Install ceiling tile directly on plywood
Finishing a plywood ceiling can be labor intensive if you decide to add furring strips or a suspended ceiling on top of it. A far easier and quicker method is to use a chalk line, polypropylene tile and adhesive. You can paint these lightweight tiles any color and they come in a wide range of decorative styles, from simple to ornate. Take a day to do the job and you'll have an instant improvement that will add value to your home and last for years.
Instructions
1. Measure the length and width of the room in feet with a tape measure. Multiply the two numbers together to get the square footage of tile you will need.
2. Divide the width by two and mark off that measurement on the ceiling with a pencil and tape measure. Do the same thing on the opposite side of the room. Divide the length of the room by two and make similar marks on the remaining two walls.
3. Secure one end of the chalk line to one of the width marks with a thumbtack. Run the chalk line to the opposite mark and snap the line against the ceiling, leaving a straight line through the center of the room. Snap a similar line between the length marks. Where the two lines cross is the center of the room.
4. Spread a tarp on the floor to catch and drips or debris. Dot adhesive on the four corners and in the center of the back of the first tile. Set it against the ceiling so that its corner matches the corners where the two lines cross in the center. Press firmly to spread the adhesive and attach the tile to the ceiling.
5. Continue laying the tiles along the chalk line until you have a complete row, and then start the next row, fitting the tiles close together. When you reach the wall edge, measure the odd remaining width and mark it on the back of the tile. Cut the tile to fit with a box cutter and straight edge.
Tags: chalk line, against ceiling, center room, , lines cross