Ceiling Tile Installation | eHow – eHow | How to Videos …

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Karen Curinga

Karen Curinga has been writing published articles since 2003 and is the author of multiple books. Her articles have appeared in "UTHeath," "Catalyst" and more. Curinga is a freelance writer and certified coach/consultant who has worked with hundreds of clients. She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology.

Ceiling tiles provide an attractive way to update or cover unattractive ceilings. While replacing the old ceiling might not be a financial option, ceiling tiles offer an inexpensive alternative. Acoustic ceiling tiles reduce noise due to their sound absorbent quality. There are many styles, colors, materials, sizes and thicknesses to choose from. Popular ceiling tile choices include tin, acoustic, cork and plastic. Installing your own ceiling tiles is an inexpensive way to transform the look and feel of a room.

Prepare the ceiling. Clean the ceiling surface to remove dust, grease and dirt. Scrape off any flaking paint. Cracks should be filled with mortar.

Locate the middle of the ceiling. This is your starting point for laying the tiles. Use two strings, extending each from one ceiling corner to the diagonal corner of the room. The intersection of the two strings indicates the center point. At the center point, draw two perpendicular lines to divide the ceiling area into four equal sections.

Put a 1 inch coating of mastic, a paste-like cement, on the back of the first tile. You may have to adjust the thickness of the mastic depending on the existing ceiling surface. A popcorn-type ceiling will be more porous and require more mastic, whereas a hard, flat ceiling may require less than 1 inch. Apply the mastic close to the corners and in the middle of the tile. These mastic coatings should be 2 inches in diameter and look like little mounds. These mounds will spread when the tile is pressed against the ceiling creating proper adhesive distribution.

Lay the beginning tile at a right angle to the walls, placing one of the corners exactly in the middle of the ceiling. Check to be sure the tile edges are aligned with the perpendicular lines you have drawn. Press the tile firmly, allowing the mastic to adhere completely to the ceiling surface. Lay the remaining tiles as close together as possible in parallel rows, avoiding any large gaps or openings. Any adjustment of a tile size that needs to be made as you reach the outer edges of the ceiling is made with the box-cutter knife.

Fill the existing spaces between the tiles with caulk, once all the tiles have been set in place. It is recommended that even the smallest seams be caulked, since this makes the ceiling look seamless. Using a caulking gun, lay a thin bead of caulk along the joint lines. Smooth the bead of caulk using your finger, ensuring the caulk fills in any gaps between the tiles. Wipe off excess caulk with a wet rag while the caulk is still damp. Caulk dries quickly and is more difficult to remove when dry.

All materials and tools needed for this project can be found at your local home supply center or hardware store.

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