How can I support this light better so it sits flush to the ceiling?

last year

last modified: last year

The bracket sent with the light does not fully support it. Therefore, it does not sit flush to ceiling and there is a gap as the bracket bends. Ballard designs support was no help.My husband thought to drill holes through the bracket and use anchors to better support it to the ceiling. However, I do not want to go this route because if we ever decide to change the light fixture there will be patching, painting and more work. Also, there are no studs nearby.I thought about doing a ceiling ring or something else to hide the gap, but I'm not sure of the direction to go with that.Does anyone have recommendations to fix this issue (thicker/stronger bracket, different way to mount, better support, ceiling medallion, moulding)?I would prefer to find better support through the ceiling/bracket itself without adding things around it to hide the gap,Thank you! :)

Featured Answer

ci_lantro

last year

I found the install instructions here:

https://www.ballarddesigns.com/wcsstore/images/BallardDesigns/pdfs/LM210.pdf

Make sure the ceiling box (junction box) is absolutely flush the the ceiling or even recessed a bit. A proud Jbox could be part of the problem.

No 'studs' (joists) nearby--some of those hanger boxes are wobbly junk.

Even if everything is perfect, the problem could be that the manufacturing tolerances are sloppy. If the mounting screw holes are off in the canopy and/or the bracket, you will never get it to sit flush to the ceiling. Only alternatives are the ceiling ring or caulk the gap between the canopy and the ceiling. (Caulking will help firm it up a bit & reduce the wobble.)

Personally, I would return it and buy something easier to clean. One that doesn't have a bunch of obstructions to A. clean and B. cast shadows.

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Comments (17)

Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year

It's worse in person and it moves alot when we change the lightbulb.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
There are tons of different brackets available, I would head to a good lighting store and buy a few options and play around with them.
Jaime Lynn thanked HALLETT & Co.
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kudzu9
last year
Hard to give specific advice without seeing what the mounting bracket looks like.
Jaime Lynn thanked kudzu9
A Mat
last year
Do you have access to sister in some framing?
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
What do you mean? Could you explain further?
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
The canopy holes are lined up properly so I don't think the issue is there.

I'll have my husband take the light off to get a picture of the bracket and junction box.

What is a proud jbox? Typo?

Thank you, everyone!
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
ci_lantro
last year
BRITISH

slightly projecting from a surface

IOW's not flush. Or, is the edge of the junction box hanging below the sheetrock?
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
The junction box is level with the sheetrock. Our other light hung flush to the ceiling without a gap.
ci_lantro
last year
Now that all of the possible variables have been ruled out...either you live with the gap, caulk the gap, add a decorative ring or return it.

I noticed that the light is shown as a pendant in the installation instructions...

And the actual picture of it on Ballard's website shows it installed on a black ceiling...

No way that you could have known this would happen.
kudzu9
last year
Jaime-

Ok...so it looks like the bracket is wide and matches the diameter of the light fixture, correct? In that case, the weight of the fixture may be causing that bracket to flex downward from the weight of the fixture. If that is the case, you could drill a hole toward each of the ends of the bracket so that you could use sheetrock anchors to hold the bracket ends flat against the ceiling. If it's not flexing, but simply poor tolerances, then you would have to drill two new mounting holes into the rim of the fixture in a slightly lower position so that trim is forced to be flush with the ceiling when the mounting screws are inserted. Alternatively, if you didn't want to put two small holes in the rim, then you would have to drill two new holes in the ends of the mounting bracket and re-thread them. If this kind of work is beyond your skill set, then you'll have to use some other approach, like caulk.
Jaime Lynn thanked kudzu9
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
If its shifting when you change the bulbs it was not installed properly, . Also you might have imperfections in your ceiling that are not visible to the eye but stop it from laying flush. id have to see the canopy installation with out the light to judge that.
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
Yes, the bracket is the issue and expands almost the entire length of the light. It bends from the weight of the light. It's a a light gap so it's not that it was installed improperly, it is a poor bracket for that light. It's secure, just not flush.

My husband is capable of drilling and using anchors into the ceiling, but I really hesitate to do that because it's alot of work if we change the light in the future.

I was hoping there is a stronger bracket out there that would accommodate the light. Or even a bendable wooden piece to wrap around the light, hiding the gap.
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
Yes, by the pictures on Ballard's website I would not have known this would happen. Ballard customer service was ZERO help. These lights were expensive, you would think they would have proper brackets.

Thank you for your help. I'll be back with updates.
kudzu9
last year
Jaime-

If you can get it installed to your satisfaction, how likely is it that you will replace it while you own the home? And if you do replace it, how likely is it that a new fixture won't cover any work you do on the bracket for this light? Repairing two screw anchor holes is no big deal. A couple of hidden screws and anchors sounds pretty simple compared to other proposals such as fabricating additional pieces or caulking the heck out of it....
Jaime Lynn
Original Author
last year
We are thinking of adding flexible trim to hide the gap (see picture).

If we don't like that, we will probably do the anchors or a ceiling ring.

It's a wide light fixture so I know many light fixtures would not cover where the holes need support.

How can I support this light better so it sits flush to the ceiling?

ci_lantro

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Jaime Lynn
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How can I support this light better so it sits flush to the ceiling?

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