Hanging a ceiling pot rack can seem a little daunting, and we get asked about it frequently! This guide will tackle the problem and make it simple for everyone!

Pot racks can get very heavy when weighed down with all of your pots and pans, so it is important that it is installed correctly & firmly into the joists to prevent it falling.

You will need:

• ceiling screws - a wood screw for the joists with a hook at one end to attach the chain
• a drill
• a stud finder (optional)

How to find the joists

* The simplest way to locate the joists is to look for nailheads that hold the wallboard to the joists.  Depending on construction, most joists are placed at 18" or 24" gaps. A flashlight may help you locate these. Tap the area to find the location with solid backing where a joist will be situated.

* Failing that, invest in a stud finder from your local hardware store.  A simple stud finder can cost around $10.  Simply slide it across the ceiling and it will beep or flash as it detects a solid frame.  Mark the positions of the joists and their direction

Where do you drill?

If your rack has 2 ceiling points:

Racks are sturdiest when hung with the chains at an angle - either outwards or inwards, as shown in the in the picture below.  This adds more stability and prevents the rack from swinging or tilting.
In the photo below, the two chains on each end meet, so the rack will hang from just 2 points in the ceiling.

* The simplest way to hang the rack is in the same direction as the joists so you can simply measure point to point across one joist, drill, fix in the screws and hang the rack.

* If you prefer to hang the rack at right angles to the joists, find 2 joists and measure the distance across.  Make sure that the distance between them will allow you to still hang your chains at an angle, as shown in the picture. Depending on the size of your rack, you made need to to use alternate joists.

 

 

If your rack has 4 ceiling points:

In this photo, the customer preferred to use 4 hanging rods instead of chains. You may also wish to do this if you have a large or very heavy pot rack. In such a case, you will need to find 2 joists.  The rack above was 19" wide and the joists were 16" apart.  Angling the rods slightly inwards, they could be attached to the joists next to each other.  If you have a much bigger rack, you will need to find  joists at larger intervals, perhaps 2 or 3 apart.

Hopefully you will now have the confidence to tackle this project, so you can display your pots and pans, and free up storage space at the same time!

• If you find our guides useful, please give us a Yes vote!  If not, please let us know how they can be improved. Thanks!
  

The article is copyrighted, all rights reserved.  If you wish to re-print this article on your website, please contact us.

The-Metal-Peddler - We specialize in handcrafted copper decor for the home and garden.  All handmade in USA. Visit our workshop

Other related articles by us:
Kitchen Decor - Copper
How to clean copper