How Do I Install My Pole?

When you order your pole, it should come with instructions, no matter the brand. These instructions can also be found online on the manufacturer’s website, and YouTube supplies a variety of pole set-up videos to help you in the process. We recommend getting a second person to help you install your pole.

Just remember, your tension pole should always go below a ceiling joist to help secure it – and always use a level after you have it in place to ensure it’s straight!

Common Concerns and Troubleshooting Tips:

How do I find my ceiling joist?

Once you know what to look for, ceiling joists are easy to find. You’ll need a stud finder – these are inexpensive, around $20 at most hardware stores.

Choose your pole room and start a suitable distance from the wall or any furniture. Turn on the stud finder and run it straight across the ceiling. It will beep when it comes across a stud; mark this spot with a pencil.

Do this in the opposite direction to find the point where the beeps cross over. Mark that with your pencil, and now that nice little X marks where the joist is.

My pole is coming loose from the ceiling and sliding.

Check to make sure your pole is under a ceiling joist. Next, use a level to make sure your pole is completely straight when it’s in the upright position. Always, always, always test your pole when you’re done tightening it against the ceiling. You can do this by firmly gripping it in both hands and pulling back and forth. If there’s ANY movement, it is not secure. Likewise, be careful not to over-tighten your pole as this can cause damage to the bearings inside. If you have a spin pole, it is easy to test if your pole is over-tightened; you will feel resistance in the pole. Ideally, in any pole, the spin function should be seamless and smooth. If you’re poling on carpet, you may need to let your pole sit for a few hours before tightening it further to give the carpeting time to flatten. Be careful not to over-extend your pole during this process. Your instruction manual or the manfuacturer’s website can guide you on proper use of extensions, and at what ceiling heights an extension is needed.

I’m worried my pole will crack the ceiling

If this is a concern, check to make sure your pole is under a ceiling joist and completely upright. The pole’s weight should be distributed evenly along the joist.

If your home is particularly old, sometimes sheetrock ceilings can start to crack from age, especially around corners. If your pole is installed correctly, it likely has nothing to do with it.

Some polers will get sturdy plywood cut and bolted into the ceiling if their sheetrock is particularly brittle. Never install anything above the pole that can slip out of place, such as cardboard, or wood that is not bolted into a joist. This is incredibly unsafe and can cause the pole to slip.

My ceiling is uneven, is it still safe to pole?

In many cases, the slant is slight, and it should be fine so long as you are able to set up the pole properly and level out the pole. If this isn’t the case for you, you can purchase a special ceiling mount.

Purchase additional mounts from your pole manufacturer only – you never know how third-party parts will work with your pole, and you can’t guarantee the safety!

I’m worried my pole will leave marks on the ceiling.

It shouldn’t. If your pole has been up for several months at a time, you may see slight marks from the rubber inside the ceiling base. This is normal and will come off with washcloth and a solution of soap and water, or a mixture of soap and vinegar.

Can I pole with a popcorn ceiling?

Absolutely! Popcorn ceilings are still safe to pole on, though you may find the rubber around the base will squish some of the popcorn. This is hardly noticeable; however, if it really needs a touch-up, popcorn paint is inexpensive to purchase from most supermarkets or any hardware store.

Can I put cardboard or plywood between the pole and ceiling to shore up gaps?

No! You never want to place anything between the pole and the ceiling. By doing so, you are creating unnecessary weak points and your pole is more likely to slip and come down.

Think about the difference between pressing the palm of your hand down really hard against a table. Pretty solid, right? Now imagine you’re doing that same thing, but with a piece of cardstock underneath your hand. You’re suddenly much more prone to slipping, and that’s without someone pushing your arm around.

If you need to shore up any gaps, then you may need to purchase a pole extension or find a room with a slightly lower ceiling. If you are attaching plywood directly to a ceiling joist to extend the width slightly, make sure you secure it firmly with heavy-duty screws or bolts.