What I've learned in working with an older home, especially with this project, is that no matter what you think a project is, it will ALWAYS be more difficult, and take longer than you would ever expect.
I start by taking down the light fixture. Hoping to find at least an electrical box secured to a joist, but I found this:
Well, how exactly am I supposed to attach a ceiling fan to that, or even work with that wiring? I take a closer inspection, and come to this:
There is old wire, and new wire. The light was attached to both. I continue to dig around, cutting away plaster - which by the way is very dirty and has a very distinct smell...one that is very familiar to me these days.
I wanted to see what wiring there was in the wall switch.. again, an old wire and a new wire, but this time the new wire was blue. Hmm, what to do? Keep going! The power is turned off and I can't possibly get shocked! I continue to dig out the ceiling to see what I'm working with:
Ok, the wire is drilled straight through whatever joist or support that is, and there was no electrical box. Back to Menard's to get a "pancake style" (thin) electrical box to secure directly into that wood. After some more cutting away plaster and lathe to make it fit (and making an even bigger mess) here it is secured in place:
I quickly realize through a test fit before I get too far that the canopy for the fan won't be able to secure to the bracket for the fan because it is below ceiling level, and I kind of made a mess with all that cutting I had to do. Hmm, what would be a good resolution? After some quick reference to This Old House website (I've become very fond of this and the magazine) I determined a ceiling medallion would do the trick. Back to Menards.. Nope, I didn't like those, so off to Lowe's. After that trip and a quick dinner, I put the medallion up:
Yay! It solved two problems for me at the same time. That white box up there is the transmitter that will allow me to control the fan and light, which I installed the switch into the wall:
The switch will give me 3 speeds on the fan, and allow me to dim the lights. Just a little minor patch job to repair the damage from removing the electrical box. I will get to that in due time. I put up the fan motor, then the blades, then the lights. All would appear good to go...time to flip the power back on.
But first: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, please keep this fan where it is and don't let it come crashing down on me. As I flip on the electricity, let it flow smoothly and safely as it is supposed to do. Amen. (PS, I can sleep on the couch tonight if you need me to.)
With that complete, off to the basement to turn the electricity back on. Let there be light!
Woo hoo! There's light. But wait, it doesn't dim, and the fan doesn't work either. Well now what? After another conversation with dad to try to problem solve, I start taking the light down, then the fan. I check the wiring, then ta-da! The transmitter for the switch wasn't set to the same code as the actual switch in the wall (kind of like a garage door opener needs to be programmed correctly. I put the pieces back together and turn the power on again. Woop, there it is!
The dimmer switch works for the light, and the multi-speed fan switch works too! May this stay in place for millenia (or at least until I sell the house) and give me cooling in the summer, and warmth in the winter. Amen, thank you baby Jesus.
**Please note, no animals were injured during the duration of this project. This content has been edited to remove the large amounts of vulgarity that took place during this project.
