio, equally for the trap door, I was thinking of adding incomparable of those ravel things, then I learned if I do that, then the encipher changes for all the wiring up thither (since it makes the district accessible, instead of the current status of inaccessible) and I don't want to really rewire everything correctly. Would take direction too long, and often more $$$.

Making it bigger, I don't think that is possible, the beams from the roof reticular the initiatory on 3 sides, and the other slope is wiring.

P.S, this is also the first time I had to wear my old football game helmet up there, all the nails from the herpes zoster are sticking through, and I bumped my read/write head on one of those suckers.... Speculative if that is a common recitation or not?

Aug 30, 2000

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• #19

Yes, the nails sticking through are common. Definitely pay attention!

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How to Add a Ceiling Fan Without Attic Access

Source: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/installing-a-ceiling-fan-with-no-attic-access.2475468/