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danny_tsang

hanging chair from a ceiling joist

5 years ago

Hi everyone. I’m thinking of hanging a clear acrylic bubble chair from the ceiling. I came across pics of my ceiling during construction and noticed the joists are 2x4s that are laid horizontally as opposed to something seemingly more sturdy like 2x6s that are in a vertical position.

Would anyone in construction know if it this would be strong enough to put an Eye bolt into and hang a chair from? Total weight about 200lbs while sat on and it swings a bit. Maybe I can reinforce the joist somehow by adding another 2x4 in that area?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Comments (10)

  • 5 years ago

    You are looking at the bottom chord on floor trusses. No you cannot hang a chair from them. They were not engineered for that type of load. Is this a tract home or a custom home? If custom you can speak tot he lumberyard and see if the truss company can offer a suggestion to enable you to do this. If this is a tract or developer home, no chance as the trusses will be the bare minimum to meet code to start with.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Hang it from the top chord or add vertical wood or steel reinforcement from the top to the bottom chord on each side and hang from that.

    One method is to apply plywood to each side of the truss similar to they way a floor truss is reinforced for a top load.



  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Personally, I would rethink the clear acrylic bubble chair.

  • 5 years ago

    These are where it's at...


  • 5 years ago

    Thanks everyone. I’m glad I reached out. It might not be worth the effort to go this route just for the look of a hanging chair. I’ll likely end up just getting a normal accent chair for that corner of the living room.

  • 5 years ago

    This was the original idea. I still like it but seems like a lot of work to open up the ceiling and reinforce it just for a chair

  • 5 years ago

    Fine to hang the chair. Just don't use it for other than stuffed animals



    or (synthetic) dummies.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Consider an Eames Lounge Chair.


  • 5 years ago

    Or, you could get an egg-shaped chair with a stand from which to hang it. And, yes, you can get them in plain colors.

  • 5 years ago

    To the OP or anyone else thinking of hanging any kind of chair or swing or bench using eyebolts: don’t. That is an accident waiting to happen. The only safe and proper way to attach something like that is with bolts going through the structural member that are secured by washers and nuts. Or by a specialty bracket sold for that purpose. And that is after the determination is made that the structural member can support the load without being compromised.