Instructions / Assembly

ManualsBrandsArmstrong ManualsBuilding materialsPrelude 12 ft. White Main Beam

How to Install Your Armstrong

Suspended Ceiling

LA294998-418

SAFETY TIPS:

• Safety glasses and gloves are recommended to be worn during installation. Metal grid components can be sharp.

• When working overhead, make sure your work area is clear of obstructions and that your ladder is stable.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Store and install panels in areas with temperature and humidity ranges that meet speciﬁc product warranty requirements.

• Remove panels from the cartons 24 hours before installation and allow them to adjust to normal interior conditions of the area

where installation will take place.

• Never install ceiling panels below an existing ceiling that contains embedded radiant-heat coils.

• Do not apply loose ﬁll or batt insulation so that it rests directly on the panels.

• Keep hands clean to avoid smudges on the ﬁnished ceiling.

• Always cut mineral ﬁber or ﬁberglass ceiling panels face up with a sharp utility knife.

• Main beams should be installed perpendicular to the joists.

• Main beams are typically installed on 4' centers. If your room conﬁguration is unusual, you may require additional components.

• To allow for ceiling tile installation and accessibility, the minimum drop is 3" with traditional hanger wire or 2.5" with

QuickHang

™

grid hooks. (QuickHang instructions are notated by a gray background)

NOTE: QuickHang hooks and brackets are available through select retailers. Visit ceilings.com/stores for where to buy.

• Installations with light ﬁxtures will likely require additional clearance and support. Consult the light manufacturer’s instructions

for details.

• When installing below an existing drywall ceiling, a minimum 4" drop is required to install panels. Joists will need to be located

and marked.

NOTE: QuickHang hardware cannot be used below drywall ceilings.

TOOLS NEEDED TO INSTALL YOUR CEILING

PLANNING YOUR ARMSTRONG CEILING

Main beams typically run perpendicular to the joists. If you have an existing

drywall ceiling you will need to locate and identify the joist direction.

LOCATE HIDDEN JOISTS TO INSTALL WIRE FASTENERS

Use either a stud ﬁnder or locate hidden joists by tapping on the ceiling until

you hear a solid thud. Drive a nail in here. Repeat this to locate other joists

and determine their direction. Mark the joist locations with chalk lines.

• Find joists (A).

• Drive nails to ﬁnd exact center line of joists.

• Snap chalk line for each joist (B).

10' 6"

Joist direction

Joist usually

16" on center

Snapped chalk lines

in center of joists

Sample Room

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling ® SAFETY TIPS: • Safety glasses and gloves are recommended to be worn during installation. Metal grid components can be sharp. • When working overhead, make sure your work area is clear of obstructions and that your ladder is stable. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: • Store and install panels in areas with temperature and humidity ranges that meet specific product warranty requirements.
PAGE 2
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling SAMPLE PANEL LAYOUT Determine panel layout For best appearance, border panels should be the same size on the opposite sides of the room and as large as possible. Use your room dimensions and follow the formula in the worksheets below.
PAGE 3
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling ® Traditional Hanger Wire • Snap Chalk Line for Main Beams 4' Apart (A). • Screw in Wire Fasteners 4' Apart (B). • Wrap hanger wire securely around itself 3 times (C). NOTE: Additional hanger wires may be needed to support light fixtures. • Measure up 7/8" from the bottom of the molding. Drive nail into wall just above molding. Do the same on other side of room. Stretch a string from nail to nail along a row of wires (D).
PAGE 4
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling ® 1" long vertical mark INSTALL GRID STEP Prepare and Hang Main Beams • To prepare the first main beam, trim the end of the main beam so that a cross tee slot on the main beam is the border panel distance from the wall (B). (This creates the proper border tile opening.) TIP: Cut the top of the grid first with tin snips and then bend the grid open and cut the face of the grid (A).
PAGE 5
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling • Install two 4' cross tees between the two main beams in line with the first two border tees (C). (illus. B) • To check that your grid is square, measure across the diagonals of the 2' x 4' opening. The measurements will be the same if the grid is square.1"If long the measurements are not the same, trimvertical one of the mark (illus. B) mains further until the diagonals are equal.
PAGE 6
How to Install Your Armstrong Suspended Ceiling ® INSTALL CEILING PANELS STEP Installing Panels • Lift panel at angle up through the grid; drop into place (A). TIP: If there’s an obstruction in the area where you are inserting a ceiling tile, you may need to lift the ceiling tile through an adjacent opening and gently move it across the back of the grid into place. • Trim border panels using a straight edge; panels should be cut face side up (B).