Suspended ceiling tiles are common in offices and homes.
Removing and disposing of old tiles from a suspended ceiling is not a difficult job, though it may take some time to accomplish. As long as the tiles do not contain any asbestos, they can be thrown away. If the tiles have asbestos as well as fiberglass, special procedures are required. In most cases, some careful handling and a bit of protective gear is all that is needed to get rid of your old tiles.
Instructions
1. Lay a tarp on the floor under the ceiling tiles. This helps to corral not only the old tiles, but any dust and debris that come down with them.
2. Put on safety goggles, a face mask and gloves. This keeps you from breathing dust or powder from the tiles. Wearing safety equipment also helps insure that you won't get cut or scraped by the panels, or by pieces off them.
3. Place a ladder under the tiles you want to remove. Relocate the ladder as you work to reach all of the tiles.
4. Slide each tile out of its framework, lifting it at one end and then angling it so the other end comes down through the opening. Pull it all the way out of the frame and drop it flat on the floor. If you have an assistant, hand it to him and have him stack the tiles to one side, out of the way. Repeat this process until all tiles have been removed from the ceiling.
5. Put some of the tiles into a heavy-duty contractor trash bag and tie the top shut. Don't overload the bag, as it will be difficult to handle and may rip. Only put in as much as you can comfortably lift. Contractor bags are available in discount stores and home centers. These work well for bagging ceiling tiles because of their large size and they are significantly thicker than regular trash bags. Roll up the tarp and dispose of it as well.
6. Place the trash bags out with your trash or haul them to your local dump or landfill. Fiberglass ceiling tiles are normally accepted anywhere that takes other household trash, and can be disposed of in the same way.
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