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Exposed ceiling junction box - fixture doesn't cover fully

Exposed ceiling junction box - fixture doesn't cover fully


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Old 03-30-15, 06:18 PM
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Exposed ceiling junction box - fixture doesn't cover fully

I have a light fixture that doesn't cover a standard ceiling box. Any idea what to do with it? I guess it was designed when people would just snake a wire through the ceiling.

I'd prefer not to have to rip out the ceiling...there is a pool table underneath it. Perhaps putting some painted wood or plastic on the sides? I know there are those "ceiling rosettes", but they always seem to be a circle.
 
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Old 03-30-15, 06:30 PM
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You could modify a blank ceiling box cover.

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Last edited by ray2047; 04-01-15 at 11:41 AM.
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Old 03-31-15, 08:07 AM
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You could also try installing a ceiling medallion over the box and then install the fixture over the medallion.
 
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Old 03-31-15, 10:54 AM
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How did you mount this fixture? It looks like it's plenty wide enough to cover opening but is off center.

I could be wrong but the fixture looks at least 4" wide or maybe a little more.

If it does need covered: One idea is to remove fixture, make a base for it out of non-combustible material. Basically fabricate a ceiling plate about 2" wider on all sides.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 06:55 AM
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Since the light has to be centered over the pool table, otherwise the shadows are wrong, he might not be able to shift the fixture enough to cover the box.

I'm sure that something decorative can be done to cover the hole. Maybe it's just the darkness of the picture, but I am remarkably unimpressed by the woodwork. You could easily make a new piece that would be wider (even if just in the center) that would cover the hole.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 08:29 AM
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What type of box is in the ceiling 4"round? Can you take the fixture down and possibly put a 4" to 3" plaster ring on it and patch around it,it would still need to be painted.
Rosette's look tacky IMO.
Geo
 
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Old 04-01-15, 10:18 AM
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Someone simply screwed the fixture into the framing instead of mounting it to the box. The fixture would have covered the box had it been installed properly.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 11:21 AM
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Thanks for the good suggestions.

The fixture is about 3" wide and it is offset to exactly hit the center of the table, as Michael suggested. Michael -- what did you mean by the "woodwork" looking unimpressive?

Handyone -- any suggestions on what to make the base out of? Sheet metal?

pcboss -- I installed the fixture...it doesn't cover the box and is attached to the framing as you suggested. It is well short of it and would have trouble even covering a 3" box given some gap in the drywall.

Geochurchi -- 4" octagon box for a ceiling fan.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 11:40 AM
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any suggestions on what to make the base out of? Sheet metal?
Not Brian but my previous suggestion should work.
You could modify a blank ceiling box cover.

Attachment 48725
The one shown is 5" but there are many different ones available in different stiles..
 
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Old 04-01-15, 01:30 PM
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If the wiring compartment forms a box the fixture might not even require a box, similar to Hollywood bar lights.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 01:37 PM
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Michael -- what did you mean by the "woodwork" looking unimpressive?
Whatever the pulleys are attached to; looks like a dark slab of wood to me.

I'd make a new piece that is wide enough to cover the hole; either rectangle or oval, and have it match the decor.
 
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Old 04-01-15, 02:43 PM
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The fixture is about 3" wide and it is offset to exactly hit the center of the table,
Why not center the fixture and move the table slightly to center it. Doesn't seem the tabel would be moved enough to be noticeable.

Or replace the ceiling box with a single gang switch box in the right place, fasten light to ceiling not the box with toggle bolts and patch the ceiling where the old box was..
 
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Old 04-01-15, 03:06 PM
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Anybody that makes a light fixture that does not connect to a standard box should have their UL listing revoked!
 
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Old 04-01-15, 03:58 PM
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Anybody that makes a light fixture that does not connect to a standard box should have their UL listing revoked!
Reading between the lines of what the O/P wrote I read it as not covering only because it was intentionally installed incorrectly.
The fixture is about 3" wide and it is offset to exactly hit the center of the table,
 
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Old 04-02-15, 05:05 AM
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Or replace the ceiling box with a single gang switch box in the right place, fasten light to ceiling not the box with toggle bolts and patch the ceiling where the old box was..
This is what will allow the table to be in the correct place and have the light centered. It also appears to be what was done, except that the plate doesn't cover the box. Either make a larger plate or tear up the ceiling a bit to put a gang box in the correct spot and do the patch job.

From the photo, though, it looks like there is a joist right where that new gang box would go.
 
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Old 04-02-15, 06:42 AM
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The OP could replace the box with a 1/2" pancake box centered right over the joist or a saddle box that sits over the joist. A little drywall patching could do the rest.
 
 

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