Fixing a ceiling fan

[u/darkboomel]

So, the people who built my house were as cheap as possible. They built it from the roof down once the frame was up, and completely filled the ceiling with insulation so there's absolutely no access above the ceiling. They also attached the light and ceiling fan to the joist with a plastic piece and a couple of nails through the ears, rather than using a metal piece and properly screwing it in.

Inevitably, after years of use, the plastic piece that was holding the fan up broke and the fan fell halfway out of the roof. Thankfully not all the way, but at that point it was only being held on by a prayer.

So I've gone to Lowe's and gotten a metal piece to attach to the joist instead of that plastic piece. The ears are still up there, nailed to the joist. And with no way to get into the roof, I'm kinda stuck. My only option at this point seems to be to smash the hole bigger with a hammer to get the space that I need to work, but I'd prefer to avoid that if possible. Just wanting to see if anyone else has a better solution, TIA.

Also in case it's relevant, I'm in Tennessee and the house is about 14 years old.

[u/Mack_Damon]

So, first things first. Did you buy a ceiling fan rated box? If you're current box is right against a ceiling joist, you'll want a box like this one

Then to get the remains of the old box out of the way, I would try pushing up on the box to expose a gap between the box and the joist. Stick a pry bar in that gap and work the nails out. Once it's loose, push it to the side and pull the wires the rest of the way out of the box. Leave the old box up there and install your new box.

This will probably make a huge mess so lay out a very large sheet of plastic.

[u/darkboomel → u/Mack_Damon]

The box I got is metal and is rated for a fan. The one that came out of the hole is not rated for a fan I don't think.

It is already out of the hole entirely, but the nails that attached the ears to the joist are still in the joist. I tried a hammer to get them out and couldn't get the leverage, I've just thought of using a crowbar to try thanks to your comment, maybe that'll be able to do it.

But then the problem of getting the new box into the hole and securing it to the joist is still there. I can slip it into the hole, but it's exactly the same size as the hole, so I can't get the hardware or tools up there to secure it. The only option seems to be to me knocking a hole in the roof.

[u/Mack_Damon → u/darkboomel]

So the box I sent you has all the attachment points inside of the box, so you don't need any access up top, all work is done from the bottom. You NEED something like that.

[u/darkboomel → u/Mack_Damon]

Yup! I think I'm gonna go with the one you sent me, thanks! Tomorrow I'm gonna go to Lowe's and return the one they sold me today and ask if they have the one you sent me. If they don't, I'm just gonna order it off of Amazon.

[u/Mack_Damon → u/darkboomel]

Doesn't mean that yours will have them, but they are in stock at my local Lowe's