How to Set Ceiling Tile

Remove any lights or fans from the ceiling. Scrape all the ceiling texture off the ceiling with a large putty knife. Clean all the dust off the ceiling with a broom. Repair any loose or damaged ceiling drywall. The ceiling surface must have a clean, flat and solid surface.

Find the center of the walls with a tape measure. Mark these spots with a pencil.

Hold a chalk line from a chalk box tightly on two opposite pencil marks. To make a chalk line, pull up on the string and let go. Make another chalk line for the other set of marks. If you do not have a helper you can use a small nail to hold the string on the opposite center mark.

Place a square at the intersection of the two chalk lines. Verify the lines cross at a right angle. If not, adjust one chalk line as needed.

Place a tablespoon's worth of tile glue on the corners of a ceiling tile with a vee-notch margin trowel. Keep the dabs of glue 1 inch from the edges. Every tile used will need the glue applied like this.

Find the pattern mark on the tile's reverse. Not all brands, or styles, have pattern marks. When setting the ceiling tile, always keep the pattern marks pointed in the same direction.

Set the first tile at the corner of the bisecting lines. The tile's edge must line up with the chalk lines.

Complete the center rows of ceiling tile using the chalk lines as a guide. Cut the end tiles as needed with a razor knife. When complete the room's ceiling will have equal quadrants.

Install the ceiling tile in each quadrant. Work from the center of the room out to the edges. Use the adjacent ceiling tiles as placement guides.

Cut the ceiling tile, as needed, with a razor knife. Score the surface then fold the tile to break it. Use a drywall saw to cut around holes for light and fan fixtures.