Drop Ceiling Installation Tips
Drop ceilings are a good choice for any room in the home that has enough height to accommodate them. There have been many innovations in the manufacture of ceiling tiles. The homeowner is no longer limited to the white fissured tile of yesteryear. Today, tiles for drop ceilings are available made of polystyrene and plastic that are washable and can be painted. Most homeowners can install a drop ceiling in a weekend. After the measuring is completed, the balance of the installation proceeds quickly and easily.
Measuring
Drop ceilings lower the ceiling height 4 to 6 inches; this is a consideration in today's modern homes built with lower ceilings, especially in basements. Drop ceilings are used to lower the high ceilings in hard-to-heat older homes. The area above drop ceilings creates dead air space that adds a layer of insulation and sound control to a room.
Make a sketch of the room that you are planning to install a drop ceiling in. Mark the height, width and length of the room on the sketch. The associate at the home center will need these measurements to determine the amount of grid work, ceiling tile and related components required for the new drop ceiling.
Ceiling tiles for drop ceilings are 2 by 4 feet or 2 by 2 feet. The amount of grid work required will depend upon the size of tile chosen.
Installing
The installation of the for a drop ceiling is much easier with two people.
A bracket molding attaches to the top edge of the walls around the perimeters of the room. The molding needs to be a minimum of 4 inches below the top edge of the wall. The molding must be level. Measure the walls at several points, and use a chalk line to mark the wall.
The molding trims to length with tin snips if it requires shortening. Butt joints are used in all inside corners and mitered joints on outside corners. The molding attaches to the wall with screws. Check the molding with a level often.
Runners that run the length of the room snap into the molding attached to the wall. The spacing between the runners will be the width of the chosen ceiling tile.
Cross members snap into the long runners at intervals that match the length of the ceiling tile.
The runners and cross members are supported by wires twisted into eyebolts screwed into the ceiling joist. Maintain the level of the grid work by lengthening or shortening the supporting wires.
The ceiling tiles insert into the openings in the grid work and rest on the edges of the runners and cross members.
An important benefit of the ceiling system is if a is damaged, only the damaged tile has to be replaced, not the entire ceiling.
Choosing Ceiling Tile
Ceiling tile is available in a large variety of materials and designs. The familiar fissured tile is still available. New styles of ceiling tile now on the market are manufactured using polystyrene and plastics. The benefit of the new tiles is that they are washable and many are paintable. The new tiles feature many surface designs.
Faux tin tiles are available for drop ceiling grid systems that are paintable, using metallic paints to create a fire-safe, easy-care ceiling reminiscent of the tin ceilings prevalent in the early 1900s.
Shiny and reflective drop ceiling tiles are available to create an ultra-modern ceiling
Tags: grid work, ceiling tile, drop ceiling, amount grid, amount grid work