4 Best Ways To Install Suspended Ceiling Tiles

There are a number of ways to install suspended ceiling tiles. Suspended ceilings are most commonly seen in commercial buildings. They involve being hung from a ceiling in order to create a gap between the actual ceiling and the suspended one. It's quite handy for concealing plumbing or wiring, and also makes both easier to access.

1. Exposed Grid

The most common way to install suspended ceiling tiles is known as exposed grid system. To do this, you need to use long metal strips or “mains” and interconnect them with short metal pieces or “tees”. The mains and tees will then form a grid system of squares, which will be filled with acoustical ceiling tiles. This system has a wide metal frame around each tile, its size dependent on your preferences. The grid process involves plenty of measurements and planning things out on graph paper. You'll want to keep in mind that most rooms aren't going to perfectly fit the desired size of tiles, and your 'border tiles' will need to be cut to fit. Take this into consideration when planning.

2. Bandraster

The bandraster system is a very versatile form of suspended ceiling. It is made up of metal mains and tees of various lengths to form different patterns. This particular method of installation allows you to create a ceiling that looks precisely how you want it to, down to the simple aesthetic value of patterns and shapes. It should also allow you to work around ceiling light fixtures that may already be in place.

3. Concealed Grid

The concealed grid system makes use of acoustical tiles to hide away the grid system so that it cannot be seen. Whilst this makes the process more expensive and can cause difficulty when accessing areas above the ceiling, it is a look that many find to be aesthetically pleasing. Clearance of four to eight inches is needed between the tiles and the lowest hanging obstacle (pipes, wiring) above it. Unfortunately, with the way these panels interlock with one another to avoid the grid-look, replacing any single panel or getting to the wiring and plumbing above it can be quite a chore. You need to locate the 'key' panel – the panel that can be lifted and removed without damaging it or those around it. These key panels are commonly located in the corners, and once removed, you need to make your way, one panel at a time, to the panel you wish to remove.

4. Suspended Drywall Ceiling

This system uses hangers and wires to hold sheets of drywall below the ceiling. It's a simpler choice to the extensive framing that is usually required to create ceiling structures or drywall arches. With this system, it is also possible to hang flat panels of drywall below the ceiling level for a nicer look.