How to Fit a Suspended Ceiling: A Guide for Suspended Ceiling Installation

Nothing to be afraid of with a suspended ceiling! This suspended ceiling system is simple to install for anyone with a practical mindset. But to make things even simpler, we’ve put up some step-by-step guidelines to guide you using our 40+ years of knowledge.

TO INSTALL A SUSPENDED CEILING, WHAT DO I NEED?

Tape Measure
Spirit Level / Laser Level
Drill / Screwdriver
Tinsnips
Stanley Knife
Safety Glasses
Heavy Duty Gloves
Pen / Pencil for marking out

STEPS TO INSTALL A SUSPENDED CEILING

Planning and Design

Installing Perimeter/Edge Trim

Fixing the Suspension Points for the Main Runners/Main Tee Bars

Installing the Main Runners 3600mm (Main Tees)

Installing the Cross Tees 1200 & 600mm (Noggins)

Fitting the Ceiling Tiles

HOW - TO STEPS

How to Plain and Design a Suspended Ceiling for Installation

The first step is to lay out your ceiling, which you should have received if you bought your suspended ceiling from Ceiling Tiles UK. This will display where the various parts of your project are located.

Suspended Ceiling Installation Drawing

Please find the necessary details below if you have chosen not to receive a drawing or if you need further help arranging the layout of your ceiling.

The size of the area or rooms where your ceiling will be installed is something you’ll need to know.
Draw the dimensions as accurately as you can.
You can use graph paper to help with this.
Either a 600600 or 6001200 configuration is available. The type of materials needed for your ceiling will depend on the configuration you choose.
On your graph paper, you can now draw the layout.
Remember that the Main Runners must be set at 1200 centers regardless of which option you choose (600 x 600 or 1200 x 600). Place the tees so that the cuts around the perimeter are as large and equal on both sides as feasible.
The tiles will be simpler to trim to size as a result.
The 1200mm cross tees should be placed 600mm apart if you are utilizing a 600×1200 arrangement. Add 600mm cross tees between the 1200mm cross tees’ midpoints to create a 600×600 configuration.
It is easier to change the position of these on paper first if you are also installing recessed lights in the ceiling, so now is the time to determine where they will go.

How to Install Suspended Ceiling Perimeter / Edge Trim

Installing your edge trim around the room’s perimeter is the second step.

Perimeter Edge Trim / Wall Angle Installed

Make a decision regarding the ceiling’s suspension height.
You must make sure that there is at least 100mm of space between the new ceiling and the ceiling from which it is suspended.
Additional clearance will be required when installing recessed lights into the ceiling; we advise 200mm to 300mm.
Use a level to draw a line around the room indicating where the perimeter trim will be fixed once you are comfortable with the height of the ceiling.
The installation process will go more quickly and effectively if you are able to utilize a laser level. It will also yield the greatest outcomes.
Using drywall screws for stud walls or masonry nails for block walls, securely fasten the perimeter trim to the wall at all points. (Approximate fixings at 350mm centers.)
Position the perimeter trim in relation to your level line, being careful to maintain it as square as possible to avoid issues later.
When you reach the intersection of the trims, overlap them, then use your tinsnips to cut the bottom perimeter trim at an angle for a mitered finish.

How to Position and Fix Suspension Points for Main Runners

After successfully installing your edge trim, the third step is to measure your suspension wire and mark the locations where your ceiling will be suspended.

