Flourescent shop light spacing

[TonkaJoe]

Ok, so I have x4 4' double bulb fluorescent lights to hang in my garage, they will all be flush mounted to a corrugated steel ceiling
( which will be installed after I set the electrical boxes) spaced 4' in from the wall and 4' apart. My question is what is the easiest way to go about marking and measuring the ceiling so I can put my new electrical boxes in?. Obviously its a little hard to hold a tape while teetering on top of a ladder all while attempting to mark the measurement on my own... any suggestions on how to make this a little easier?!

 

[sands35]

Make a story stick 4' long. 2x2 or something.

Or use a string grid.

 

[DC73]

A lot of electricians will mark a spot on the floor just below where they want the ceiling box. You can use tape if you don't want to mark up the floor. Then, they either use a plumb bob on a string to mark the ceiling or if they are high tech, they will use a laser plumb bob to show a spot on the ceiling for marking.

DC

 

[diggler306]

Basically, do all of your measuring on the floor and mark every point with a piece of black tape (or masking tape and a sharpie for super precision). Then head up on the ladder with your pencil and hang the plumb bob over your marks and transfer them to the ceiling.

 

[TonkaJoe]

Thanks for your suggestions guys, worked out excellent for me!.

 

[Platonic Solid]

A lot of electricians will mark a spot on the floor just below where they want the ceiling box. You can use tape if you don't want to mark up the floor. Then, they either use a plumb bob on a string to mark the ceiling or if they are high tech, they will use a laser plumb bob to show a spot on the ceiling for marking.

DC

Good method = place the laser on the floor and head up the ladder.