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removing ceiling fan

3.5K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  MechanicalDVR  
#1 ·
I am removing ceiling fan and need to patch the hole. What is the best thing to use? Is there any patch kits out there?

Thanks,
 
#2 ·
http://www.thatdrywallguy.com/ This guy has some great classes on patching. I think that the depot sells his book, you might be able to read the parts that would help you while waiting in line. I am not sure if his web-site goes into much detail, check it out.

Check out www.jlclive.com he has a few free classes that fill up and are worth the trip. I went to one a couple of years ago and he had people come up and kick holes in drywall and repaired them during the 1 hour class.
 
#3 ·
Are you removing the electrical box? if not get a round blank deco cover to fit the screw width (3" or 4") Not the ones for a round junction box, they are nicer looking and made for just that purpose. Home Despot and bLowes sells them.

If the box is coming out, I generally take a piece of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood about twice as long as the hole and not quite as wide, put a drywall screw in the middle of the face of the board leaving 3/4" or so sticking out. Manuver the board up into the hole with the screw sticking down, center the board over the hole, and drive a couple screws through the ceiling into each end of the plywood, pulling down on the screw you centered in the board to keep it from moving.

Then, cut a piece of scrap drywall the same thickness as the existing ceiling to fill the hole and screw it to the plywood. (take the 'hold-down' screw out first ;) ) If you have some adhesive like liquid nail you can use that on the plywood if you want in addition to the screws, but since it is a floating patch it is really not necessary.

Two or three coats of EZ-20 feathered out and sanded, and once you paint it you will never know it was there.
 
#4 ·
Are you removing the electrical box? if not get a round blank deco cover to fit the screw width (3" or 4") Not the ones for a round junction box, they are nicer looking and made for just that purpose. Home Despot and bLowes sells them.
Excellent point, you CANNOT permanently cover(like with plaster) or hide the box, there has to be access.
 
#7 ·
Sounds like a great idea, I'm not sure if there woud be a code issue or not in regards to access with a battery operated smoke detector covering the box, and I'm not sure about the regulations for the electric ones, I'll await a ruling from MD.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Seems like an okay idea to me. I'd worry about the AFCI protection requirement if this is in a bedroom. Seems like the battery type detector probably isn't listed as a blank canopy for a box, but a hardwired/battery detector is certainly intended to be used on a box.
Isn't there an interconnection issue in most locations with installing an additional hardwired smoke detector Added: Provided the house already had interconnected detectors? I also agree with your point about using a S/D as a blank cover.
 
#10 ·
Isn't there an interconnection issue in most locations with installing an additional hardwired smoke detector? I also agree with your point about using a S/D as a blank cover.
That's kind of what I was wondering about and also the possibility of the power being switched.