Hanging a Dropped Ceiling

Measure and mark the line where you are going to nail the perimeter bracket into place. If you're installing drop-in lights, mark a line six inches down from each ceiling joist. If not, you need only 4 inches of clearance. However, make sure that the depth you mark for the perimeter provides enough height in the room to meet local building codes. Make a mark at your chosen depth under the joists at multiple points, and then use the straightedge on a level to draw a connected and level line between your points. As you're doing so, turn on the stud finder and move it carefully over the wall. Mark the points where the machine indicates the presence of a stud.

Nail the outside track to the room. Pound a nail into the track at each stud along the wall to secure it in place.

Run a string tightly between the perimeter trim along several points. The string provides you with a level line that your long runners must sit on to create a level grid.

Connect the runners to the ceilings joists in your home. Follow the instructions included in your suspended ceiling kit. Each dropped ceiling kit comes with specific instructions and parts detailing how the runners should be connected to the ceiling joists. Hang the runners but don't tighten them completely until you verify that they are perfectly level across your guide strings and with your carpenter's level.

Insert the crossmembers into the slots on the main rails. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your tiles to ensure you do so correctly.

Put the tiles into the grid. Tilt each tile to insert it through a hole until it is entirely above the grid, and then drop it into the frame.