For the most part, people don't walk into a room and notice how nice the ceilings look. However, they do notice when the ceilings have dents, scrapes or gouges, or just were not done right. The secret to installing a good-looking suspended ceiling is to measure, measure and measure again, and then level. This way the ceiling won't slope or look sloppy.
Instructions
1. Measure 6 inches below the ceiling joists if lights will be installed in the ceiling. If no lighting will be installed, measure 4 inches below the joists. Drive a nail into the wall to mark the distance below the joists.
2. Mark the locations where the wall angle tracks will be installed, using an optional laser tripod. If not using a tripod, skip to Step 3. Set the tripod in the center of the room and adjust the legs to bring the tripod up the height matching the nail. When the tripod is turned on, the laser will draw a level line along the walls, marking the location for the wall angle tracks. Skip to Step 4.
3. Tie the mason's line to the nail and rub the line with a piece of chalk. Hang a level on the mason's line and run the line to the other end of the wall. A mason's line will not sag like a chalk line does. Lower or raise the line until it is level, then snap the line against the wall. Repeat this step along the remaining walls.
4. Screw or nail the wall angle track along the chalk line. Cut the wall angle track with a hacksaw or tin snips when necessary.
5. Miter the outside corners by holding the wall angle track in place. Draw a line from the bottom up at a 45-degree angle on the wall angle. Cut along the line with a miter saw. Set the saw to make a square cut. Measure and cut the piece to the correct length. Repeat this process on the other piece that will form the corner.
6. Snap a chalk line across the ceiling joists. Install the screw hangers at 4-foot intervals along the chalk line. These screw hangers support the runner, which holds the tiles in place. Run your mason's line from wall angle to wall angle along the path for the runner. Run the mason's line along the path of the cross-Ts closest to the wall. The cross-Ts are placed at the end of each runner.
7. Square up the layout by marking one line 3 feet from where the cross-T and runner connect. Mark the other line 4 feet from where they connect. When the distance between both lines is 5 feet, the lines are square. Move the lines as necessary.
8. Install the hanger wires along the mason's line. Measure up from the mason's line to the hanger wires to level out the ceiling.
9. Bend the wire with pliers at the point where it will attach to the hanging holes in the runner.
10. Cut the runner to size. Make sure that the hole for the cross-T is directly over the line marking the path for the cross-T.
11. Place one end of the runner on the wall angle. Insert the hanging wire through the hole. Connect runner sections as necessary until the runner spans the entire room. Add hanger wire at any joints to support the runner.
12. Install the remaining runners using the same method.
13. Install a few cross Ts in the runners, starting in the middle of the room.
14. Install a few ceiling panels in the middle of the room. Move the cross-Ts, if necessary, until the ceiling panels fit correctly in their spots.
15. Install the remaining cross-Ts. The cross-Ts on the outer edges might need to be cut.
16. Install all of the full panel ceiling tiles except for those around the edges.
17.Measure the outer portion of the ceiling for the length of the ceiling tiles.
18. Place the ceiling tile on a flat surface. Use a straightedge and utility knife to cut the ceiling tile to the correct length. Snap the ceiling tile along the cut. Trim the tile and install it.
Tags: wall angle, mason line, chalk line, angle track, ceiling tile, wall angle track