Though ceilings are often just painted, you don't have to finish a ceiling in this way. Like with floors and walls, a variety of materials can be used to cover the ceilings in your home. Ceiling tiles are similar to those used on floors and walls, but are generally made of lighter-weight materials. If you would like to install a tile ceiling, the installation instructions depend on whether your ceiling is flat or has exposed beams.
Instructions
1. Create furring strips for the ceiling if the room has exposed beams. Measure the width of the room in the direction that runs perpendicular to the beams and cut the furring strengths to that length. If the furring strips are shorter than the length of the room (they usually will be) use the number of furring strips necessary to make up the distance across the room.
2. Attach the first furring strips to the beams. Line the first strip up with the wall on one side of the room and nail it in place with a single nail on each joist. If you must use more than one strip to reach all the way across the room, cut the furring strips down so that the ends of the furring strips come together in the middle of a beam, and then place a single nail in each strips to secure it to the beam.
3. Install the rest of the furring strips across the room. Place the strips at a distance apart that accommodates your tiles. If you have 1-foot tiles, for instance, install the furring strips approximately 11 to 11 1/2 inches apart, depending on the width of the strip, so that when you hold the tiles up, the edges of two adjacent tiles touch the furring strip.
4. Attach the ceiling tiles to the furring strips. Spread adhesive down each side of the tile that will touch the furring strip. If recommended by the manufacturer, use staples at each corner of each tile as well to further secure the tile. At the end of each row of tiles, if a full tile won't fit, hold a tile up to the ceiling and mark the tile to fit in the space. Cut the tile down with a tile cutter before installation.
Tags: furring strips, across room, exposed beams, floors walls, furring strip, nail each, single nail