Create the look of a tin ceiling with thermoplastic tiles.
Thermoplastic ceiling tiles, also known as faux tin tiles, give homeowners the look of classic tin ceilings without the high cost of tin ceiling panels. Glued directly to a prepared ceiling surface, thermoplastic ceiling tiles come in a variety of colors and styles. The tiles can closely replicate the tin tiles they're based upon, from newly installed tile surfaces to tiles that have been in place for the decades required to develop the prized patina for which older tiled surfaces are known.
Instructions
1. Prepare the ceiling for tile installation. Place a dropcloth on the floor beneath the ceiling and mask off the edges of the walls where they join the ceiling. Cut all power to the room from the breaker box and then remove any fixtures in the a screwdriver.
2. Spray textured ceilings with water in a small 4-by-4-foot section. Allow the water to seep into the texture for five minutes. Remove any texture on the ceiling by scraping it off with a floor scraper. Move on to the next section and repeat the process until you've removed all the texture. Sand the ceiling smooth with a hand-held sander. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling. Take care not to damage the drywall material of the ceiling when removing the texture.
3. Paint the ceiling with a coat of primer paint using a long-handled roller in order to create a smooth installation surface for the tiles. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before installing the tiles.
4. Plan the placement of the tiles prior to installation. Plan the ceiling design from the center of the ceiling outward. Determine the total ceiling space by measuring the length and width of the ceiling in feet, and then multiplying the measurements to get the square footage. Use this measurement to determine the number of full tiles required. After determining the placement of full tiles, determine the number of border tiles you will require to fill the space from the edge of the full tiles to the ceiling edges. Each row and column of tiles will require two border tiles on each end.
5. Mark the center of the ceiling by using a chalk line. Measure each wall and place a mark on the center in the center of each. Attach one end of the string of a chalk line to the ceiling at a mark using a tack. Stretch the line to the opposing center wall mark and hold the string to the ceiling's surface. Pull down lightly on the chalk line and then release it to snap against the ceiling, leaving a line of chalk down the center between the opposing wall marks. Do the same for the other two opposing wall marks to create a cross where the lines meet in the center of the ceiling.
6. Install the edge J-Trims around the border of the ceiling. Remove the masking tape and then screw the trim into place using drywall screws so that the longer end of the trim rests against the ceiling with the curved end against the walls.
7. Install the tiles according to your designs beginning at the center of the room and using the right angles created by the chalk lines as guides for the first four tiles. Spread tile adhesive to the ceiling using a notched trowel, first spreading a layer of adhesive onto the surface, then tilting the trowel to a 45-degree angle and running the notches along the adhesive to raise ridges for easier gripping. Press the tile onto the adhesive, using the angled lines as a guide. Hold the tile to the ceiling for 30 seconds to set it in place. Place the other three starting tiles around the center point to create a beginning square. Work outwards toward the edges of the ceiling, placing tiles until the space between a tile edge and the ceiling edge is less than that of a full-sized tile.
8. Cut tiles for placement over fixture holes by measuring the space on the tile where the fixture hole will sit and then marking the area on the rear of the tile with a market. Cut the space from the tile with the tin snips and then test the cut by placing the tile onto the space, making sure the cut aligns properly. Glue the correctly cut tiles into place.
9. Install the border tiles. Measure the distance between the last row of tiles and the ceiling edge. Cut the border tiles with the tin snips to fit. Apply the adhesive directly to the rear of the tiles and then slide the cut edge of the tile into the curve of the J-trim piece. Fit the border tile tightly against the full-sized tile of the row, making sure the tile joints align. Hold the border tile in place 30 seconds to set.
10. Wait one hour after tile installation and then press upwards on all ceiling tiles to make sure they're all firmly in the tile adhesive.
Tags: border tiles, ceiling tiles, ceiling using, ceiling with, center ceiling, chalk line