Drop ceilings are common in offices and residences throughout the U.S.
Drop ceilings are a common low-cost feature of many residential and commercial spaces. Drop ceilings consist of lightweight foam or pressed cardboard tiles and metal runners which are suspended from the structure above. Drop ceilings are insulators which block out sound and cold and are very useful for hiding pipes, wiring, damaged original ceilings or any number of structural flaws above them. A variety of styles and sizes of drop ceiling tiles are available at home improvement centers.
Instructions
1. Draw a line where you plan to set the drop ceiling all the way around the room with your pencil. Use your laser level to ensure the complete length of the guide line is parallel to the floor and even. Measure the length of the longest wall and cut your drop ceiling perimeter molding to fit using your metal snips.
2. Install the drop ceiling perimeter molding to the wall around the entire room using your hammer and nails. At outside corners the metal edge trim must be cut at 45-degree angles with your hack saw and miter box so that the two pieces meet flush and the line is continual. At inside corners the drop ceiling perimeter molding should be left uncut and should instead meet squarely so that the line continues uninterrupted.
3. Measure the length and width of the ceiling with your tape measure and divide it by the size of your ceiling tiles. The result will tell you how many tiles will be required to span the distance. If the number is not even, factor in that a tile will have to be cut and try to hide this cut tile in a corner or other less visible location. To calculate the amount of drop ceiling cross tees you will need in a given row, just subtract 1 from the number of tiles in a row along the length of the room. To calculate the number of drop ceiling runners you will need, measure the width of the room and divide this number by the width of your tiles. Multiply this number by the length of the room and you will have the total length of drop ceiling runners necessary to complete the job.
4. Measure and cut drop ceiling runners to span the length of the room with your tape measure and metal snips. Use your drill to make pilot holes in the overhead joists or beams every 4 feet or so across the length of the room where you will hang runner supports. Screw your eye bolts into the pilot holes and hang 16-gauge wire from each. Insert the drop ceiling runners into the metal edging at each end of the room. Attach the hanging 16-gauge wire to the runner through the pre-drilled holes by twisting it on itself several times. Cut away the excess 16-gauge wire with your metal snips and use your level make sure your runners have a consistent height. When crossing long distances it may be necessary to link more than one runner. Use an additional wire support at each joint.
5. Install the drop ceiling cross tees between the runners at tile-sized intervals. Cross tees are designed with tabs at each end which connect into the metal runners. Place your ceiling tiles into the hanging framework by sliding them into the open space at an angle with one side raised. Then drop them down into the metal supports.
6. Cut tiles which do not fit to shape using your carpet knife. If your tiles have beveled edges and you need to make a cut, use another whole tile to measure the edge depth. Mark the line on the tile to be cut. Cut into the tile along the line about halfway through. Cut along the side of the tile toward the top cut until the small wedge is removed. Lay the tile into the frame and it should fit level.
Tags: drop ceiling, with your, ceiling runners, drop ceiling runners, Drop ceilings, length room, 16-gauge wire