Section 1.4
CUTTING A HOLE IN THE CEILING
Before Proceeding:
Goal:
To cut a correct sized hole in the ceiling at the desired location.
Do not saw, cut or hammer into the ceiling until you are sure that the location is free of hazards
and obstructions in the ceiling and attic. Contact with an electric wire can be deadly.
Step 1.
Prepare the room by moving furniture,
covering ooring with a drop cloth and
removing children and pets to a safe
distance away.
Step 2. Put on safety goggles and a dust mask.
These will keep pieces of ceiling particles
and dust from falling into your eyes, mouth
or nose as you make a starter hole and cut
into the ceiling.
Step 3. With a hammer and chisel, make a starter
hole near the center of the chosen location
(See Figure 4).
Step 4. Enlarge the opening with a saw until you
can see a joist (See Figure 5).
Step 5. Draw a rectangle the size of the rough
opening on the ceiling, with one
edge parallel to a joist (See Figure 6).
You may do this by sawing until you reach a
joist and use it as a frame of reference.
Refer to Appendix, section 1.3, page 9
Table 1 for rough opening dimensions.
Note: Locating at least one edge of the
opening along a ceiling joist will allow the
joist to be used as a side of the frame you
will build. This will simplify framing the
rough opening.
Step 6. Cut out the rest of the ceiling within the marked outline following these instructions:
A) Do not cut any joists at this time. Cut through the ceiling only.
B) Remove the ceiling in small pieces because ceiling material can be very heavy.
Step 7.
If no joists span the hole in the ceiling, go to Section 1.6, page 13 "FRAMING THE
ROUGH OPENING" . If any joists span the hole, go to Section 1.5, page 12 "CUTTING
THE CEILING JOISTS" .
You must have a location that:
A) Is free of hazards and obstructions in the overhead space.
B) If free of hazards in the ceiling.
C) Provides enough room for installation.
D) Provides enough room to use the attic ladder.
WARNING
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 5
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