Hanging florescent lights straight

[ForceFed70]

There has got to be a secret to this.

You're at the top of a 6' ladder affixing a 4' long fixture to the ceiling in the middle of a 32' x 40' garage. How do you make sure the fixture ends up being square with the walls? Seems like every time I attempt this it ends up crooked and I'm back up the ladder trying to get it straight.

 

[Steve.S]

My garage is significantly smaller, but I snapped chalk lines and lined up the fixture mounting holes with them. Easy enough to rub out/off the lines when you're done.

Steve

 

[djdavelong]

I have one of those laser levels.... set it at the floor and aimed it at the ceiling to get a line.

 

[BL50]

My garage is significantly smaller, but I snapped chalk lines and lined up the fixture mounting holes with them. Easy enough to rub out/off the lines when you're done.

Steve

I did the exact same thing ... worked great.

 

[regguy1]

I have one of those laser levels.... set it at the floor and aimed it at the ceiling to get a line.

That's what I did...works great, no chalk to clean off the ceiling

 

[NUTTSGT]

Screw it or the eye hooks into the rafter/joists.

 

[kbs2244]

Chalk lines will work, but lasers have gotten so cheap that they are the better deal.
I remember a chalk line used to aline some sound absorbing panels that was still bleeding through 3 coats of paint 10 years later.
They should have had a project manager with the long point of view there when that was done.

 

[Steevo]

My garage is significantly smaller, but I snapped chalk lines and lined up the fixture mounting holes with them. Easy enough to rub out/off the lines when you're done.

Steve

That is how I did mine. You can then center the chalk line in the knockout holes in the back of the fixtures as you are installing them.

 

[ForceFed70]

Was hoping to avoid the chalk line and don't own a laser, but looks like there isn't another way.

Thanks guys.

 

[bassman]

just measure off the wall however distance you want it from the wall 4' apart

 

[slidehammer]

Was hoping to avoid the chalk line and don't own a laser, but looks like there isn't another way.

Thanks guys.

You could lay out the position on the floor and transfer to the ceiling with a plumb bob.

 

[trainer]

Was hoping to avoid the chalk line and don't own a laser, but looks like there isn't another way.

Thanks guys.

Just use a string to lay out a straight line and mark your mounting points

or a thread...or wire..or dental floss..

 

[Norcal]

Get some nylon string & use it to line up the edge of the fixtures, only 2 holes per row left from the screws or nails & no chalk lines to look at after the fact.

 

[Kevin54]

Just use a string to lay out a straight line and mark your mounting points

or a thread...or wire..or dental floss..

There you go. All you have to do is stretch it tight. Dental floss works great

 

[ForceFed70]

Good point on the string. Used lots of string to make sure the walls were straight, etc.

Think that's what I'll do!

 

[kbs2244]

That is the idea.
You do not have to put chalk on chalk line.
It is just a real strong string.

 

[jdaallen]

You could lay out the position on the floor and transfer to the ceiling with a plumb bob.

Eactly what I did. After all, it's the floor you need the light on anyway.

 

[REDSHELBY]

I need one of those snake lights.