Ceiling Paneling is hung or dropped into place onto a wire grid that is suspended underneath the structural ceiling. This is a very common type of ceiling due to its pleasing aesthetics, economic cost, and ease of installation
Preparation
Proper preparation and planning is vital to ensure that no material is wasted and costs are kept at a minimum. Use a measuring tape and record the exact dimensions of the room at ceiling height. Multiply the length and width together to calculate the square footage of the room, which indicates how much material will be needed. Drawing these dimensions to scale on graph paper is a good way to get a visual representation of how the tiles will lay.
There are two standard sizes for ceiling panels - 2 feet by 4 feet and 2 feet square. Based on the previous square footage calculations, purchase the appropriate amount of ceiling panels and the corresponding hanging equipment.
Install The Ceiling Paneling
It is advisable to install ceiling paneling at a minimum of 4 inches from the structural ceiling in order to provide space to drop the tiles into place at an angle. Installing the ceiling any closer than 4 inches to the structural ceiling will make it extremely difficult to drop the ceiling panels into place. A 360 degree laser level should be used to construct a line around the perimeter of the room below the ceiling joists. It is important to use a 360 level to ensure that the new ceiling paneling will be level even if the old ceiling is not.
The hanging brackets for the runners are first installed on the walls around the perimeter of the room on the level lines that were drawn. The hardware for the hanging brackets will vary by manufacturer – consult the instructions that came with the brackets for exact details.
The main runners should be fastened to the hanging brackets and suspended from the ceiling joists. Screw eyebolts into the ceiling joists and use 12-gauge wire to fasten the main runners in place. The main runners will span the room and run perpendicular to the ceiling joists at the height of the level line. Install the cross runners every 2 feet perpendicular to the main runners and secure them in place with 16-guage wire wherever they intersect.
Once the entire grid in installed it is just a simple procedure of dropping the ceiling panels into place. If the ceiling panels are a tight fit in some areas, trim the edges with a utility knife.
John Beres - John has been a technical writer for over 9 years. Although the majority of his work is considered proprietary information, he has twice ...
