Wood are popular for basements and recreation rooms because of their low cost and excellent sound absorption. Luckily for anyone in the midst of remodeling, wood fiber ceiling tiles are also relatively easy to install. The tiles themselves feature no-tool, drop-in installation, and the surrounding support structure requires only basic tools and moderate construction knowledge.
Instructions
1. Measure the space before purchasing materials. You should measure from the exact level that you want the ceiling to hang; do not measure the floor, since some older home walls may rise at an incline or decline, leading to skewed measurements near the ceiling.
2. Purchase your supplies with the measurements in hand. Remember that tiles can be cut easily, so don't buy individual tiles for small edges if you can just as easily cut a larger tile into multiple sections. Frames can be purchased as snap-together pieces, but you'll still need some basic nails or screws and metallic wire to hang the frame.
3. Drill or nail into the existing ceiling then hang your framing wire from these nails or screws. Most snap-together framess come in grids with 2 foot square openings. Your nails or screws should match up the the intersecting points on the grid; in other words, your nails or screws will be placed every 2 feet, with wire hanging down to attach to the intersecting points on the frame.
4. Assemble your ceiling tile frame in large sections. Get several people to help you lift these sections. Then attach the sections to the hanging wires. The frame itself will have several pre-drilled holes in it for the wire; pull the wire through the hole and tie it off using any basic knot. Don't over-think excessive knotting; the wire will typically be sturdy enough that it retains a bended, wrapped-around shape even if the knot fails.
5. Adjust the frame once all sections have been raised and attached to the wires. Use a laser level to make sure the frame is even and level; you can easily adjust the frame by pulling up the hanging wires and tying off the excess.
6. Measure the gaps near the corners and edge, since these will not be perfect 2-foot by 2-foot squares. Make sure you measure all four edges of the frame's corner-piece space; if your wall is crooked, these pieces will not be perfect squares or rectangles. Cut several wood fiber tiles to fit the corners and edges using a razor blade.
7. Shift tiles so they are on an angle then slide them up into the frame. Once the tiles are above the frame, straighten them out and gently let the tiles drop into the frame. Once all tiles have been dropped into place, the ceiling is complete.
Tags: nails screws, ceiling tile, ceiling tiles, fiber ceiling, fiber ceiling tiles