How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
LA2
9
4
998
-41
8
S
AFETY TIP
S:
• Safety glasses and gloves are recommended to be worn during installation. Metal grid components can be sharp
.
• When workin
g
overhead, make sure your work area is clear of obstructions and that your ladder is stable.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
:
•
S
tore and install panels in areas with temperature and humidity ranges that meet specifi c 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
.
•
N
ever
i
nsta
ll
ce
ili
ng pane
l
s
b
e
l
ow an ex
i
st
i
ng ce
ili
ng t
h
at conta
i
ns em
b
e
dd
e
d
ra
di
ant-
h
eat co
il
s
.
• Do not apply loose fi ll or batt insulation so that it rests directly on the panels.
• Keep hands clean to avoid smudges on the fi nished ceiling
.
• Always cut mineral fi ber or fi ber
g
lass ceilin
g
panels face up with a sharp utility knife
.
•
M
a
i
n
b
eams s
h
ou
ld
b
e
i
nsta
ll
e
d
perpen
di
cu
l
ar to t
h
e
j
o
i
sts
.
• Main beams are typically installed on 4' centers. I
f
your room con
fi
guration is unusual, you may require additional components
.
• To allow for ceilin
g
tile installation and accessibility, the minimum drop is 3" with traditional han
g
er wire or 2.5" with
QuickHan
g
™
g
r
id
h
oo
k
s.
(
QuickHan
g
instructions are notated by a
g
ray back
g
round
)
N
O
TE
:
QuickHang hooks and brackets are available through select retailers. Visit ceilings.com/stores for where to buy
.
• Installations with light fi xtures will likely require additional clearance and support.
C
onsult the light manufacturer’s instructions
f
o
r
de
t
a
il
s
.
• When installin
g
below an existin
g
drywall ceilin
g
, a minimum 4" drop is required to install panels. Joists will need to be located
a
n
d
m
a
r
ked.
N
O
TE
:
Q
uickHang hardware cannot be used below drywall ceilings
.
T
OO
L
S
NEEDED T
O
IN
S
TALL Y
OU
R
C
EILIN
G
PLANNIN
G
Y
OU
R ARM
S
TR
O
N
G
C
EILIN
G
M
ain beams typically run perpendicular to the joists. If you have an existing
drywall ceilin
g
you will need to locate and identify the
j
oist direction.
L
OC
ATE HIDDEN
JO
I
S
T
S
T
O
IN
S
TALL WIRE FA
S
TENER
S
Use either a stud
fi
nder 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
j
oist locations with chalk lines
.
•
Fi
n
d
j
o
i
sts
(A).
• Driv
e
n
a
il
s
t
o
fi n
d
e
x
ac
t
center line
of joists.
e
• Snap chalk line for each
j
ois
t
(
B
).
10' 6"
9'
Joist direction
Joist usually
16" on center
Snapped chalk lines
in center of joists
A
B
Sample Room
S
AMPLE PANEL LAY
OUT
Determine panel layou
t
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
.
Sample worksheets using 2' x 4' panels in a 9' x 10' 6" roo
m
IN
S
TALL WALL M
O
LDIN
G
• Mark the desired height of your new ceiling on the wall
(
A
).
• Add the height of the Wall Molding above the desired ceiling height and mark a level line around 3 walls
(B).
•
U
se a str
i
ng
li
ne to mar
k
t
h
e 4t
h
wa
ll.
• Fasten wall molding to the wall studs with appropriate
f
astener. (
C
)
.
• If nailin
g
moldin
g
directly to wall is not possible
(
for example, a solid concrete or stone wall
)
,
han
g
a section of main
b
eam next to the wall as a substitute for re
g
ular wall moldin
g
usin
g
han
g
er wire
(D)
or the QuickHan
g
hardware
(E).
INSTALL HANGER WIRE OR QUICKHANG GRID HOOKS
IMPORTANT:
The
fi
rst row o
f
main beams in a 2' x 4' panel
installation should be the border panel size from the wall.
In a 2' x 2' panel installation, the
fi
rst main beam can be the
border panel size or the border panel + 24" from the wall.
EXAMPLE
:
See Sample Room Han
g
er Layout – 2' 6" from the
wall for a 2' x 4' panel. QuickHang brackets should not be
spaced more than 4' apart in any direction
.
