The technique of installing a suspended ceiling costs a lot less than renovating the original ceiling and provides an easy method to conceal old ducts, wires and cables while keeping them accessible for repair or maintenance. The different types of tile designs available of late may tickle anyone's fancy and can be installed with very little alteration to your home.
Instructions
1. Measure the precise dimensions of the room where you are going to hang the drop ceiling, carefully accounting for odd shapes like alcoves, bays, etc. Sketch the ceiling measurements to scale on a graph paper to determine how many ceiling panels you would need. Panels are available in various sizes, with 2-feet-by-4-feet being the most commonly used. Considering the size of panels you decide to install in your room and the ceiling measurements you have sketched on the graph, simply count the number of panels you would need. You may consult a salesman at your local retailer to decide on the number of panels you would require by taking the sketched measurements to him.
2. Chalk a guide line on all the walls of your room using a leveler to precisely mark the height where you want the ceiling to hang. Allow a minimum of 3-inch to 4-inch clearance below the old ceiling. In case you are using recessed lights in the new ceiling, allocate a minimum of a 6-inch space between the old and new ceilings. The height of the drop ceiling may be suitably adjusted to keep ducts and wires hidden from view.
3. Fasten the wall angles securely to the walls following the guide line you have chalked on the walls. Ensure that the wall angles would be level against the wall once they are affixed by using a leveler. Do not attempt to mentally ascertain whether the wall angles are level or not; instead, use a leveler to avoid a crooked looking drop ceiling. Tightly nail the wall angles to studs, or you may use screw or masonry anchors. When you reach the corners of your room, overlap the wall angles on inside corners of walls, and miter the angles on the outside corners for a proper finish.
4. Fix eye hooks/screws on the old ceiling with which the suspension wires would be hanging. Each hook should be placed evenly where the main tee would meet the cross tee. Once the hooks are fixed to the old ceiling, cut the suspension wires to the correct length and fasten one wire with one hook/screw. All wires should be hanging down equally from the old ceiling and watch out for any bends or kinks.
5. Suspend the main tees with the wires you have affixed to the old ceiling. Cut the main tees to the exact measurement of the room according to the sketch graph you made. Allow for the thickness of wall angles along which the main tees would be laid, usually 1/8 inch. Fasten each main tee to the suspension wires and place sides on mounted wall angles after trimming the tees for the thickness of the angles.
6. Attach the cross tees with the main tees along the slots provided in the main tees. Insert the end of each cross tee into the slot on the main tee. Trim the cross tees, if needed, near the walls. The grid for laying ceiling panels is now complete.
7. Tilt and slide each ceiling panel into the grid hanging from the suspension wires and supported by the wall angles. The panels should fix smoothly if the sketch you made was accurate enough. However, usually you may need to trim panels with a saw or knife for a more charming finish.
Tags: wall angles, main tees, suspension wires, drop ceiling, panels would, your room, ceiling measurements