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Mounting a projector from a concrete ceiling

post #1 of 15
3/2/09 at 1:25pm
Thread Starter 
Hello, all.

I'm about to take the plunge and upgrade from my old Panasonic AE900U to an Epson 6500UB. I'm also looking to upgrade from my old mounting method of "putting the projector on top of a shelf two feet to the left of the center of the screen and accept that the focus is never going to be perfect" to "ceiling".

Unfortunately, I live in an apartment with concrete ceilings, and I'm not sure how to go about doing it. I'd really love to not have to drill into the concrete -- first, I don't own the place, and second, I'm sure I'd mess it up somehow. I'm not very good at this kind of thing.

Anyone have any ideas on how I could solve this problem? Ceiling mounting is really the best way to do this, since it's a living room setup without any other place for the projector to sit.

(Mainly, I'm just trying to find out more information about mounting for concrete ceilings -- I haven't been able to find much love via Google and AVSForum searches)

Thanks.
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post #2 of 15
3/2/09 at 1:41pm
It doesn't sound like I know much more than you, if at all, but I know I wouldn't feel comfortable mounting an expensive piece of equipment like that any other way than by securing it with screws or bolts.

Maybe there is a good way of doing it. I just know I wouldn't be comfortable without that security.

Good luck.
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post #3 of 15
3/2/09 at 2:20pm
IMHO, anything other than drilling a hole and using a concrete expanding sleeve anchor would be iffy.



You would need to remove, patch the ceiling and paint to match when you get ready to move out unless you are prepared to pay any assessed charges.
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post #4 of 15
3/2/09 at 7:05pm
I agree with Big. It's really the only way to go. If you move, patching or painting over a couple of 5/16 or 3/8" anchors shouldn't be noticeable at all.
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post #5 of 15
3/5/09 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BIGmouthinDC View Post

IMHO, anything other than drilling a hole and using a concrete expanding sleeve anchor would be iffy.



You would need to remove, patch the ceiling and paint to match when you get ready to move out unless you are prepared to pay any assessed charges.

Agree 110%! I used those exact ones for the frame that is holding a 52" plasma and my front L/C/Rs. Me and two friends were literally standing, jumping, hanging etc and it didn't make one noise or movement! Can surly trust it for a PJ

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post #6 of 15
3/5/09 at 10:48am
If you have a friend or can borrow a powder actuated gun you could just shoot some anchors in the place where your projector mounts and be done with it in about 2 minutes.

Those anchors work well but you have to drill a hole to put them in place.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
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post #7 of 15
3/5/09 at 12:09pm
Red devil anchors or tapcon screws. While the red devil anchors have beter pull out than the tapcons, the tapcons should be fine as the pull out will be far in excess of what the weight of the PJ and you and your friends hanging from it.

Lets just say that in my old condo with precast ceilings I had a swing hanging from the ceiling with 4 tapcon screws and it withstood a lot of load cycling.
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post #8 of 15
3/5/09 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailn View Post

swing hanging from the ceiling with 4 tapcon screws and it withstood a lot of load cycling.

LOL,...Im crying over here


But the question is.....did it spin as well!!

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post #9 of 15
3/6/09 at 11:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinjs123 View Post

LOL,...Im crying over here


But the question is.....did it spin as well!!


Round the world
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post #10 of 15
9/7/12 at 8:30pm
Lol spinning sex swing, but anyways I'm in the same boat I was thinking about setting up the projector but that would require me to move a few things each time I wanted to watch something.. But I was thinking about setting up in my room, and with a short throw my room wall to wall lenth wise is 8 Ft so with the projector I'm looking at I think it would be about a 71" projected image, smaller then the 100" I was shooting for but bigger then my 40" I look at now.

Anyways I'm in the same boat with a concrete ceiling and apartment but in my case because of how the room is It would need to be kinda mounted over my bed so yeah I don't want it to fall on my head while I'm sleep. The weight is only showing 4.9 lbs so that's hardly anything but you know you just want to be sure..

Last projector I hung and took down I had to mount on a drop ceiling so that was interesting...
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post #11 of 15
9/14/12 at 4:02am
The first thing anybody drilling into concrete floors or ceilings should do is find out if it is a post-tension slab. Good old poured in place reinforced slabs are fine to drill and sink expansion anchors and tapcons into, but if you do that to a P.T. slab, hit a cable, then you're setting yourself up for some big problems from one end of the building to the other. If you're in a P.T. slab building you have to get the slab x-rayed to locate the cables or limit yourself to a 3/4" embed.

Edit: Holy necro thread, I just saw the start date on this one after I posted. rolleyes.gif
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post #12 of 15
9/15/12 at 12:49am
Thanks for the helpful info anyways smile.gif might help the next person out that searches for something like this.
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post #13 of 15
9/15/12 at 9:28am
And over the years since this thread was posted, the "swing test" has become standard practice for ceiling-mounted projectors...

Most CI's don't charge for the extra labor required.

biggrin.gifbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif
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post #14 of 15
9/23/12 at 3:39pm
I have the same issue as the OP, and I'm in a complex with post-tension concrete. Are there 3/4" tapcon screws that can hold up a ~15lb projector with two screws? This is the mount I have: Mount.

What about drilling slowly into the concrete, and changing position if I feel that I've hit something?

Thanks.
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post #15 of 15
9/23/12 at 8:07pm
I can't answer your question but that's a sweet mount, do they have any others that style that's a little cheaper?
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