For a quick and economical way to install a ceiling, try suspended ceiling tiles that are hung within a grid of suspended metal strips. These types of ceilings are commonly used in offices and large commercial spaces, but you can also install one in your house. A suspended tile ceiling is popular for the basement area, where it can be easily installed underneath heating ducts and an occasional I-beam. A also creates an added ceiling space that will help with heating and sound insulation.
Instructions
1. Acquire the needed materials at your local building supply store. Bring the dimensions of your room, and ask how many tiles you should order. Make sure that your supplies all match, for there are different size tiles and the whole system of metal supports is designed to fit one particular size tile. Most likely you will have a choice of tile styles and color, no matter what size the grid system is.
2. Determine a practical height for your drop ceiling. 8-feet is a good average height for a bedroom in a modern house with 7 1/2 feet probably being the minimum height for a residential room. Also try to avoid dropping the hung ceiling more than 4-feet from the original height of the existing ceiling.
3. Start in one corner and chalk a line around the perimeter of the room. This line has to be level. You can use a line level on a string to do this or a four foot level sitting on top of a wooden board. Make sure this board is straight and at least 8-feet long.
4. Attach the outside metal border to two walls. Start in one corner (this will be your "starting corner" ) and install the L-shaped side support system around the border of the room. Place the bottom edge of the metal bracket on the chalk line that you made in step 3. You can insert sheet rock screws or builder's screws through the metal bracket and into the wall studs to attach this piece of metal to the wall. There will be a system of small cuts or slits in the side brackets. Make sure that you begin at the "starting corner" and that the first slit lines up at the 2-foot mark along the wall and that the "2-foot pattern" continues along both walls.
5. Continue to attach the metal bracket along the remaining two walls. Again make sure the first notch or slit falls at exactly two feet and this pattern continues down both walls.
6. Install the main runners across the length of the room. Hook the end of the first runner into the first slit in the and then attach the top side of the other end of the metal piece to the ceiling with wire (there should be a pre-drilled hole in the metal runner to hold this wire). If wire is not supplied by the manufacturer, then use bailing wire.
7. Insert eye hooks in the ceiling. Pre-drill a hole before you twist the eye hooks into place and then use the wire to hold each length of runner in place. A string that runs across the room will make this task much easier (see Tips). Note that it will take several pieces of the runner to span the length of the room, but this should not be a problem, since the pieces are designed to slide together, following the pattern of the 2-foot notches.
8. Install the crosspieces. These go every 2 or 4 feet (depending on the size of your tile) and will fit between the runners. They are designed to interlock to the runners at each end.
9. Put the tiles into place. The last row on the outside and far end will most likely have to be cut to fit. Place the tile on a wooden board and use a utility knife to do the cutting.
Tags: metal bracket, Make sure, both walls, chalk line, first slit, hung ceiling, into place