Split Ceiling Medallions, Easier than Ever to Install!

If you’ve ever wanted a ceiling medallion, now it is easier than ever to install one! With new two piece ceiling medallions, you no longer have to remove the light or ceiling fan!

You Need:

• Ladder or something else safe to stand on and reach the ceiling
• Tape measure or yardstick
• Pencil
• Drill, hole drill bit or hack saw if your medallion is not pre-cut
• Screws the right depth for your medallion
• Screwdriver
• Polyurethane construction adhesive (water clean-up liquid nails)
• Latex spackle, calk or wood filler

You may need:

• Touch up paint
• A longer threaded tube to reinstall the light

Important: Make sure you turn off the electricity. Even if you are not removing the fixture, you can still get bit. Don’t just turn off the light at the switch. Flip the breaker.

Finish your Medallion BEFORE you put it up.
Most medallions are already pre-finished in white, but if you decide to paint, stain or faux finish your medallion, do it before installation. It’s always easiest not to paint over your head.

Slide the canopy down the chain or rod.
Loosen the retaining collar or the screw holding the canopy in place and slide it out of your way.

Measure and mark the ceiling where the medallion will go.
Use a tape measure or yard stick to measure from the electrical box to make sure you are centered. If you use chalk to mark, you can just brush it off when you are done. Make sure the threaded rod is going to be long enough to put the canopy back up. If not, you may have to remove the light fixture anyway.

Some instructions recommend a stud detector to locate ceiling joists. This is not necessary unless your medallion is very large and heavy.

Make sure the medallion will fit flush.
Center the medallion on the ceiling against the electrical box to make sure it is flush. If the box pushes against the medallion, you will need to trim the medallion. You can mark where you need to trim by putting some lipstick on the edges of the electrical box so that it will mark the medallion where you need to trim it.

Put the screws in place.
Start the screws on the front of both sides of the medallion, so that when it is over your head, the screws are ready to go. Most medallions are soft enough that you don’t have to drill a pilot hole, just push them in. If you put the screws in an area of the medallion that is not smooth, they won’t be obvious. For a most medallions  you probably will only need three screws per side. They are really just to hold the medallion up until the adhesive dries.

Apply adhesive
Flip the medallion over and put a bead of adhesive (water clean-up liquid nails) on the back about ½” from the edge of one side of the medallion. If the ceiling is perfectly smooth, a ¼” bead will be fine. The more texture you have, the more adhesive you will need. Add another line of adhesive about 2” in.

Some instructions recommend double-stick tape. This is not the easiest way to do this. It will only stick if your ceiling is very smooth and clean. It doesn’t adhere well most ceilings. And you can’t slide the medallion into place.

Put up the medallion
Put up one piece of the medallion, using the guide you put on the ceiling with the electrical box centered. Secure it with the screws just below the surface.

Apply adhesive to the other side of the medallion (you should have already started three screws) and carefully slide it into place until it matches the piece already installed. Finish screwing it in.

Some instructions recommend finish nails. This is not the easiest way to do this. It is not easy to hammer over your head and it is very easy to damage the medallion. The finish nail has no real head to keep the medallion secured to the ceiling.

Clean up and touch up
If any glue came out when you pushed the medallion up or slid it into space, wash it off now. (This is why it is important to use water clean-up liquid nails.)

Put a little latex spackle, calk or wood filler over the screws and where the two pieces fit together. Smooth until the seam and the screws aren’t visible.

Wait
Give it a few hours for the glue to dry before you put the light fixture or fan canopy back up. Don’t forget and flip the breaker back on and fry yourself. You will likely need to replace the threaded tube you have with a longer one.

You really can get a ceiling medallion for under $10.00! Really!

Ceiling Medallions as low as under $10.00:

• 7″ to 12″ Ceiling Medallions
• 12″ to 15″ Ceiling Medallions
• 15″ to 17″ Ceiling Medallions
• 17″ to 19″ Ceiling Medallions
• 19″ to 21″ Ceiling Medallions
• 21″ to 24″ Ceiling Medallions
• 24″ to 26″ Ceiling Medallions
• 26″ to 30″ Ceiling Medallions
• 30″ to 35″ Ceiling Medallions
• 35″ to 70″ Ceiling Medallions
• Contemporary Ceiling Medallions