How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
LA2
9
4
998
-41
8
2'6"
2'6"
1' 3" 1' 3"
10' 6"
9'
Wi
d
th
o
f
border
p
ane
l
M
a
i
n
b
eams
4
'
apar
t
Length o
f
bo
r
de
r
pane
l
C
ross tees 2' apar
t
Determine length of border panels
9
'
4
'
R
oom lengt
h
Panel
length
(
2) 4' panels + 1
f
oot remainde
r
Til
es across roo
m
1
'
4
'
Re
ma
in
der
P
an
e
l length
5
'
Tile borders (both sides)
5
'
2
Number of panels
2
'
6
"
B
or
d
er pane
l
l
engt
h
÷
+
÷
Determine width of border panels
10' 6"
2'
Room widt
h
Panel widt
h
(5) 2' panels + 6 inches remainde
r
T
iles across roo
m
6
"
2
'
R
ema
i
n
d
e
r
Pan
e
l
widt
h
2' 6
"
T
ile borders (both sides
)
2
'
6
"
2
Number of panels
1
'3"
B
or
d
er
p
ane
l
w
id
t
h
÷
+
÷
STEP
1
2'6"
•••
••
•
4'4'
4' 4'
2'6"
4'
Joists
10'6"
9'
Hanger location
S
ample Han
g
er Layout
f
or 2'x 4'
C
eilin
gs
STEP
2
Mark desired
ceiling height
from floor
Joist
Level line
B
A
C
Ou
t
s
i
de
corner
C
In
s
i
de
corner
Use Main Beam
instead of Wall
Molding
D
D
Main beam
Place
grid hooks in
round holes
E
U
s
i
ng
H
anger
Wi
re Using
Q
uickHang
G
rid Hook
s
Traditional Han
g
er Wir
e
•
S
nap
C
halk Line for Main Beams 4' Apart (A)
.
•
S
crew in Wire Fasteners 4' Apart
(
B)
.
• Wrap han
g
er wire securely around itself 3 times
(
C
).
N
O
TE
:
Additional hanger wires may be needed to support light fi xtures
.
• Measure up 7/8" from the bottom of the moldin
g
. Drive nail into wall
j
ust
above molding. Do the same on other side of room.
S
tretch a string from nail
to nail along a row of wires (D)
.
•
S
wing hanger wires over to string and bend each one at 90° where they
touch the string (E).
• Stretch additional strings to pre-bend other hanger wires, to help level
entire ceilin
g.
• Remove Leveling
S
tring(s) after pre-bending wires
.
QuickHang
™
H
ar
d
war
e
FOR RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY
:
N
O
TE
:
The QuickHan
g
™
h
ar
d
ware
i
s
d
es
ig
ne
d
to wor
k
w
i
t
h
so
lid
woo
d
an
d
en
gi
neere
d
woo
d
j
o
i
sts
i
n res
id
ent
i
a
l
ce
ili
n
g
applications.
Q
uickHang hardware allows for ceiling drops from 2.5" to 6" with 6" grid hook kits or 2.5" to 12"
with 12" grid hook kits, below the bottom of the joists. QuickHang hardware is not for use on fi nished drywall ceilings
.
SAFETY TIP
S
• Do not cut QuickHan
g
hooks. If the hook needs to be shortened due to an obstruction, the top portion can be bent
by
h
an
d
or w
i
t
h
pli
ers
.
TIPS
:
M
easure an
d
mar
k
your
j
o
i
sts pr
i
or to
i
nsta
ll
at
i
on.
U
se a str
i
ng
li
ne or c
h
a
lk
li
ne to a
li
gn mar
k
s perpen
di
cu
l
ar
to
j
o
i
sts across t
h
e room.
How to Install the QuickHang
™
Hooks and Bracket
s
•
H
an
g
your str
i
n
g
li
ne or snap your c
h
a
lk
li
ne to pos
i
t
i
on your ma
i
n
b
eams 4
'
apart.
• Make a 1" lon
g
vertical mark up the side of each
j
oist where a bracket will be located
(
A
).
•
U
se t
h
e center
h
o
l
e
i
n t
h
e
b
rac
k
ets to
li
ne t
h
e
b
rac
k
ets u
p
w
i
t
h
y
our mar
k
s
(B).
