If you'd like to hide cracks or other damage in your ceiling, or if you just want a new look for the top of your room, consider installing faux tin tiles. These tiles simulate the look of antique tin tiles but are actually made from recycled paper. The tiles are lightweight, so they can be attached with adhesive, and their tongue-and-groove design makes them easy to install.
Materials:
measuring tape
chalk line
faux tin ceiling tiles
ceiling tile adhesive
utility knife
straightedge
putty knife
ladder
hammer
nails
safety glasses
Steps:
- First, measure the ceiling so you'll know how many tiles to buy.
- After you get the tiles home, open the cartons and check the tiles for damage. Try to do this at least 24 hours in advance so you won't have to go get more tiles during the middle of the project.
- Make a scale drawing of the room, and overlay it with a grid to help you determine the proper layout for your tiles (figure A). You should arrange your layout so that you have at least a half-tile (as opposed to a narrow sliver) next to each wall.
- Mark the corners of the ceiling to show where the first row of tiles will be installed along the back wall. Then drive a nail at each mark and stretch a string across the room to use as a reference. Repeat the process for one of the adjacent walls. To make sure the strings are perfectly square, mark one string three feet from the point where they cross, and mark the other string four feet from the crossing point. If the strings are perfectly square, the distance between the marks will be five feet (figure B).
- After the reference strings are in position, you can begin cutting and placing your tiles. Because walls are often uneven, measure each border tile individually. To determine where to cut a tile, place it against the wall and mark the edges where the string crosses it. Measure the distance from the mark to the edge that was against the wall, and mark the tile at that distance from the opposite edge.
- Use a sharp utility knife and a straightedge to trim the tile to size (figure C). Cut the tiles with the finished side up, and try to be as precise as possible. Double-check your cuts by dry-fitting the tiles before you attach them permanently. The first run of tiles will determine how the rest of the ceiling looks.
- To attach the tiles to the ceiling, place a teaspoon-sized dollop of adhesive on each corner, and press the tile in place. Use the guide string to be sure the initial course is straight. After the first rows are in place, you can install the remaining tiles (figure D). Press them tightly against one another, and be careful not to shift them out of position. The adhesive should cure within 24 hours.
Resources ceiling tiles
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Website:
www.armstrong.com Also in this Episode
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