Rocky Mounting High: Alternatives for High-Ceiling Mounting

Mounting a projector sometimes involves putting a home theater up in an attic or loft. The presence of a high vaulted ceiling requires some adjustments in the selection of products and accessories that are available for that particular type of installation.

There are no special requirements that for many mount products regardless of the height of the drop range that is involved. The amount of pipe used controls the drop range, and the possibilities are endless. All that has to be done is the measurement and arrangement of the length of pipe to be cut to the needs of the home theater owner. Anything else is in the range of possibility. For example, it is possible to mount a ceiling plate without actually having to go into a stud. However, it is recommended that vibration be considered when mounting the ceiling plate.

Vibration is a key concern. However, it does not require mounting into a stud. For instance, the suspended ceilings are quite prevalent, especially in office or school room applications. When a full ceiling presents itself, there is no stud available. A full ceiling kit suspends just above the false ceiling on the superstructure and then is supported by guide wires that go up to the studs in the ceiling itself. A lot of the projectors today are very lightweight and, depending on the pullout capabilities, it is possible that a simple drywall application may be used, but it is not recommended. The problem being that there is always the possibility of some sudden change as far as the projector is concerned, such as inadvertent hitting or grabbing. Typically, most home theater projectors weigh less than a potted plant. But, for best mounting results, it is always recommended to mount into existing studs.

If for some reason the height of the projector needs to be adjusted, telescoping pipe may be incorporated into the mounting system. Other than telescoping pipe, it is possible to purchase pipe in standard straight length and have the pipe cut to the desired drop height and thread both ends. For the financial conscious, it is possible to simply visit a local hardware store and purchase standard 1.5-inch plumber’s pipe have the length cut to specific lengths and threaded on both ends.

Although non-traditional projector mounting requires some adjustments to the basic ceiling mounting kits, there are not necessarily special requirements or difficult specifications that need be made. The home theater owner simply needs to determine height preferences and select those materials that will fulfill the desired projector mounting preferences.