• Hammer in the 2 tabs
f
or a temporary hold
(C
)
.
• Nail the bracket to the joist through the two openings above the hammer tabs with the nails included in the kit (D)
.
– OPTIONAL: You can also secure the bracket to the
j
oist with a sin
g
le #5 Wood Screw throu
g
h the center hole
(
screws not
i
nc
l
u
d
e
d
i
n
ki
t
h
ar
d
ware.
)
• With the bracket securely attached to the joist, insert the grid hook using the diamond-shaped holes in the brackets.
T
hread the small end o
f
the hook,
f
rom the back, through the lower hole
(E).
P
us
h
t
h
e
h
oo
k
up an
d
rotate to t
h
rea
d
t
hrough the upper hole, squeezing the spring tabs to allow the wire to go through
(
F)
.
IMP
O
RTANT: Do not cut QuickHan
g
hooks. If the hook needs to be shortened due to an obstruction, the top portion can be
b
ent
b
y
h
an
d
or w
i
t
h
p
li
ers
.
• Turn all hooks in the same direction, parallel to the joists
.
• Set the hooks at about the same hei
g
ht; the bottom of the hooks should ali
g
n with the top of the wall moldin
g.
• To adjust the height o
f
the hook, squeeze the upper and lower spring tabs while li
f
ting or lowering the hook.
N
O
TE
:
You will do
fi
nal leveling once all o
f
the grid is installed
.
How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
L
A2
9
4
998
-41
8
A
B
C
Hammer
tabs
C
C
C
C
C
1" long
vertical
mark
Joist
A
Align
center
of bracket
with vertical
mark
Bracket
B
B
B
B
Insert
grid hook
E
D
F
D
E
Leveling
s
tr
i
n
g
How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
INSTALL GRID
Prepare and Hang Main Beams
• To prepare the fi rst 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)
.
(Thi
s creates t
h
e proper
b
or
d
er t
il
e open
i
ng.
)
TIP
:
C
ut the top of the grid fi rst with tin snips and then
bend the grid open and cut the
f
ace o
f
the grid
(A).
• Pl
ace
th
e
cu
t
e
n
d
o
f th
e
fi r
s
t m
a
in
bea
m
o
n th
e
w
a
ll
molding and using the round holes in the grid, hang
main beams on the hanger wire or hook perpendicular
to joists. For installations using traditional hanger wire,
a
fter inserting the wire through the round hole, bend it
u
p and wrap the wire around wrap the han
g
er wire
a
round itself three times. Do this same ste
p
with the
n
ext ma
i
n
b
eam runn
i
ng para
ll
e
l
4
'
away a
l
ong t
h
e wa
ll
.
Prepare and
C
ut Border
C
ross Tee
s
• Stretch a strin
g
line from one end of the room to the
o
ther below the wall moldin
g
and alon
g
the ed
g
e
f
u
rth
es
t fr
o
m th
e
w
a
ll
o
f th
e
m
a
in
bea
m
s
(
A
)
.
(
illus. A
)
• Install your
fi
rst cross tee in the main beam cross tee
s
lot that is your border panel distance
f
rom the wall
.
• Hold the end of your border cross tee a
g
ainst the wall
(
B
)
.
(
illus. A
)
Ma
r
k
a
n
d
cu
t t
he
c
r
oss
t
ee
w
he
r
e
i
t
c
r
osses
t
h
e str
i
ng
li
ne
.
• Insert the uncut end o
f
the cross tee into the main beam through the
r
ectan
g
ular hole and rest the cut end of the tee on the wall moldin
g.
• Cut the second border cross tee to length and insert it.
• Temporarily fasten the cross tees to the wall molding with a clamp or
tape so they do not move.
Squarin
g
the Gri
d
T
o ac
hi
eve t
h
e
b
est en
d
resu
l
ts,
i
t
i
s
i
mportant to ma
k
e sure your gr
id
i
s
square at this point in the installation. This will allow you to adjust if changes
are requ
i
re
d
.
N
O
TE
:
When connecting two cross tees in the same rectangular hole of a
main beam, insert the second tee into the slot by passin
g
on the
r
i
ght s
i
d
e
o
f
the already installed cross tee
.
TIP: Installing cross tees is easier if the tee is inserted into the rectangular
slot at a downward an
g
le from above the
g
rid plane. Listen for an audible
click to ensure a good connection
.
