Installing drop down ceiling

Take your basement drop ceiling from drab to fab by swapping out those old 2' x 4' panels for fresh 2' x 2's. Grab some cross tees, choose your new tiles, and go! Suspended ceilings perform well in a variety of spaces. Learn everything you need to know about mineral fiber suspended ceiling tiles. Get the look of a coffered ceiling with plastic ceilings tiles.

Easy to handle, clean, and install! Light commercial ceiling tiles offer superior performance and fresh looks for your small business, office, kitchen, and other commercial spaces. Learn how acoustical panels can add style and noise control to your home. You just bought a house and inherited an old drop ceiling with it.

Learn how to completely cover a drop ceiling in as little as a weekend! See all of the Metallaire ceilings, walls, backsplashes, and accessories that can add a shining twist to your space. A coffered ceiling can bring drama or add subtle architectural detail to any room. Learn about your options, installation, design ideas, and more. Compare the different methods for installing ceiling tiles, whether it's surface mount or drop ceilings.

StyleStix ceiling grid covers snap onto an existing grid to add a coffered look without redoing the entire ceiling. Learn more. Learn how easy a drop ceiling installation can be. Get instructions, watch videos, and see photos. Drop down ceilings come in a wide variety of popular styles and performance features and are a quick way to give a tired room a facelift.

View all of the options for Fine Fissured products. High-performing, textured drop ceilings for a variety of spaces. Attach ceiling planks to an existing drop ceiling grid with special clips for a fresh wood look ceiling retrofit. Jason, I appreciate your article. I bought a house a few years ago that was built in I ripped out the carpet upstairs and put in wood flooring.

I do notice that the basement is a bit louder as a result. The ceiling in the basement is that old 'cardboard style tiling. I'm going to put in some drywall on the outside walls overtime. This article has convinced me a drop ceiling is the way to go though. This means I can fix some things over time - like grounded electrical to the refrigerator - speaker wires to the surround sound - cat6e plenum to reduce my tenancy for wireless - and copper piping for an icemaker in the fridge.

It might cost a bit more to do the drop ceiling. I'll gain it back in access as I work on these other minor issues over time. I have a ton of electrical capacity - so I may end up reworking some of the circuits over time.

I have a home built in , the area I live in has constantly shifting foundation. The ceiling is high and has no insulation.

I want to drop my ceiling and add insulation at the same time. Currently it has a cardboard type ceil that was hung in panels. I have paneling on the walls as well as furring strips about 14 inches below the ceiling.

Do you still recommend the dropped ceiling you discuss in the video? This house is not mine, it is an apartment off my Mom's house so I can't fix the foundation first. The ceiling appears buckled now so what do you suggest? I have a ceiling finished in drywall that is water damaged so I want to rip it out and install a drop ceiling.

How do I best cut out the existing ceiling to produce less dust and do I cut the ceiling right at the wall corner? Any help would be appreciated. Everyone should remember that building codes prohibit electric junction boxes that are buried not accessible behind a Sheetrock wall. Main reason for a drop ceiling in the basement is to maintain access to the household mechanical systems.

Great article. My house is years old and the floor joices above have sagged over time. The far corner of the room is much lower than the side I added two 80" doors. So I need to basically have two levels of drop ceiling so the doors open obviously.

How is the best way to turn up to a new elevation. I do have all of the above with a small amount of the wall is straight. How do you line up the big t tracks when the walls do not start at the same place? Wish me luck I do not want to drop below basement windows on full side but two sides need to drop to cover plumbing on two walls :.

I have a landing up to a door that is higher than the intended ceiling. Can I install panels vertically 2' up to the level I need? How do you join the main tees my room is over 12 feet long do they snap together?

Is there a specific end to join them together? Room is 12' wide x 32' long. Floor joists run in direction of the width so my main tracks will need to be 32'. I want 2' x 4' panels. Should I go with 2 mains and 4' crosses or 5 mains and 2' crosses and why? Aesthetically, I think the 4' panels would look better parallel to the 32'.

Hey Austin - Not sure what you mean by strapping. If you have strapping running perpendicular to the joists, then i'd leave it. It'll act as bridging. As far as the drop ceiling, no need need.

