A ceiling fan bracket is a piece of hardware used when installing a ceiling fan during building construction or renovation. Different brackets can be designed in different ways to offer a wide array of features, and some may require access to an attic or crawl space. In general, these brackets will connect to support beams within a ceiling space to provide a stable support structure for a ceiling fan to then be installed onto the bracket. A ceiling fan bracket can also be used to provide an option for ceiling fan installation, even when a ceiling fan is not initially installed.
Also called a ceiling fan mount bracket or mounting bracket, a ceiling fan bracket is typically made from metal and is strong enough to support the potentially significant weight of a ceiling fan. Installation of a ceiling fan bracket can be done during the construction or renovation of a structure, typically when access to space above a ceiling is available. Some brackets are designed to be installable even without access to an attic or crawl space, however, allowing someone to install the bracket through a hole in the ceiling.
Regardless of how a ceiling fan bracket can be installed, the actual installation is typically the same. A bracket is usually designed as a single metal beam, onto which a round mounting can be attached. The beam itself is installed within a ceiling, usually by connecting each end of the beam to a support beam that is part of the initial construction of a building. This provides a great deal of strength and support for the metal ceiling fan bracket itself. The beam can be connected through screws, or it may simply have metal teeth that can be firmly pressed into the wooden support beams.
Once the metal beam of the ceiling fan bracket is properly installed, a round mounting bracket can then be connected to the beam. This serves as the actual mounting hardware to which a ceiling fan can then be connected during installation of the ceiling fan. Many ceiling fan brackets are designed to allow different models of ceiling fans to be installed onto them, providing a greater degree of compatibility with different fans. When a ceiling fan is not immediately installed onto a ceiling fan bracket, the bracket will usually come with a cover plate to make the ceiling appear more complete and prevent electrical wires from being exposed.