When your office needs a new suspended ceiling, it is a task you can do yourself with some basic DIY skills if you want to save money. It is a relatively simple process that should not take too long and requires no specialist tools or machinery. You can do the job yourself over the weekend and save your business a lot of money compared to hiring a professional company. Below are some tips when installing your suspended ceiling to help you get started and show you how easy it can be.
Getting Everything You Need
You will need to purchase your dropped ceiling and tiles, and once you have these, you must get everything you need to install them. The tools and equipment you will need to install your suspended ceiling include the following:
- Spirit/Laser Level
- Stanley Knife
- Pen/Pencil
- Safety Glasses
- Tape Measure
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Stepladder
- Tinsnips
- Heavy Duty Gloves
You may already have the tools you need to install your ceiling, and anything you do not have, you can get from your local DIY store or purchase online at an affordable cost.
Getting Started
You will need to determine at what height you want your ceiling and mark the entire perimeter of the room using your pen or pencil, so you know where the edge trim will be. Using a laser level makes it much easier to draw on the walls in a straight line at the preferred height of your ceiling. Depending on the surface, you need to attach the edge trim to the wall using masonry nails or drywall screws.
Fixing The Suspension Points
The next task is to determine where the suspension points will be for the roof and fix them to the ceiling. You must ensure that the suspension points are in the correct place and that your suspended ceiling will sit at the same height as the edge trim. It can take some time to install all the suspension points, and it can be much easier when you have a couple of people working with you on the job.
Installing The Main Runners
The next task is to install the main runners of the track for the ceiling and attach these to the edge trim you have installed. You may need to cut the main runners, depending on the room size, but this is only for rooms less than 3.6 meters long. Connecting the main runners is a simple task, as these click together, and you will also need to install the cross tees that will help hold the ceiling tiles in place.
Installing The Ceiling Tiles
Once the main runners and cross tees are installed, you are ready to install your selected ceiling tiles. Once you start inserting the ceiling tiles, it will give the framework much more rigidity and make it sturdier, and you may need to cut some of the tiles to make them fit when the space is smaller than a standard ceiling tile. Once all the tiles are in, your job is complete, and to get more details on installing a suspended ceiling, you can click here to watch an in-depth video on the subject.