Changing To Decorative Ceiling Tiles

Decorative ceiling tiles can go a long way to changing the overall look and feel to a room. There’s a lot to be said for the appeal given to the room simply by changing the typical ceiling tiles to those that are decorative.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Ladder
• Tapes Measure
• Stud Finder
• Tin Snips
• Chalk line
• Something with a straight edge
• Screwdriver
• String
• Carpenters Square
• Utility knife and extra blades
• Finish Nail Gun
• Finish Nails
• Ceiling tiles of choice
• Track system (either a metal track system, or furring strips – your choice)
• Molding

Step 1 – The Grid

Before we can install the decorative ceiling tiles, we first have to install the track system, depending upon which method you have chosen.

Using the electronic stud finder, locate and mark the location of the ceiling joists. It’s important that you find the location of each one because this is how you will attach your grid system to the ceiling, and then the decorative ceiling tiles to the grid. As you find each joist, snap a chalk line to mark each location.

Once you have located all of the joists, you now have to snap a second of lines in the other direction about 12 inches apart, so that what you end up with on the ceiling is a series of squares. This second series of lines is where you will run your track, whether you have decided on the furring strips, for the metal system.

Step 2 – Mount the Grid

Now it’s time to attach the grid to the ceiling. Using your wood screw, attach the grid along the second set of lines that you snapped on the ceiling. It’s extremely important when you attach the screws that each one go into a ceiling joist, as marked by the first set of chalk lines that you snapped.

This is a safety factor. Failure to properly do this one step can cause injury as the ceiling will fall.

Most times, ceilings are not prefectly flat. Using a straight edge, place it across the grid strip. Loosen the screw slightly in the necessary areas to bring all of the strips in line with one another. This will prevent your ceiling from looking as if it were buckling when it is finished.

Step 3 – Installing the Tiles

The first few rows of ceiling tiles will go in as whole pieces. If you are using the metal grid system, then you will have metal clips to attach the tiles to the ceiling. If you are using furring strips, then attach the tiles using staples.

Once you have run the full size decorative ceiling tiles, you must begin cutting for the smaller pieces. Cutting decorative ceiling tiles is not difficult, but you want to take care when doing so. You want the tiles to end up with smooth edges, and not jagged edges.

Step 4 - Cutting Ceiling Tiles

Use a utility knife with a sharp blade to cut the tiles. You want to mark the tile, draw a line with a straight edge and then, placing the tile on a flat level surface that will prevent damage to anything, you want to cut the tile in several passes. The first cut should score the tile. This ensures that the surface of the tile stays smooth, and then cut through the tile with subsequent passes.

These tiles are installed in the same manner as the full size pieces.

Step 5 – Finish the Project

The project is almost complete. The only thing that needs done now is to install the molding around the edges of the ceiling you just installed. This will hide any rough edges that you ended up with from cutting.