Proper layout is essential for an attractive ceiling.
Suspended ceilings have the advantage of being easy to maintain and repair. When a tile is damaged you can lift it out of the frame and replace it with a new one in a few moments. The secret to getting a professional-looking job on a suspended ceiling is in the layout. The time spent planning the layout before installation will more than pay for itself by reducing the amount of time spent adjusting the tracks and cutting replacement tiles.
Instructions
1. Measure the room and transfer the dimensions onto graph paper. In most instances, using one square to equal one foot will provide an accurate, easy-to-read representation of the room.
2. Adjust the drawing to allow the tiles around the edges of the room to be even. Most ceiling tiles are either 2-feet square or 2-by-4-feet rectangles. Adjust the grid so that the tiles abutting the walls are a uniform size. For a 17-feet wide room, the tiles on each side should be 9 inches wide. This will leave room for seven full tiles centered in the room. A calculator makes this job simpler.
3. Plan the locations of light fixtures. Any modification for wiring fixtures you need to do will be simpler before installing the ceiling's hanging tracks.
4. Use a level to mark the location of the track on each wall. Allow a 6-inch clearance between the existing ceiling and bottom of the tracks. Start in one corner of the room and use the level and a pencil to make a continuous line along each wall in the room. The end of the line should be exactly the same height as the beginning.
5. Mark the locations for the suspension blocks (blocks that hold the wires to support the center of the ceiling) by transferring the grid marks from the graph paper to the ceiling. Measure the appropriate distance on opposing walls and use a chalk line to make a straight line between the two points. Do this for both the length and width of the room. When finished, you will have a grid marked on the ceiling. Place the support blocks at the intersections of this grid.
Tags: each wall, graph paper, time spent