How to Hang Ceiling Grids

Measure a point 4 inches from the ceiling and make numerous marks around the room on the walls at that level. If you plan to install lighting fixtures in the hanging ceiling grids, measure 6 inches instead. Join the marks with the straight edge of a carpenter’s level, making sure the line remains even.

Locate and mark the wall studs. Nail the perimeter molding at the studs with the bottom of the molding on the line you drew in Step 1, using 6d nails. Cut the molding, as necessary, to fit the perimeter, using tin snips. Butt pieces of molding together on the ends and for inside corners. Miter cut any outside corners.

Measure the room perpendicular to the joists. Divide that amount by the length of the ceiling tiles you're using. If there's an amount left over, divide that number by two. As you hang the main runner pieces of ceiling grid, you have one narrow section, followed by a number of full sections. The grid finishes with a final narrow section. By dividing the room this way, the suspended ceiling has a balanced appearance with narrower sections on opposite sides of the room.

Repeat Step 3, measuring parallel to the joists.

Snap chalk lines along the ceiling joists that coincide with the measurements and calculations from steps 3 and 4. Each line should be parallel to the one next to it and should cross opposite lines at right angles.

Tie strings in four to six evenly-placed spots from the perimeter molding on one wall to the opposite wall. Pull the string tight. The string is your guide for getting the correct ceiling height as you install the ceiling hangers.

Install eye bolts from every third joist marked with a chalk line. Twist lengths of 16-gauge wire into each eye bolt. Wrap the wire around itself at least three times to secure it.

Snap the ends of enough main runner pieces together to cross the room at right angles to the floor joists. Cut off any excess with tin snips. Set the main runner piece into the perimeter molding and align it with the chalk line on the joists above it. Take the end of one of the pieces of wire dangling from an eye bolt and run the wire through the nearest hole in the top of the runner piece. Bring the wire back up and twist it onto itself three times. As you perform this task, check that the main runner remains slightly above the string grid you created earlier. Repeat this process with the remaining eye bolts above this runner.

Repeat Step 8 until all the main runner pieces are in place and tied to the eye bolts.

Hook the cross tee pieces into the main runner at the appropriate location to fit the ceiling tiles you're using. Keep the cross tees at right angles to the main runners to complete the ceiling grid. Remove the string guides