Loose light fitting secure in Exeter
Professional loose light fitting secure services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
15-20 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Loose ceiling light secured properly - no more wobbling when you change a bulb or worrying it's going to fall down. Quick 15-minute fix.
When Your Light Fitting Has Developed A Wobble
You change a bulb and the whole light moves. Or you can see a gap between the ceiling rose and the ceiling. Maybe it rattles when someone walks on the floor above.
Loose light fittings are surprisingly common - vibration from doors closing, age, dodgy initial installation, or just old plaster giving up.
The good news? Usually a quick fix - tighten things up, replace inadequate fixings, job done.
Why Light Fittings Come Loose
| ✅ Properly Secured | ❌ What's Usually Happened |
|---|---|
| Fixed into solid ceiling/joist | Screws in crumbly plaster only |
| Appropriate fixing for weight | Tiny screws holding heavy shade |
| Regular inspection and tightening | Left until it's properly dangerous |
| Backplate flat to ceiling | Gap growing, wires visible |
The Fix
🔧 What I Do
- Turn power off at consumer unit
- Check why it's loose (failed fixings, wrong fixings, crumbling ceiling)
- Remove fitting if needed to access ceiling properly
- Install proper fixings (new screws, plugs, or different fixing type)
- Remount fitting securely
- Test it's solid - no movement at all
- Power back on
💡 You Get
- Light secured properly
- No wobble
- No gaps around ceiling rose
- Peace of mind it's not falling
Pricing
| Job | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ceiling light | 15-20 mins | £60 |
| Heavier fitting (small chandelier) | 20-30 mins | £60 |
£60 minimum. If the ceiling needs repair work first, I'll quote for that separately.
💡 Pro tip: Check all your ceiling lights occasionally - give them a gentle wiggle when changing bulbs. Catch them getting loose early and they're a 5-minute fix. Leave them until they're hanging off and you might need ceiling repair too.
Why Choose Us for Loose light fitting secure in Exeter?
Light secured properly to ceiling
No more wobbling or rattling
Safe - no risk of falling
15-minute fix
What to Expect
Step 1: Power Off & Assessment
Isolate the circuit, then examine why it's loose. Different causes need different fixes.
Step 2: Fix The Problem
Might be as simple as tightening existing screws. Might need new fixings in better plaster, or longer screws into the joist above. Whatever's needed to make it solid.
Step 3: Test & Power On
Give it a proper tug to make sure it's not going anywhere. Power back on, light working and secure.
🔧 DIY Tips
If you're comfortable working safely with electrics, this is doable:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Screwdriver
- Replacement screws/wall plugs (if current ones have failed)
- Possibly a drill for new holes
- Voltage tester or meter
📐 Securing a loose light
- Turn power OFF at the consumer unit - not just the switch
- Test it's actually off - use a voltage tester, don't trust the switch
- Remove shade/cover to access the fixing screws
- Tighten mounting screws - this might be all it needs
- If screws just spin - plaster's failed, you need new fixings
- Remove fitting carefully (note which wire goes where!)
- Install new fixings - wall plugs in solid ceiling, plasterboard fixings if hollow
- Remount fitting securely
- Restore power and test
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not turning power off properly
- Losing track of which wire is which when disconnecting
- Using same worn-out screw holes (won't hold)
- Overtightening and cracking the ceiling rose
- Not checking what's above ceiling (might hit a joist)
💡 Pro trick: If the old screw holes are too big, fill them with wall plug offcuts or match sticks and wood glue. Let it set, then screw into that. Works a treat for light loads.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Multiple rooms with the same problem? Tell me when you book - I can check all your light fittings while I'm there. Older houses often have several getting loose at once.
Period properties? Exeter's Victorian and Edwardian houses often have lath-and-plaster ceilings. These need slightly different fixings than modern plasterboard. I work with old ceilings all the time.
Heavy lights? Chandeliers, big glass shades, anything hefty - these need proper support. Might mean finding a joist to screw into, or fitting a mounting bar between joists. Tell me roughly how heavy it is when you book.
Ceiling rose cracked? Sometimes the plastic backplate itself has cracked or gone brittle with age. Might need replacing entirely - cheap as chips to buy, just takes a bit longer to fit.
Unsure about electrics? If in doubt, get someone who knows. Working with power off is safe enough, but if you're not confident identifying which wire is which, call me instead of guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do ceiling lights come loose?
Usually the screws into the ceiling have worked loose over time, or the ceiling rose/backplate wasn't fixed properly when first installed. Old plaster crumbling around the fixing is common in Exeter's period properties. Sometimes it's just the shade that's come loose from the fitting, which is even quicker to fix.
Is a loose light dangerous?
Potentially yes. If it falls it could hurt someone, damage the light, or pull wires out creating an electrical hazard. Worth fixing sooner rather than later - they don't get better on their own.
Do I need to turn the power off?
I will do, yeah. Can't work on light fittings with the power on - that's asking for trouble. Flip the relevant circuit breaker, check it's actually off, then secure the fitting. Power back on once it's fixed.
What if the plaster's too crumbly to hold the screws?
Then I'll use different fixings - longer screws into the joist above, plasterboard fixings if it's modern ceiling, or move the rose slightly to find better plaster. There's always a solution.
Can you fix heavy chandeliers the same way?
Depends how heavy and what ceiling type. Really heavy lights need proper support - sometimes direct into a joist, sometimes a mounting block fitted between joists. I'll assess when I see it and advise if it needs more than just tightening screws.
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