Acoustical Ceiling Installation
Also called suspended ceilings or drop ceilings, acoustical ceilings are made with tiles that have a sound-absorbing quality. The tiles, which fit into a metal grid, are available in a multitude of colors, designs and shapes. What was once thought of as an economical ceiling is now also considered a decorative element in many offices, buildings and residences.
Wall Brackets
Determine the height at which you want the ceiling. Standard ceiling heights are 8 feet to accommodate other standard building materials such as drywall. Carefully mark the height around the perimeter of the room. Use a level to ensure that the line remains straight, rather than attempting to make continual measurements.
Once the line is in place, install the outer L brackets. These brackets will mount on top of the line; secure them to wall studs with screws. Install all exterior brackets first before beginning the inner framework.
Main Tees
Install rows of anchors--which can be nails, screws or eye-bolts--in the ceiling joists overhead on 4-foot centers across the width of the room and every 2 feet along each row. Install the main tee brackets on 4-foot center by attaching them to the wall bracket, then supporting them with hanger wires that will attached to the overhead anchor points. You should have one row of anchors over every main tee. Use a level to be certain that the brackets remain level as you tighten each hanger wire. Continue across the room until all main tees are installed.
Cross Tees
Place cross tees every 2 feet along the main tees to form 2-by-4-foot openings. Continue across the room until the entire grid is completed. If you are installing 2-foot-square ceiling tiles, you will add additional cross tees in the center of each of these openings to reduce the opening size to 2 feet by 2 feet.
Ceiling Tiles
With the ceiling grid in place, you can begin to lay the ceiling tiles. Angle them slightly to fit them up and through the opening, then let them rest on the lip of the brackets. Begin in one corner of the room and complete one row before turning and starting back down the next row. If you need to add lights or other items, you will need to install additional support and hanger wires to handle the weight. Custom-fit tiles around lights or vents, or install lights that will fit in a 2-by-4-foot grid hole.
Odd-Sized Tiles
Unless the room's measurement is divisible by 4, you will be left with one odd-sized row that is less than 4 feet in width. Take careful measurements of the leftover space and mark a to match the measurement. Using a box knife, cut the ceiling tile along the mark. Place the tile in the appropriate opening and take the measurement for the next opening. Measure each opening separately instead of using the measurement from the previous tile. This will insure a custom fit for each opening.
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