L
A2
9
4
998
-41
8
STEP
3
A
–
S
te
p
1
A
–
S
te
p
2
Set trimmed end of main
b
eam on wall moldin
g
Pl
ace
grid hooks or
hanger wire
g
g
i
n roun
d
g
g
holes
e
Border panel distanc
e
B
C
r
oss
t
ee
s
l
ot
W
a
ll
mo
ldi
ng
A
B
i
llus.
A
B
or
d
er tees
cut an
d
cli
pp
ed to
molding so
pp
pp
main aligns
g
g
w
ith
s
t
r
i
n
g
gg
First main
b
ea
m
Seco
n
d
m
ain bea
m
Guide strin
g
Insert cross
tee
h
er
e
Main beam
Existing
cross tee
Insert to
the RIGHT side
of existing tee
Insert at a
downward an
g
l
e
LA2
9
4
998
-41
8
How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
• In
s
t
a
ll tw
o
4'
c
r
oss
t
ees
be
tw
ee
n th
e
tw
o
m
a
in
bea
m
s
in lin
e
with th
e
fi r
s
t tw
o
bo
r
de
r t
ees
(C). (illus. B
)
• To check that your
g
rid is square, measure across
the diagonals of the 2' x 4' opening. The measurements
w
ill be the same if the grid is square. If the
measurements are not the same, trim one of the
mains further until the diagonals are equal.
(
illus. B
)
Installing Remaining
G
rid & Leveling the
S
ystem
• Complete the fi rst two rows of main beams by
h
anging main beams
f
rom the hooks and joining their
ends together. Listen
f
or an audible click to ensure a good
co
nn
ec
ti
o
n.
(
illus. C and illus. D
).
At th
e
f
a
r
e
n
d
o
f
eac
h
o
f these fi rst two rows,
y
ou’ll need to cut both main beams
to rest on t
h
e wa
ll
mo
ldi
ng.
TIP:
Use
th
e
l
ef
t-
o
v
e
r
e
n
ds
of
th
e
cu
t m
a
in
bea
m
s
t
o
s
t
a
rt
additional rows o
f
main beams
.
•
Cu
t
add
iti
o
n
a
l
bo
r
de
r
c
r
oss
t
ees
be
tw
ee
n th
e
w
a
ll
a
n
d
fi r
s
t
ro
w
o
f m
a
in
bea
m
s.
• I
f
y
ou have additional rows o
f
main beams to install, stretch a
s
econd string
f
rom one side o
f
the room to the other aligning it
w
ith the fi rst 4' cross tee as shown (D). (illus. B
)
• This second strin
g
will be your
g
uide for cuttin
g
the remainin
g
rows of main beams. Just measure from the end wall to the
s
tring to determine the distance
f
or the
fi
rst rectangular cross
tee s
l
ot
y
ou w
ill
use.
N
O
TE
:
You must line up cross tee slots for the grid to be square
!
•
I
nsta
ll
a
ll
rema
i
n
i
ng ma
i
n
b
eams an
d
4
'
cross tees
.
•
M
easure an
d
cut
b
or
d
er cross tees a
l
ong t
h
e
l
ast wa
ll
.
• Now that your
g
rid is installed, it's time to check or do fi nal levelin
g.
F
i
nal Level
i
ng
• Start by attaching a magnetic level to the bottom of a main beam
located in a corner o
f
the room. Note: Main beam should rest on
w
all molding
.
• Systems installed with traditional han
g
er wire should be level already.
I
f
additional leveling is needed, untwist the hanger wires, raise or lower
the grid slightly, re-bend and twist the wires.
•
S
ystems using
Q
uickHang hardware, hold the main beam, squeeze
the spring tabs on the QuickHang bracket to allow the hook to slide up
o
r
do
wn
(
F
).
Releasin
g
the tab will lock the hook in place
.
• Working from the corner of your room, check and level cross tees and
main beams until the s
y
stem is level
.
TIP:
For additional guidance, see our video online at ceilings.com
/
installation
.
D
C
Full 4'
c
ross tee
s
Second strin
g
Check diagonal
measuremen
ts
g
i
llus.
