Hide uneven ceilings with new ceiling tiles.
Brighten up any room or replace your dirty, water-stained ceiling tiles by installing new ones. If a ceiling is uneven, these tiles can hide the unevenness because they can be shimmed (thin piece of metal or wood is driven between two objects) to make the ceiling appear level. Installing ceiling tiles is time consuming, but not difficult.
Instructions
1. Measure both walls that run perpendicular to the floor joists. Mark the center of each wall with a pencil. Snap the chalk line between both marks so they cross each other on the ceiling.
2. Center a on the chalk line and secure the strip with drywall screws using a drill. Furring strips are either thin wood or metal strips to make installation surfaces that support finished surfaces in a room.
3. Space the remaining 1 x 3 inch furring strips as far apart as the visible width of the ceiling tiles, usually 12 inches.
4. Use a level to check for evenness across the furring strip grid. If uneven spots are discovered, loosen the screw and place a shim between the joist and the strip. Tighten the screw and check the level again. Adjust the shim as necessary by pushing it in or backing it out.
5. Start at the original chalk line and snap a new line every 12 inches.
6. Measure the space between the last chalk line and the wall. Cut the tiles, using a utility knife and straightedge, to fit the space, leaving a 1/4 inch gap between the wall and the tile. Leaving the gap means not having to cut tiles and also allows for easier maneuvering of the tile.
7. Staple the border tiles to the furring strips. On two of the walls, tiles can be stapled. On the other two walls, nail the edge of the tiles to the floor joists if possible.
8. Apply the full size tiles after the border tiles have been installed on two joining walls. Work out across the room trimming border tiles against the remaining walls. If a cut out is needed, put the tile in place and mark the edge of the cut.
9. Cut molding to fit snugly against the wall and ceiling. Nail it in place to cover the gaps between the tile and the wall.
Tags: ceiling tiles, chalk line, border tiles, floor joists, furring strip,