Intro - Materials - Plan - Lines/Molding - Chalklines - Wire - Ref. Strings - Runners/Lines - Grid - Panels - Options
What You Will Be Doing
Because ceilings are perhaps more out of view than any other part of the interior of the home, their impact on the general feel or mood of a house is often underestimated. Along with the floor, they are the largest surfaces in the room. A visit to rooms that have different ceiling heights, materials, slopes, and angles will clearly demonstrate how much they affect the way a room feels. All too often they are overlooked in remodeling plans.
Ceilings are used not only as a design feature but also as a cover-up. Ceilings hide the framing of the floor or roof above, plumbing pipes, ductwork, electrical wire, insulation, and so on. Suspended ceilings (ceilings that are hung a set distance from the ceiling joists) work very well for this, because they create a cavity that allows for ease of access if repairs or further work is needed in this area.
In the past the more common types of ceilings were lath and plaster (as were the walls) and wood planks. Metal ceilings were also popular because of their ease of installation and light weight In the past few decades drywall (gypsum board) has replaced lath and plaster as a wall and ceiling material. Indeed, drywall is nothing more than plaster already spread in a sheet Drywall has become a very popular ceiling material. Here we consider suspended acoustical ceilings and tile ceilings. In this chapter you will team how to install both types of ceilings and how to make minor repairs to existing ceilings.
Before You Begin - Safety
Always understand, develop, and adhere to proper safety practices. For installing ceilings, these include:
- Use the appropriate tool for the job.
- Use the proper dust mask or respirator when sanding and sawing.
- Safety glasses or goggles should be worn whenever power tools are in use, or when hammering overhead (especially if you wear contact lenses).
- Watch power cord placement so that it does not interfere with the tool's operation.
- Keep blades sharp. A dull blade requires excessive force, can slip, and cause accidents.
- Be certain the panels or tiles you purchase do not contain asbestos or any other material that could cause a health problem in your home. I recommend a nationally known manufacturer, respected for quality.
- When using a stepladder, have both pairs of legs fully open and the spread bars locked in place, and never climb higher than the second step from the top. When bracing a ladder against the wall, a safe distance between the feet and the wall is one quarter the height of the ladder. Do not use an aluminum ladder when working near electrical wires. Consider using scaffolding.
Useful Terms
- Acoustic Ceiling. A ceiling which improves the quality of sound within a room. In our case, one with tiny noise-trapping holes to make it quieter.
- Ceiling Joists. Overhead framing members of a room.
- Ceiling Tiles. 12-inch squares cemented or stapled to an old ceiling.
- Cross Tees. Gridwork which connects at right angles to runners.
- Furring Strips. Strips of metal or wood attached directly with an old ceiling (perpendicular to ceiling joists) onto which ceiling tiles are clipped or stapled.
- Runner. Main support grid for suspended ceilings, installed perpendicular to joists.
- Suspended Ceiling. A ceiling lowered from the original ceiling or framework by a grid system, often used to hide exposed joists, rafters, ductwork, etc.
- Tegular Panels. A two-level panel, the face being lower than the flange that rests on the grid.
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