Suspended plasterboard ceilings are one of the most commonly used renovation solutions in our houses and apartments. Not surprisingly, the cost of installing them is considerably less than chipping off old plaster, making new ones and laying plaster layers. In exchange for a few lost centimetres of space, we gain a perfectly smooth, even ceiling.
There is a ‘but’, however, and that is strength. While even a solid chandelier can be attached to a classic masonry ceiling without much concern, plasterboard raises some concerns in this respect. Is this right, or is there no need to be afraid of installing to a suspended ceiling at all?
It all depends on what weight we intend to attach to the plasterboard ceiling. An average small chandelier should not weigh more than approximately 5 kilograms, but a glamour chandelier, full of crystals and other trinkets may weigh even twice as much. It should be remembered that glass shades or wrought-iron arms are also heavy, which are just asking to be used in the currently so fashionable loft interiors. Vintage-style chandeliers can also be as heavy as the solid materials they are made of. The weight of such a lamp can be up to twenty kilograms, so be sure to check the details on the label or in the installation instructions provided by the lighting producer.
Before you set about fitting a heavy chandelier to a suspended ceiling, take care of your own safety first. Switch off the relevant fuse and use a tester to make sure that there is no current flowing in the wires you will be working with. Remember also that the lighting cable is usually laid towards the wall where the light switch is located – just a reminder before you start planning to drill holes.
Plasterboard is a specific type of material, so fitting a lamp to a suspended ceiling requires suitable fixings. You can, of course, try to trace the frame to which the plasterboard has been attached. Then attaching the chandelier to the frame, which is held by anchors attached to the ceiling, is a good solution. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, which is why Klimas Wkręt-met has a range of reliable MOLLY anchors for plasterboard, which are perfect for installing even a heavy chandelier to a suspended ceiling. Here’s a hint: the HT-1 pliers prove invaluable in their installation, which not only eliminate mistakes when embedding MOLLY anchors into plasterboard, but also significantly streamline and speed up the installation process itself.
When it comes to the types of fixings suitable for lighting elements, Klimas Wkręt-met offers the most commonly used types of anchors, the so-called umbrella anchors. These steel expansion anchors owe their charming name to their characteristic wings, which, when inserted through the plasterboard, unfold to form a solid fixing like a naval anchor. It is worth entrusting them with the installation of a heavier chandelier, as they can successfully hold even a 20 kg lamp. The umbrella anchors can be finished with a hook, which in the case of some chandelier constructions proves to be a salvation for the installer.
Finally, a particularly important note – remember that when fixing anything to the ceiling, you must pay maximum attention to the quality of the accessories you use for installation. The safety of you and your loved ones depends on the quality of their workmanship. So make sure you have not only the anchors, but also the pliers, drill and, of course, a drill bit with the right diameter for the anchors you select.
important!
Finally, a particularly important note – remember that when fixing anything to the ceiling, you must pay maximum attention to the quality of the accessories you use for installation. The safety of you and your loved ones depends on the quality of their workmanship. So make sure you have not only the anchors, but also the pliers, drill and, of course, a drill bit with the right diameter for the anchors you select.
Besides, since a solid or spectacular chandelier has already cost you a lot, it is not worth saving on accessories for hanging it. Select tried-and-tested products made of good quality materials to enjoy the effect of a beautifully lit room without any worries.
