How to Install Plastic Light Panels

Plastic light panels have become an industry standard due to their strength, especially in areas prone to earthquakes. While plastic is an extremely durable product, it can still break under stress. Professional glass shops can install plastic light panels but the cost can often be many times that of the panels themselves. Use the same techniques employed by professionals to install plastic light panels at a fraction of the cost of professional installation.

Metal putty knife
Cotton rags
Dishwashing detergent
Sandpaper
Scrap lumber
Silicon caulking
Work gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the old light panel. Light panels, such as those used in drop-down ceilings, sit on a lip that runs on all four sides of the panel. Over time, the panel can become stuck due to oil or dust building up between the panel and the lip it sits on. Use a metal putty knife to loosen the panel if it will not easily come out of the frame. If possible, take the old panel out in one piece.
- 2
  
  Lighting panels sit in a metal frame where debris can build up over time.
  
  Clean the frame the panel will fit in. Dirt and debris build up over time, causing the light panel to warp if the fit's too tight. Use a metal putty knife to scrape any debris off the lip. Use hot soapy water to clean the frame. Mix 4 tbsp. dishwashing detergent with 32 oz. hot water. Plastic expands and contracts with temperature changes, so the panel must fit loosely on the frame's lip.
- 3
  Compare the old panel with its replacement. Lay the old panel on top of the replacement panel. The original lighting panel's frame may not be square, so the panel may have been altered for this reason. Because the frame has a lip, the new lighting panel can be trimmed down to accommodate this problem. Use 120-grit sandpaper to reduce the panel's size. Wrap the sandpaper around a piece of scrap lumber. Use long strokes to reduce the width or length of the panel. Wipe off any sanding debris when finished. Compare the two panels for size before continuing with the installation.
- 4
  
  Silicon caulking can be purchased in small tubes that eliminate the need for a caulking gun.
  
  Apply a few drops of clear silicon caulking to the inside corners of the frame. This keeps the panel from shifting. The caulking is flexible enough to allow for the panel's expansion and contraction while still holding it in place.
- 5
  Place the new panel in the frame. Plastic lighting panels have a little flexibility so they can be bent slightly to fit them into the frame. However, care should be taken not to bend the panel too much. Flex the lighting panel so it bows slightly upward in the middle. Once the panel is positioned above the lip, release the pressure so the panel drops into place.

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