A dropped ceiling can provide a room with a clean look and at the same time cover an original ceiling that is damaged. Another use for a dropped ceiling is that it can hide electrical wires and plumbing pipes. In some applications of a dropped ceiling, a type of light fixture may be used that necessitates the need for a light panel. You can cut a light panel for a dropped ceiling using the correct materials and with a small investment of time.
Instructions
1. Measure the width and the length of the opening in the where the panel will be located. Use a tape measure and ensure that you include the lip of the dropped ceiling grid. Subtract a half inch from the length and the width so that you will have room to maneuver the panel into place. Record the measurements onto a piece of paper with a pencil.
2. Lay the plastic on a piece of cardboard on a flat surface.
3. Mark the light panel where it must be cut to fit in the required space. Use the measurements you acquired in the first step and a straight edge to ensure that the lines you draw are straight.
4. Warm the plastic panel with a hair dryer for several minutes to make it less brittle and thereby less likely to splinter and crack as you cut it.
5. Apply painter's tape one each side of the lines you drew, which will help hold the plastic together where it is being cut.
6. Score the panel on the lines where the tape meets using a utility knife. Use the straight edge to ensure that the knife doesn't stray off the lines. Make several passes with the knife until the panel is cut completely through.
7. Fit the panel into the ceiling and make any minor adjustments to it using the utility knife.
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