ATR and drop wire supports

Please refer to the drawing provided by Ceiling Tiles UK, which will illustrate where the Main Runners are situated. These will appear as a red line on the drawing.
The location of each primary tee along the perimeter trim should be measured and marked.
The Main Runner’s clip needs to be removed from the end that will rest on the trim.
Now protect your:
Ceiling Brackets: If Timber Joists are to be used to suspend the ceiling,
Purlin Clips: If metal purlins are used to support the ceiling,
Wire Hangers: Whether the ceiling is supported by concrete.
To hang the Main Runners, you will need to straighten the suspension wire.
You can link a length of wire to a fixed secure point and wrap the other end around the hook or vine eye in the drill if you can secure a hook or vine eye into the drill. The drill’s rotation will cause the wire to be pulled straight. Please only do this until the wire is straight because doing it longer than necessary could cause the wire to break. ALWAYS make sure you are wearing the proper safety eyewear and gloves when doing this.
Based on the drop you initially determined (the distance from the old ceiling to the new suspended ceiling), measure how long the wire has to be cut.
To ensure you have enough wire to wrap around and fasten the Main Runner, add 300mm to the length you require.
By inserting the wire through the location holes and tightly wrapping it around, you can secure the wire to the fittings that have been given.
To make sure the wire is fastened, give it a strong tug.
Fix the initial suspension wire for each main tee 400 to 600 millimeters away from the trim around the perimeter. For the locations, look at the drawing we sent you.
Every 1200mm along the main runner, attach a suspension wire.

How to Install the Main Runners(3600mm)

Fitting your main runners into your edge trim to provide the framework for your gridwork system is the fourth stage in installing your suspended ceiling.

Connecting two Main Runners

For your Cross Tees to fit into, most Main Runners are 3600mm long and feature slots every 100mm. 50 mm from each end is where these will start.
Place the first Main Runner closest to the Perimeter Trim, making sure the first Cross Tee slot corresponds to the Cross Tee’s location on your drawing.
Continue measuring and cutting the Main Tees to size, making sure that the Main Runner’s slots match up with the Cross Tees’ locations at all times.
To indicate where the first row of Cross Tees will be placed, draw a string line across the space. This reveals the location of the initial pre-punched slots.
Place the Main Tee on the Wall Angle and Edge Trim.
Cut the Main Runner to size if the space in which you are constructing the ceiling is shorter than 3.6 meters.
If you must do this, keep in mind that the end clips must also be taken off.
Main Tees can be connected together to fit spaces wider than 3600mm.
Stretch a line from wall trim to wall trim at a 90-degree angle to ensure that the Main Tees are installed so that they are all level with the perimeter trim that is already placed.

How to Install Cross Tees (1200mm) Cross Tees (600mm)

Connecting your Cross Tees into the spaces within your Main Runner after all of your Main Runners have been joined to your Edge Trim is the fifth stage.

Cross Tees fixing into the Main Runner

Cross Tees fixing into the Edge Trim

The slots in the Cross Tees allow them to attach to the Main Runner.
The location of the Cross Tees will depend on whether you chose to create a ceiling with 600600 or 6001200. Please refer to your drawing.
The 1200 Cross Tees go into the Main Runner, and the 600 Cross Tees go into the 1200 Cross Tees’ center slot, forming 600 × 600 squares.
Sometimes adding 1200 x 600 tiles means you won’t need any 600 Cross Tees, and vice versa for smaller 600 by 600 ceilings where 1200 Cross Tees would not be required.
Drop a few full tiles onto the grid to confirm it stays square before cutting and fixing the perimeter cross tees.
The edge Cross Tees are sized appropriately and rest on the edge trim or wall angle.
The 1200 Cross Tees will be depicted as a blue line on the image that we’ll send you.
The 600 Cross Tees will be depicted as a Green Line on the drawing we’ll send you.

How to Fit Ceiling Tiles into Suspended Ceiling Gridwork

The sixth stage entails inserting your ceiling tiles into the openings in the gridwork of your newly constructed suspended ceiling.

The tiles can now be placed because the grid is in place and ridged. Before gently lowering the tiles into place, angle the tiles upward through the grid.
Use gloves while handling the tiles if they have a pattern to prevent fingerprints from being left behind and make sure the tile is perfectly aligned before placing.
A Stanley Knife makes it very easy to cut the tiles that will go on the margins of the ceiling.