What is railing?

Checking the railing of a suspended ceiling

Before having door or wall systems installed, check whether you have a ceiling with railing. This will prevent you from anchoring rails, hinges or other fixing points in the weak rafters. 

If a door or wall is mounted on railing anyway, it can lead to sagging, loosening fasteners or damage to both the ceiling and the door or wall system. 

Therefore, check in advance whether there is railing. That way, you can choose alternative fixings in good time.

How do you recognise railing?

To determine whether a ceiling contains railing, perform a few practical checks before starting to install a Aluwdoors system. Look carefully at the finish: ceilings made of plasterboard or wooden boards often have railing as a substructure. 

By gently tapping your ceiling in different places, you can also test this. Do you hear a hollow sound? That is usually a sign that there is space between the finish and the supporting structure. This indicates the use of railing.

Otherwise, search with a magnet for metal fixings. If you find only small screw points, spaced far apart, chances are that railing has been used.

Also, always measure the distance between any visible seams or screws. In the case of railing, this is usually 30 to 60 centimetres. Do you have access to the top of the ceiling, for example through an attic or hatch? Then of course it is easier to climb up to see if there are any wooden or metal battens.

Still in doubt about whether your ceiling has railing? Then it is wise to drill a small hole in an inconspicuous spot. That way, you can immediately see what's behind the finish and avoid attaching the door system to a structure that can't support the weight.

Why railing is a challenge

Rachelwork usually has little load-bearing capacity. The construction is not suitable for attaching a door system. Screws or plugs may loosen, the ceiling may be damaged or the rail may bend. For stable and safe mounting, a door should therefore always be anchored to a supporting structure such as concrete or a support beam.

Solutions at railing

Does your ceiling consist partly of railing? Then there are several alternatives to still mount your door or wall system safely. Choose an additional support structure that is placed behind or above the ceiling and distributes the weight of the door over the load-bearing walls. 

Sometimes it is possible to fix the rail or hinges directly against a solid wall, provided it is made of concrete, brick or a reinforced partition wall. Another solution is to use a freestanding system with uprights, so that the load is fully absorbed by the floor and the ceiling is not overloaded.

Want to be sure what is the best option for a door or wall system in your situation? Then take contact us at or drop in at one of our showrooms for personal advice. You will find our showrooms in Nunspeet, Veghel, Mijdrecht or Barendrecht.