Changing a couple of ceiling lights

Jem8472

So we bought a couple of new ceiling lights yesterday.

In our lounge we have two lights, just bog standard plastic rose with a cable and lamp shade on the end. Both controlled by one switch.

The new lights are a three arm metal fitting with glass shades.

So I am going to have to take down the old lights and put the new ones up.

I am sure the screw holes wont be in the same place so is it best to use cavity wall plugs to put into the ceiling to hold the new light if I cant find a joist. Or can I screw strait into the ceiling?

Also any advice for missing the cables that are already in the ceiling as we have a flat above us so can get in from the floor above.


Thanks.

keith969

There will be a joist where the old ceiling rose was. You can screw the new fitting into this, if the screws are not in exactly the same position then you can work out the direction of the joist by looking at the floorboards above - the joist will run perpendicular to them.

ormus

depends on your ceiling construction. always try and get a proper fixing into the wood.
but you could use plugs into the PB or lathe/plaster. last resort though.
depends on your lamp fitting too. ie the weight.

Jem8472

OK thanks for the replies.
I managed to get one light up (just) it was a struggle as the depth of the new ceiling rose is very small. There is so much cable from the light to fit in and the cables from the ceiling it really was a squeeze to get it onto the bracket. this is the light:

http://www.johnlewis.com/230459843/Product.aspx

The other light fitting has lots of cables in it.

Its got about 9 all together.
So the next one will be harder. Is it possible to push the cables up into the ceiling or do they fix the cables down so they cant be pulled and pushed about.
I did try pushing the cable on the first light back up but it would not budge.

As I said above we live in a flat with another flat above so it is not possible to get above the ceiling.

Ladybird20

Hell Fire they are cheap and nice i have just bought 2 lights from JL at the cost of 250.00 each

Jem8472

ouchie thats a lot. But remember I am struggling to put these cheap ones up, so a bit more expensive might be a little easier to fit

ormus

its usually possible to push the spare excess cable back into the hole.
old cable can be very stiff though.

27col

It is not normally difficult to push the spare cable up into the ceiling. It should not be a problem to locate the joist for the new fixing. If the holes of the new fitting are at different centres than the old, you may have to probe around a bit with a bradawl to locate the joist.