Armstong ceiling grids utilize acoustical ceiling tiles.
Armstrong is one of the world's most prominent manufacturers of drywall and acoustical ceiling products. An Armstrong ceiling system can be used to hide an existing ceiling or conceal pipes and wiring, while still providing easy access to mechanical and electrical components. Best of all, Armstrong grid ceilings offer easy installation for DIY homeowners, and require just a few hours to install.
Instructions
1. Measure three inches down from the lowest point of your existing ceiling. Make a mark on the wall at this location. Set your laser level at this point so it projects a laser line around the entire room at this elevation.
2. Fasten Armstrong wall molding to the wall using 6d nails. Hammer the molding in place along the laser lines around the perimeter of the room.
3. Plan your ceiling layout on paper before you begin installation. Measure the length and width of the room; then decide if you will use 2x2 or 2x4 tiles. Based on your measurements and the size of your tiles, decide how large to make the border tiles. For example, in a room that's 10' 6" long, with 2x2 tiles, you wouldn't want to start the border with a full tile. This would leave you with a small 6-inch tile at one end. Instead, start with a 15-inch border on either side to balance the look of the room.
4. Snap a chalk line across the entire ceiling, perpendicular to the joists. This chalkline represents the location of your first ceiling main. If you are using a 16-inch tile along the border, the first main will be 16 inches from the wall. If you are using a full tile along the border, the first main will be either two or four feet from the wall, depending on the size of the tiles.
5. Continue snapping chalk lines every two feet across the ceiling, measuring from the line you created in Step 4.
6. Drill small eyebolts into the ceiling every four feet along each chalk line. Attach hanger wires to each eye bolt, letting the wires hang down below the level of the new ceiling.
7. Connect the mains to the perimeter molding at each chalkline. Hook each hanger wire through the pre-drilled holes in the molding, then twist each wire around itself three times to ensure it is firmly secured.
8. Snap tees into the grid every two to four feet from the wall, depending on the size of the tiles you plan to use. Connect each end of each tee into the appropriate hole in the main, and snap it into place.
9. Cut the tees or mains as needed to fit, using tin snips.
10. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the ceiling tiles, and complete the project.
Tags: four feet, , acoustical ceiling, along border, along border first,