You can install a drop ceiling yourself with a little effort and know how. And while a manufacturer’s instructions are the best place to start, there are a few tools and tips “not shown” in the instructions that will make the project go smoother.
5 Tips for Easier Drop Ceiling Installation
1. Decide on Look and Budget
Deciding which drop ceiling is right for you depends on lots of factors. Start with the look you want and work back to the budget you can afford. There are numerous varieties—from a basic metal grid and drop-in panels to richly colored coffered looks that defy preconceived notions about how this ceiling treatment should look. When thinking about the actual price, it’s important to consider that unlike, say, drywall—much cheaper to buy, much harder to finish—a suspended ceiling requires no additional work once it is installed.
2. Choose Between a Suspended vs. Surface Mounted Ceiling
While the strictest definition of a suspended ceiling is a ceiling that hangs a few inches below the existing ceiling or framing by wires and is supported by a metal grid, there are other choices like surface-mounted ceilings installed with clips that screw directly to the framing above. The installation tools and techniques are nearly identical, however. When deciding between suspended and surface-mounted products, know that surface-mounted products usually take up less valuable headroom, something often lacking in old houses. However, they may restrict access to mechanicals that run the joist space.
3. Gather Your Tools
You’ll need:
Measuring tape. Chalk line. (blue or another light color for interior use) Cordless drill-driver or impact driver. Laser level. It’s really handy for the long level layout lines usually required for suspended ceilings. (Spirit levels work for small spaces but little inaccuracies and human error add up incrementally and make it difficult to level an entire room accurately.) Stud finder. A scratch awl is a great one. Aviator (tin) snips and side-cutters (electrician’s pliers). Snips cut the angle and “tees”; side-cutters bend the wire. Some companies make a hanger system that is easier than bending wire and works just like the plunger that closes a bathroom sink drain. Ladders. A step ladder will work, but a rolling scaffold—which can be used for all kinds of other projects—is better.
4. Remove Studs Using Your Stud Finder
With your stud finder:
5. Double-Check Measurements and Layout
There’s a little math that the instructions will walk you through before installation. It pays to double-check that you’ve got your measurements and layout right because the whole job depends on this initial work.
The two most critical elements are that: Add patience to the equation too. Unless you’re used to dragging ladders all over the place and working over your head all day, those muscles don’t get a lot of daily use. Go slowly. Work methodically, and watch as your ceiling is transformed.