Here's a cool calculator if you want to change the variables. I have electrical wires from main electric box that need to go thru the drop ceiling.

Should I attach the wires to the drywall, cut the L strip to the wire, then attach another piece of the L strip on the other side of the wire and continue or should I make cuts in the ceiling tile for the wire to go thru? Hey Susan - Best practice would be to run the wire inside the wall instead of through the ceiling or L-channel. But, if you don't want to do that then I'd just run it through the ceiling because it'd be easiest.

Hey Bill - I'd install the drywall first, then the track, followed by the tile up to the track. I think that's the easiest process and cleanest finish. Installing a drop ceiling in basement. Bought 12 foot "T" bars for main lines through the room. BUT the T bars begin with a 3" space from the end, which conflicts with putting cross bars at 24" or 48" spacings from the wall. What do I do to get started with the proper spacing of 2 or 4 feet from the wall??? Hey Kevin - It's hard to visualize your dilemma.

If you have enough material, just nip off the 3" inch space and start flush. Hey Jason, I want to install a drop ceiling in my basement but the dimensions are weird. Seems like a waste. Found 7. I have an existing drop ceiling in our three season Florida room. It had a leaking roof which has been repaired. The leaking caused the framing to rust, so I want to replace the whole ceiling. Because it is an enclosed former aluminum patio, that I what the suspended ceiling is suspended from.

Part of it is angled to be higher in the back. What are the best sort of tiles to handle a variety of temperatures? Thanks Adam for your tips on dropped ceilings. I agree with your theory on dropped ceilings are preferable over drywall in a basement. Even though a drywall ceiling would be nice it is not practical in a basement. For your information Adam your 1 video for dropped ceilings install will not open.

Wrong address. Thanks Jerry. I made my BIG mistake. Our room is 12' wide. I assumed the t-piece slots would be 2' in from the ends. Not so. They could. You cut your main right thru the slot doesn't matter which one since they are every 6 inches. Thanks for the video, pretty much knew what I needed to do but did get a few tips. Looking for your grid room design layout to see if it agrees with my design next. Hi - Thank you for all this good info. When cutie the perimeter Pisces, how or were do you determine the dimension from the end of the dove tail to the wall or where to where.

Would i be able to introduce a drop roof in the storm cellar where the dividers are not wrapped up? There is no dry divider, simply the painted establishment divider.

Much obliged. I would use Tapcon screws with a hex head. Can I hang drop ceiling grid from bottom cord of HY joists? This is for a workshop. Great video. Getting ready to start install in a day or two or maybe even three. One question though. One of my walls has a bow in it. My one wall has an inch or so gap in it The gap gradually gets bigger from about 4' out from the end of the L bracket to the wall.

Basically a 4' wedge with 0" to about 1"at the end. Any suggestions? Lift your 4 ft 1. Put a secondary runner every 2 ft 0. Part 3. Make holes in the tiles for any lighting or ductwork first. Locate any areas on your ceiling where you need to make an opening for your ducts or light fixtures. Trace the end of the duct or the size of the light feature onto the back of one of your tiles. Cut the shape out of the tile with a sharp utility knife.

Trim any edge tiles down to size with a utility knife. Transfer that measurement to tile and cut the piece to size using a utility knife. The flanges rest on your runners and make the tile have more dimension when you put it in your ceiling.

Follow along the line with a utility knife, only cutting halfway through the tile. Make another cut on the side of the tile at the same depth as your first cut to remove the flange piece.

Lift the tiles through the grid and set them on top of the grid. Start in the center of your room and work towards the edges. Angle the tiles and lift them through the grid system. Straighten the tiles out before setting the flanges on the runners. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Andrew Peters.

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Have a partner help you to make it easier to hang runners and tiles. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2. Drop ceilings can be used to cover popcorn ceilings and other imperfections. Avoid using power tools when working with tiles since they could create a lot of dust.

You Might Also Like How to. How to. More References 5. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: April 13, Categories: Ceilings. Article Summary X To install a drop ceiling, you will first need to install a grid system to support its weight.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. I've only done one other small room suspended ceiling in the past and I'm about to do another room in my own basement. This was very helpful to refresh my memory. Did this article help you?