Ceiling medallions dress up a chandelier.
Ceiling medallions are round, decorative items secured to the ceiling around the openings for light fixtures such as chandeliers. They are typically made of plaster or lightweight fiberglass. Medallions serve no functional purpose, but the decorative scroll work often carved on them adds a formal aspect to the decor. You can install a ceiling medallion for a chandelier as long as you are comfortable working at the top of a tall ladder.
Instructions
1. Turn off the power for the chandelier by flipping the switch at the main circuit breaker. Place a ladder underneath the chandelier and climb up until you can reach it.
2. Disconnect the chandelier from the ceiling by grasping the hook at the base of the fixture and turning it counterclockwise until it comes out of the ceiling. Pull the remaining metal part, called a canopy, straight down from the ceiling. Locate the black, white and green or copper wires and unscrew the plastic caps holding them together. Lower the chandelier carefully to the floor.
3. Hold a sponge under a running faucet until it is wet. Squeeze out the sponge as much as possible and apply 1/2 tsp. of liquid dish soap. Climb back up the ladder and clean the area of the ceiling that the medallion will cover.
4. Place the medallion face up on a table and center the chandelier canopy over the center. Draw a pencil line around the edge of the canopy. Drill a small hole 1/2 inch inside the line using a drill and a 3/8-inch paddle bit. Then use a drywall saw to cut around the reminder of the pencil line.
5. Turn the medallion over and apply adhesive caulk over the entire back of it in a smooth, even layer. Climb back up the ladder and position the medallion on the ceiling, pushing it upward with firm pressure. Insert one screw through the canopy on either side to hold it to the ceiling.
6. Apply a pea-sized amount of caulk to cover the screws and then apply a thin bead of caulk all the way around the medallion.
7. Lift the chandelier back into place and reconnect the in the light to the same colored wires in the ceiling. Place a plastic cap on top of each set of wires. Push the wires into the ceiling cavity and insert the canopy on top of the medallion. Insert the lower chandelier hook into the bottom of the canopy and twist it clockwise to secure it in place.
8. Turn the electricity back on for the chandelier.
Tags: back ladder, Climb back, Climb back ladder, colored wires, , pencil line
