How Does a Drop Ceiling Work?
Getting Ready for a Drop Ceiling
Drop ceilings can be great for hiding pipes, duct work and wires. They work well for adding new ceiling lighting, too. A drop ceiling can be referred to as a suspended ceiling or an acoustic ceiling. The reason for this is the track for the panels is hung from the beams and the ceiling is actually suspended. The acoustic ceiling reference is because the panels soften the sound in the room. Large, open rooms are often loud and it seems the noise bounces around. The panels absorb that noise and make for a much quieter room. The installation is something most do-it-yourselfers can do on a weekend and the project will go much smoother if it's planned out well and all the materials and tools are gathered together before it's begun.
Getting Ready for a Drop Ceiling
The first thing that must be done if you are considering a drop ceiling is to measure the ceiling. Then those measurements should be copied onto graph paper making sure to include all the odd shaped nooks and crannies. The ceiling tiles come in 2-by-2 foot or 2-by-4 foot. Once the homeowner knows the measurements and which tiles he wants to use, he can take the paper to the home improvement store to get help on all the materials needed to do the job. There is also a website called Csgnetwork.com that has a "grid and materials calculator" where all you need to do is fill in a few blanks with your measurements and it will do the calculating for you.
The Installation Process
One of the most important parts of the installation is getting a level line around the room to put up your wall angle pieces. You will need to measure from the floor or the original ceiling and then use a level. Not all original ceilings are level, so take special care when measuring. The room should be marked all the way around and then the wall angle installed. It is recommended that at least 3 or 4 inches are left between the ceilings to give space to work in the panels. You may need more space if you are installing lighting or have old duct work you are trying to conceal. If recessed lighting is going to be used, it should be put into place before the grid work or it will be too hard to get around it. The main tees are then installed with the suspension wires following them. Cross tees are installed last and then the grid for the panels is set. The panels are then put up through the grid work and dropped into place.
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