Drop ceilings allow access to maintain electrical wiring and plumbing while still providing a finished look. Drop ceilings also have sound-control qualities that a traditional drywall ceiling does not offer. Installing a drop ceiling requires some basic tools and a little time. The finished appearance of a drop ceiling can renovate a room, and put a finishing touch on a basement.
Instructions
1. Measure 4 inches from the ceiling joists and make a mark on the wall. Do this in several locations around the room.
2. Use a level to connect the measurement marks by drawing a line on the wall around the room with a pencil. Use level to ensure that the line stays level while traveling around the room.
3. Use nails to attach the wall angles to the wall. Take care that the bottom of the wall angle lines up with the mark that was created on the wall. Try to use as many of the attachment points in the wall angle as possible.
4. Attach the guide wires to the edges of the wall angles across the room. These wires are the base of the grid for the ceiling.
5. Measure the distance from the floor joists to the guide wire. Cut suspension wires 12 inches longer than this distance. Attach a suspension wire to the ceiling every 4 feet with screw eyes. Stretch each suspension wire so that all of the kinks are removed from the wire. Bend the suspension wire at a 90 degree angle where the suspension wire and the guide wire cross.
6. Snap the end of the main tees into the appropriate slots on the wall angle. Check that they are level. Use the suspension wires to hang the main tees from the joists.
7. Snap the cross tee pieces into the main tees. Continue to place the cross tee pieces until all cross tees have been installed. When completed the grid for the drop ceiling will be established.
8. Install the ceiling panels in the false ceiling by placing once side of the panel into the framework and lifting the panel slightly above the grid.
9. Maneuver the other side of the ceiling panel onto the framework and lower the panel into place on the grid work.
Tags: suspension wire, around room, drop ceiling, main tees, wall angle