B
Joist
i
llus. C
Trad
i
t
i
onal W
i
re Han
g
e
r
i
ll
us
. D
QuickHan
g
Grid Hook
s
F
Joist
oist
st
t
J
Jo
oist
How to Install Your Armstrong
®
Suspended Ceiling
L
A2
9
4
998
-L
O
WE
S
-
5
1
8
STEP
4
A
B
C
Pencil line
nc
e
li
e
c
W
a
ll
m
o
ldi
n
g
New tegular
edge reveal
g
g
INSTALL CEILING PANELS
STEP
Installing Panels
STEP
4
• Lift panel at angle up through the grid; drop into place
4
(
A
).
T
IP
:
If there’s an obstruction in the area where you are inserting a ceiling tile,
y
ou may need to lift the ceilin
g
tile throu
g
h an ad
j
acent openin
g
and
g
ently
move it across the back of the
g
rid into place
.
• Trim border panels using a straight edge; panels should be cut face side
up
(B).
F
or tegu
l
ar t
il
es, you w
ill
nee
d
to cut t
h
e e
d
ge t
h
at
’
s rest
i
ng on t
h
e
w
all molding to allow it to lay fl at
.
Cuttin
g
“Te
g
ular”/“Recessed Grid” ceilin
g
border panel
s
• Trim tegular edge border panels to the same dimensions as
f
or
fl
at panels.
T
he tegular edge detail must now be cut into the panel
.
• Set the panel into the
g
rid. Draw a li
g
ht pencil line on the panel usin
g
the
w
a
ll
mo
ldi
n
g
as a
g
u
id
e
(
C
).
• Remove the panel. Use a sharp utility kni
f
e and straight edge to cut hal
f
way
through the panel
f
rom the
f
ace side along the pencil line
(D).
• La
y
the utilit
y
knife on its side next to the
p
anel and, with the
p
anel face u
p
,
cut in at blade hei
g
ht for a reveal cut
(E).
• Remove the cut edge. If the cut edge of the panel is visible, paint with a fl at
whi
te
l
atex pa
i
nt
.
• Fit the panel into the
g
rid
.
For additional information on installin
g
suspended ceilin
g
s, please visit our website at
ceilin
g
s.com or call Techline at 1-877-ARMSTRONG
(
276-7876
)
.6).
L
i
m
i
ted Warrant
y
For warranty information, please visit ceilings.com
/
warranty
.
Precaut
i
onar
y
Measures
:
P
recautionary Measures: Durin
g
the installation be certain that the work site is well ventilated and
a
void breathin
g
dust. Avoid contact with skin or eyes. Wear lon
g
-sleeve, loose fi ttin
g
clothes,
g
loves and eye protection. Cut and
trim with kni
f
e, razor or hand saw. Do not cut with
p
ower e
q
ui
p
ment unless either a dust collector is used on the e
q
ui
p
ment or
local exhaust is used and a NIOSH a
pp
roved res
p
irator is worn to
p
revent overex
p
osure to airborne silica. Ex
p
osures to res
p
irable
c
rystalline silica are not detected in industrial hy
g
iene testin
g
on workers installin
g
acoustical ceilin
g
panels
f
or an 8 hour wor
k
day and are not expected durin
g
the normal use o
f
this product; however, actual levels must be determined by workplace hy
g
iene
testin
g
. Prolon
g
ed and repeated exposure to airborne free respirable crystalline silica can result in lun
g
disease
(
i.e., silicosis
)
and
/
o
r lun
g
cancer. Panels do not release respirable dust in their installed state and there
f
ore do not present any known health hazards
when installed and
p
ro
p
erl
y
maintained.
First Aid Measures
:
If e
y
e or skin contact occurs, fl ush with
p
lent
y
of water for at least 15 minutes and remove contaminated
c
lothin
g
. After installin
g
material, wash with warm water and mild soap.
R
efer to Armstrong World Industries
S
afety Data
S
heet for more information
.
If
y
ou have an
y
technical or installation
q
uestions, or to re
q
uest a Safet
y
Data Sheet,
p
lease call: 1 877 ARMSTRONG.
Do not store or install under conditions where relative humidity exceeds 70%.
(
Except Humi
G
uard
®
Plus and Humi
G
uar
d
®
M
ax
)
C
ut line
E
P
encil
/
C
ut
li
ne
D
Tile
f
ace
/
