Removing ceiling light box for ceiling fan retrofit - tips?

I know these plastic boxes aren't suitable for ceiling fans, so I was planning on removing this and replacing it with something like the Raco 937 retro-brace or a side-mount fan box. After some sleuthing I managed to track down the same (or extremely similar) model used in our apartment and it looks like this is a type where it's screwed or nailed to the studs just on one side (img #4). I pushed on one end and it seems to budge about half an inch which confirms that this is mounted just on the left side. Now that said... what would be the best approach to removing this? I was thinking: Push really hard on the 'loose' / unmounted side and hammer it out, effectively ripping out the screws/nails on the left mounted side. or... Chip away at the bits of plastic using cutters/pliers, or rent a reciprocating saw and start sawing off the 'housing' then reach inside and unscrew the mounting screws I guess my only worry is that by ripping out the screws I would damage the studs at the mounting points, but maybe it's not that big of a deal. Any help would be greatly appreciated! submitted by /u/royalwalnutt [link] [comments]

Apr 7, 2025 - 01:32

I know these plastic boxes aren't suitable for ceiling fans, so I was planning on removing this and replacing it with something like the Raco 937 retro-brace or a side-mount fan box.

After some sleuthing I managed to track down the same (or extremely similar) model used in our apartment and it looks like this is a type where it's screwed or nailed to the studs just on one side (img #4). I pushed on one end and it seems to budge about half an inch which confirms that this is mounted just on the left side.

Now that said... what would be the best approach to removing this? I was thinking:

Push really hard on the 'loose' / unmounted side and hammer it out, effectively ripping out the screws/nails on the left mounted side. or...
Chip away at the bits of plastic using cutters/pliers, or rent a reciprocating saw and start sawing off the 'housing' then reach inside and unscrew the mounting screws

I guess my only worry is that by ripping out the screws I would damage the studs at the mounting points, but maybe it's not that big of a deal. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

submitted by /u/royalwalnutt
[link] [comments]