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Steel Framing Layout - NYC - Anyone familar

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Steel Framing Layout - NYC - Anyone familar (post #192921)

mobiledynamics on Sat, 08/28/2010 - 19:05
in

I'm in a 60 yearish old residential building in NYC.

I am attempting to install a bracket for ceiling fan.

Opening up the exisitng light location, the box is held loosely by EMT feeding wire to the box.

It's old school plaster ceiling and poking around the hold, it looks like steel lattice floor joist. I was not able to easily see 2 joists where I could use the *expaning ceiling fan bracket* where I could ~fish~ the bracket into the existing hole is right now.


Anyone have a idea on what type of framing I may be expecting inside the ceiling ?


I plan to

Option A: Cut a 12" square , get more visible access and hopefully there are 2 joists where I can see to mount the bracket.

 

Option B: If I don't see joists within 24" inches, I plan to just put some Alligator anchors on the *floor above*, then build it down with 2X10 and then mount the box flush to celining, and then patch the hole .


Obviously Option  is more preferable. Hopefully you guys may be able to shed some light....

-A +A

BTW. I will need to go slow (post #192921, reply #1 of 6)

by mobiledynamics in reply to mobiledynamics [original] on Sat, 08/28/2010 - 19:55

BTW. I will need to go slow when cutting the access hole.

When I removed the exisitng J Box, I spotted what appeared to be a single 3/8 copper pipe running alongside inside the ceiling.

Hopefully there is not anymore but I am not going to assume it was a water line...or is ????

3/8" copper has certainly (post #192921, reply #2 of 6)

by DanH in reply to mobiledynamics [original] on Sat, 08/28/2010 - 20:03

3/8" copper has certainly been used for water lines in the past.  Of course, it could be just about anything.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

Use a drywall saw, NOT a Sawzall or hammer (post #192921, reply #3 of 6)

by Ron_Trebbi in reply to mobiledynamics [original] on Sun, 08/29/2010 - 05:23

 

Use a drywall saw as opposed to a Sawzall or hammer.  You want control over what you’re cutting out and through. Selective demolition with a Sawzall or hammer won’t let you feel that water line you discovered until it’s too late. A neat hole will be much easier to repair than the mess you’ll be left with using a hammer.

As with most remodeling and repair projects in old buildings, you never know what you’ll find and your initial project will always be the least of your work / worries.

Good Luck

RON

Ronald G. Trebbi

Architect  /  General Contractor

TREBBI CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION LLC

Award Winning Design and Construction of Residential and Light Commercial Renovations and Additions

I'm afraid that there is a (post #192921, reply #4 of 6)

by DanH in reply to mobiledynamics [original] on Sun, 08/29/2010 - 05:44

I'm afraid that there is a wide range of possible construction techniques.

Any idea as to the age of the place?  Is the ceiling plaster on wood lath, or is it on some sort of gypsum board (eg, "rock lath")?

How much space is there between the ceiling and the bottom of the foor above?

Can you describe a bit more precisely the "steel lattice" floor joist you can see?


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

I wish I had a better idea on (post #192921, reply #5 of 6)

by mobiledynamics in reply to DanH [original] on Sun, 08/29/2010 - 13:00

I wish I had a better idea on all fronts. It's definetely rock lath...


I have yet to get back and cut a larger access hole to get a better idea from both either a exploration phase or even strike it rich and find 2 joists....

From Floor to ceiling, about 8 inches. The steel lattice from what I was able to see though the J box was tubular ....in a lattice configuration. Tubular similar in size/shape like you see on a TV antenna..

 

It was just too snug to get a good look and I was planning to get more details once I went back to make a bigger hole

I'm guessing the (post #192921, reply #6 of 6)

by DanH in reply to mobiledynamics [original] on Sun, 08/29/2010 - 13:06

I'm guessing the construction's ca 1955.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison