Installation of Armstrong Suspended Ceiling Tile

Measure the room and determine the layout and orientation of the ceiling grid according to the instructions and the desired finished appearance. Draw the desired layout on a piece of graph paper for reference.

Determine the desired height of the finished suspended ceiling. Set the laser level at the desired height and lock it in position. Locate studs along the laser line and mark them with a pencil.

Place a piece of wall molding against the wall with the bottom of the molding against the laser line. Nail through the molding into the marked studs. Continue installing molding along the entire perimeter of the room. Butt the molding together at inside corners, using tin-snips or a hacksaw to cut inside corners at a 45-degree angle.

Determine the mounting location of the first main beam that will run perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Use your reference graph to determine how far in from the wall the main beams will be mounted. Set the laser level to shine across the ceiling joists in the location of the first main beam.

Drive a ceiling hanger into the bottom of the joists every 4 feet along the laser line. Lower the laser level so it shines across at the height of the top of the wall molding.

Measure the distance from the ceiling hanger to the laser beam. Cut wire hangers 1 foot longer than this distance. Slide 6 inches of the wire through the ceiling hanger, bend it down and wrap it around itself three times. Allow the wires to hang straight down so the beam shines across them. Bend each wire 90 degrees where the laser level shines on them.

Use your graph to determine the distance from the wall where the first cross beam will intersect with the main beam. Cut the main beam so that one of the vertical slots in the top of the beam falls where the beams intersect. Lay the end of the main beam on the wall molding and hook a wire through one of the holes in the other end of the beam.

Continue cutting sections of the main beam, making sure that vertical slots are always located in areas that will intersect with cross beams. Hook all of the wires through the beam, bend them up and twist them three times. Connect the cut ends together using the included clips. Follow the same installation steps for the other main beams.

Cut the cross beams to fit between the wall molding and the main beam, and between the sections of main beam. Hook the ends of the cross beams into the vertical slots in the main beams. Continue installing the cross beams until the entire ceiling grid is complete.

Starting at the perimeter of the room, slide tiles into the grid by tipping them sideways. Lay them flat above the grid and slide them into position. If necessary to match tiles to the room size, cut ceiling tiles by laying them face up and cutting through them with a sharp utility knife and a straightedge.