my room is 150 inches running the long way of the tile, I have 48 inch tiles I would like to shorten the tile length to 3 tiles at 42 inches and then one at each end of 7 inches. is this the best way to make the ceiling look better as if I leave the tiles 48 inches I would have only a 3 inch tile at each end. The main tees I have seem to be punched at 6 inch spacings

Or would it look better at 36-36-36- and 21 at each end?

This is my first attempt at this type of thing, any help is greatly appreciated

 

Best way to make it look better is to use 2x2 tiles, not 2x4 tiles. And the 2x2 tiles that have a recessed edge let the tiles "drop in" and they look way better than plain old flat tiles that look crappy if they warp upward on one end.

If you are content to use the tiles you have, center a main beam between the 150" walls, at 75" so that you have:

27+48+48+27

This is because they sell 2' and 4' cross tees, not 42" or 36" cross tees.

Putting any lights in this ceiling?

 

my room is 150 inches by 16 feet, the floor trusses run the 16 foot length. I am under the impression I must hang my main tees opposite to the floor truss? This puts my main tees 2 feet apart but the span will be the 150 inches. I looked at the main tees it seems they are punched for the cross tees every 6 inches, this leads me to believe I can shorten the panels? this would give me a panel 2 feet wide (the cross tees I have) and I would have to shorten the 48 inch length?

I did see the panels you refer too (on the net) after I got home with the 48 inch ones and I am considering going back for them, they do look much nicer. But if I went with them would I be able to make them work with the dimensions I listed?

as for lights yes I will have some and they are nailed to the floor trusses right now but they are just light sockets but they have extra wire coiled up so I can move them to center them in a panel and change the light to what ever the wife wants

 

OK, that info helps. Yes, the main tees go perpendicular to the floor joists. But generally you put main tees 4 feet apart, not 2. You separate them with 4 ft cross tees to form a 4 x 4 square... and you tie the corners of those 4 x 4 squares to the ceiling with tie wire. Then you put a 4 ft cross tee inside that 4x4 square so that it is parallel to the main tee. That divides it into your 2x4 sections. You would then use 4' cross tees (cut to length) to go from the main tee to the wall angle.

So basically you need to end up with your main tees 2 ft away from the center of the room... so that they are 4 ft apart. If you measure 75" from each wall along that main tee, you should arrive exactly on one of the slots. Then you will place a 4 ft cross tee at that point, between the main tees... and that is what will divide the ceiling into 27+48+48+27.

Any ceiling tile will work, you just need to think ahead... like you are doing now, to figure out whether you want to center that first tile in the room.... or center the cross tee instead.

If you go with 2x2 tiles, you would probably want to center the tile. Otherwise you would have a 3" tile to start. If you center the tile between the 150" walls, you will have 15+24+24+24+24+24+15.

If you do end up going with 2x2 tiles, just remember that you divide everything up into 4x4 squares with 4 ft cross tees... then divide those in half with another 4 ft cross tee... then divide those 2x4 sections into 2x2 with the 2 ft cross tees. Its hard to figure this out, but you need to draw it out on paper. I've got an Armstrong computer program that makes the materials list for me.

 

Just popped in to say Thanks XSleeper I got the 2x2 tiles and you instructions were perfect. My room still looks like a home and not an "institution" as it would have with the 2x4 tiles I think
There is some careful thinking required when it comes time to cut a tile as you have to remember to take the inside measurements for the recess and then remember to cut the tile outside that line. I had to keep reminding my self of this and I never destroyed any tiles. I am just waiting on lights now and the room will be finished

Thanks again

 

Nice job, glad to help! I'll usually screw a few of them up (especially corners) so you done good!