Ceiling tiles are available from Lowe's in a variety of textures and finishes.
Ceiling tiles can completely change the look of a room, and do not take long to install. Ceiling tiles from Lowe's come in smooth, textured, and patterned styles from a variety of manufacturers. The tiles hang in a grid assembly, also available from Lowe's. If you want to create an antique look in your kitchen, you can install tiles that look like the tin ceilings that were popular in the early to mid 1900s. Some tile designs look like interconnected rings when installed or you can opt for a smooth tile. It all depends on the overall design and purpose of the room.
Instructions
1. Determine the layout of the ceiling panels. You will need the dimensions of the room and the ceiling tiles to do this. For instance, if your room measures 9-by-10 1/2 feet, you will have one main row of uncut panels down the center and a matching border on each side. Border panels would measure 2 1/2-by-1 1/4 feet. The entire room would need 36 panels to complete.
2. Mark the height of the new ceiling. Take lighting into consideration and leave enough space for fixtures. Pot, or can, lights need an additional 2 inches of space beyond the height of the light. Use the pencil and chalk line to make this mark all the way around the room. Use the level to make sure your ceiling will be level when it is installed.
3. Nail the wall molding studs to the walls so that the bottom edge of the molding sits on the chalk line. Use the nails that come with the suspension kit.
4. Snap chalk lines at the predetermined measurements for the main beams, as discovered during the ceiling layout phase. Screw in the wire fasteners 4 feet apart along the chalk lines for the main beams. These fasteners hold the wire hangers that suspend the ceiling.
5. Hammer a nail into the wall just above the top of the molding, where the main beams of the be. Let the nail stick out a bit, as you will be tying a string to it. Do this on the wall opposite, as well. Tie a string to both nails. This will be your guide for making the wire hangers and ensuring that the ceiling will be level.
6. Bend all the wire hangers. Thread the wire through the hole in the fastener and give it a few twists to secure it at the top. Let it swing down, then bend it 90 degrees where it touches the string. Move the string line as needed until all the fasteners have wires.
7. Install main beams. Trim the beams to length with the tin snips. Place the end of the beam on the wall molding and thread a wire hanger through the corresponding hole. Twist to secure, as was done on the fastener end of the hanger. Do this for all the fasteners that are in line with the main beams.
8. Trim the cross tees to fit with the tin snips. Snap or hook the cross tee into the hole in wall molding. Insert the other end into the correct hole on the main beam. Keep repeating this procedure until you install all of the cross tees.
9. Install the panels. Slide the panel though the grid at an angle, then lower it into place. Use a straight edge and a utility knife to trim panels to size. The ceiling is now installed.
Tags: main beams, ceiling will, from Lowe, wall molding, wire hangers, available from, Lowe