USG Ceiling System - Manual (Page 2)

L C
L C
1/2" 1/2"
1/2"
Locate and Mark Guidelines
9 3/8"
12"
12"
Attach Furring Strips
Cut Tile
1 Mark centerlines. Mark
ends of actual or adjust-
ed centerlines on ceiling
perimeter.
Important :
Because you need to
compensate for the width
of the stapling flange, do
not snap chalk lines at
the centerlines. Instead,
determine the starting
corner for your installa-
tion. Then, to compen-
sate for the width of sta-
pling flange, re-mark the
centerlines an additional
1/2
Љ away from the start-
ing corner. Snap chalk
lines at these adjusted
positions.
2 Locate guidelines for
the starting corner. To
locate the position of the
guidelines for the two
border rows that meet at
the starting corner, add
1/2
Љ to the width of the
border tiles, as deter-
mined by the layout.
Then mark the total dis-
tance along the starting
edges of the ceiling.
Stapling flanges will align
on chalk lines, and the
face of tile will be cor-
rectly positioned when
work reaches the center
of the room.
6 Mark border tile.
Measure out from the
adjacent wall the length
of the border tile plus
3/8
Љ. Mark this point on
the second furring strip.
Snap a chalk line at this
point across the faces of
the furring strips.
7 Check chalk lines.
Make sure that the chalk
lines at the starting cor-
ner intersect at exactly
90 degrees.
3 Make sure guidelines
are parallel to centerline.
Snap a chalk line to
make these starting
guidelines.
4 Locate center and bor-
der guidelines. If you are
installing furring strips,
mark the position of the
center and border guide-
lines on the wall, about
1
Љ below the ceiling.
After the furring strips
are installed, snap chalk
lines across the faces of
the strips.
1 Nail the first strip.
Always install furring
strips perpendicular to
ceiling joists. Nail the
first furring strip flush
against the wall. Use two
8d nails at each joist
crossing.
2 Nail the second strip.
Position the second fur-
ring strip so that the cen-
ter of the strip is at a
distance from the wall
equal to the width of the
border tile plus 3/8
Љ. For
example, if the border tile
width is 9”, the center of
the furring strip should
be 9-3/8
Љ from the wall.
3 Continue to install
strips across the ceiling,
12
Љ on center. On center,
or o.c., is distance
between the center of
one strip to the center of
the next. Stagger strips
where possible so that
ends do not line up on
the same joist. Furring
strips should always butt
together in the center of
a joist, and never in the
space between joists.
90 0
USG Corporation Manufactured by USG Interiors, Inc.
125 South Franklin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606 (800) USG-4YOU (874-4968)
http://www.usg.com WL1004/8-02
©2002, USG Interiors, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.
Install Your Tile
Ceiling, Step by
Step
4 Make sure strips are
level. Use a long straight
edge to make sure fur-
ring strips are level. Use
wood shims, where nec-
essary, to level.
5 Mark starting corner.
Select your starting cor-
ner by snapping a chalk
line down the middle of
the furring strip (width of
the border tile plus 3/8
Љ).
1 For border rows. Use a
saw to cut tiles as work
progresses. Always mea-
sure dimensions of bor-
der tiles on the face side
of the tiles. Cut excess
material from tongue
edge of tile for the two
starting border tiles. Cut
excess material from the
flange edge for the two
finishing rows.
Important: Walls are
rarely perfectly square,
so border tiles may have
to vary slightly in size to
accommodate imperfec-
tions. Measure for each
border tile before cut-
ting.
2 For openings in ceiling.
Use a coping saw for
cuts at light fixtures,
pipes, columns, etc.
Cut excess material at
tongue edge of tile. Cut
tile to accommodate light
fixtures, pipes, etc.
Attach Tile with Staples
1 Position the first tiles.
Place first border tile in
starting corner with sta-
pling flanges toward cen-
ter of room. Align it and
succeeding border tiles
on chalk line that has
been snapped on face of
furring strips. Do not
align on wall/ceiling
angle, since wall may not
be straight.
2 Staple the tiles. Hold
tile in place and fasten
with trigger-type auto-
matic stapler. Drive four
staples through the
flanges of each tile as
shown here. Face-nail
wall edges of border tiles
with 1-1/8
Љ 13-ga. blue
plasterboard nails with
5/16
Љ heads, driven
close to the wall so that
molding will cover nail-
heads.
When applying tiles, be
certain the tongue-and-
groove edges are snugly
fitted, but not forced
together.
Before beginning work,
check painted surfaces
for compatibility with
adhesive. Use a good-
quality ceiling tile adhe-
sive and follow the
manufacturer’s directions.
1 Prime tile. Priming
ensures good bond
between back of tile and
adhesive. Use a brush to
wipe a thin coat of primer
over the back of the tile.
Attach Tile with Adhesives
2 Apply adhesive. Keep
adhesive 2
Љ-2-1/2Љ from
edge of tile. Then apply
golfball-sized daubs of
adhesive to the spots on
the tile. Never apply
adhesive to the ceiling.
3 Attach the first tile.
Place first border tile in
starting corner with
flanges toward center of
room. Press firmly
upward, compressing
adhesive until tile back is
1/4
Љ-1/8Љ from ceiling.
Adjust until tile face is
level and edges are
aligned on guidelines.
4 Attach the second tile.
Put adhesive on tile.
Place tile gently against
ceiling, about 1/2
Љ from
first tile. Press firmly
upward and slide toward
the first tile until edges
are fully engaged and tile
is level. Repeat until ceil-
ing is covered, except for
tiles in finishing rows.
5 Install finishing rows.
Apply adhesive to back of
cut tile, then lightly
engage tongue-and-
groove edges and press
tile upwards in a hinging
motion. Do not slide tile
horizontally between pre-
ceding row and the wall.
Important: On uneven
surfaces increase the
thickness of the adhesive
to compensate for the low
areas, so that the joints
and surfaces of tile will
be level. Also, if a tile is in
final position and is
noticeably below the level
of the adjoining one,
remove it and add more
adhesive. Never pull tile
away from the base to
create a level joint or sur-
face.
Attach Tile with Adhesive
Finish the Ceiling
Finish ceiling with mold-
ing to conceal the border
nailheads and give a fin-
ished appearance. Attach molding with fin-
ishing nails driven into
studs, not into furring
strips. Countersink nails and
finish with a putty stick. Trademarks
The following trademarks used
herein are owned by USG corpora-
tion or its subsidiaries: USG C
EILINGS
Safety First!
Follow good safety and industrial
hygiene practices during handling
and installing of all products and
systems. Take necessary precau-
tions and wear the appropriate
personal protective equipment as
needed. Read material safety data
sheets and related literature on
products before specification and/or
installation.