There is a variety of acoustic ceiling tile profiles.
Acoustic ceiling tiles with tongue-and-groove construction quiet sounds from above the room. Tongue-and-groove ceiling tiles easily connect and are fastened to the ceiling with a grid of 1-by-3-inch furring strips. Attaching the tongue-and-groove tiles to furring strips creates a small, sound-deadening zone between the new and old ceilings. The furring strips also level and cover imperfections in the old ceiling.
Instructions
1. Measuring the room's length in feet and inches helps planning the ceiling tile installation for a balanced appearance. Add 12 inches to the inch measurement. For example, if the room is 8 feet, 4 inches long, add 12 inches to the 4 inches for a total of 16 inches. Divide the inch measurement by two. The border along this example room would therefore be 8 inches. Repeat the process for the room's width.
2. Locate the ceiling joists with a stud finder. Mark the joists' location.
3. Install a row of 1-by-3-inch furring strips along the wall that runs perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Using a carpenter's level, check that the furring strips are level. Adding wood shims if necessary provides a level suspension surface for the tongue-and-groove tiles. Secure the furring strip to each of the joists with two two-penny nails or two 2-inch screws. Cut furring strips, as necessary, with a circular saw. Butt the strip ends together, securing the secure ends to the ceiling joists.
4. Start the second row of furring strips parallel to the first row. Measure from the wall the amount you determined is needed for that wall the border and add one-half inch to that amount. Install that row of furring strips as you did the first row. Periodically check the level. Frequent measuring ensures the furring strip rows are parallel to each other.
5. Install the third row of furring strips 12 inches from the center of the second row using the same installation techniques. Continue hanging the rest of the furring strips in a similar manner. Avoid having butt joints align on the same ceiling joists.
6. Snap a chalk line on the second furring row strips at the border tile's dimension plus one-half inch. Carefully measure so that this line is exactly parallel to the wall. If necessary, resnap the line.
7. Measure the border tile's width on the wall without the furring strip plus one-half inch. Mark that amount on the chalk line and label it as point "A." Measure exactly 3 feet from point "A" on the chalk line and mark it as point "B." Measure 4 feet from point "A" and make an arc in the area where the border tiles will be installed. Measure exactly 5 feet from point "B" to where it intersects with the arc you just marked from point "A." Mark this location as point "C." Line up points "A" and "C" with your chalk line creating a 90-degree angle. This lets you install a square ceiling.
8. Measure a tile to fit the corner you just marked. Lay a straight-edge tool on top of the tile's grooved edge where you will cut. Drawing a utility knife along the strait-edge's side makes a clean, straight cut in the tile. If the wall is uneven, shave extra from the tile's edge. A one-quarter inch gap between the wall and the tiles around the room's perimeter is acceptable because molding covers it.
9. Attach the tile's tongue portion to the furring strip with four one-half inch staples
10. Measure and cut the tiles adjacent to the corner tile. Slide the tiles firmly together and staple them in place. Add another border tile to each wall. Fit a full-sized tile into the corner and fasten it with four staples.
11. Continue adding border tiles and full-sized tiles until you hang all the ceiling tiles. As you finish, cut off the tongue portion of the border tiles. Attach the sides of those tiles to the furring strips with nails placed close to the tiles' edges.
12. Measure and cut ceiling molding that covers the gap between the acoustic ceiling tiles and the wall. Attach the molding to the wall, not the tiles, with finishing nails placed every 24 inches into the studs.
Tags: furring strips, ceiling joists, , chalk line, from point