Installation of cassette ceiling

A cassette ceiling is a type of suspended structure. It is a universal tile system consisting from square movable modules or cassettes. The main elements of the ceiling can be metal, glass, mirror, plaster or wood. Its main advantage is the availability of free space where you can place additional equipment and hide all wires and communications.

Step-by-step DIY installation guide

The advantages of the design are as follows:

1. Elimination of ceiling defects (cracks, unevenness, etc.).
2. Easy to install.
3. Easy maintenance (replacement of damaged elements).
4. Open access to ceiling communications.
5. Large selection of colors and structure options.

The cassette ceiling will suit any interior. You just need to choose the right material and color.

Cassette ceilings come in open and closed types. Their difference is in the visibility of the outer profile of the structure itself. At first glance, installing a cassette ceiling with your own hands may scare off an inexperienced builder, but with the right approach, its installation will not be difficult, and the resulting result will beneficially transform the room.

Work equipment

The list of tools is quite simple.In addition to the standard set consisting of a pencil, building level, pliers, side cutters, screwdriver and tape measure, you will need:

• drill or hammer drill (if you have to drill concrete or brick);
• metal scissors;
• construction knife;
• beating or marking cord and chalk powder;
• spatula (if you have to seal cracks).

Materials required:

• L-shaped, wall corner;
• spring suspensions, rigid or with adjustable length;
• load-bearing guides or combs for open and closed types, respectively;
• screws, dowels, anchors;
• ceiling cassettes.

Having made sure that all components for proper installation are available, we proceed directly to the installation.

Preparatory stage

Despite the simplicity of the work, this stage requires special attention. First, we clean the ceiling from dust and dirt, and seal all holes and cracks. If installation is carried out in a damp room, the surface is treated with antiseptic agents.

There are a few more tips before installing a cassette ceiling:

• all modules must be kept at room temperature for at least 24 hours to avoid their deformation;
• the room itself is well dried and heated in winter; lighting also plays an important role.

The preparation stage is completed. We proceed to the installation of profiles and material for the rough coating.

Open ceiling installation

One type of cassette design. His installation is simple, but you need to know all the nuances. We offer a step-by-step guide to action.

1. Attaching the L-shaped wall profile. To do this, initially find the zero level of the cassette ceiling (usually 10–15 cm below the main one, unless special conditions are provided for communications). Next, using a building level, marks are placed in the four corners of the room, then they are connected with a special cord. This creates a line onto which (in increments of 40–50 cm) the wall profile is attached.
2. Installation of supporting guides. Next, points equal to the size of the ceiling tiles are placed on the frame. A cord extends from each such pair and marks the ceiling. After this, brackets are installed in increments of 60 to 120 cm. Its distance from the wall should not exceed 60 cm. If necessary, separate hangers for additional equipment are attached here. Next, the edges of the guides are secured with self-tapping screws on the wall profile in pre-marked places. Then they are installed on the brackets and the entire structure is leveled. If the frame is not enough to reach the end of the wall, it should be cut at the junction of the cassettes so as not to get a tear.
3. Installation of intermediate guides. They begin to be attached from the center of the room to the walls. At this stage, difficulties should not arise if you select the correct length of the guides according to the size of the cassettes in advance. The structure is secured with special locks; the main thing is to observe the geometry of the corners.
4. Installing cassettes. The module is inserted edgewise and installed face down.

Then you can proceed to the installation of additional equipment - lamps or hoods, if provided for by the design.

Installation of a closed ceiling

The whole procedure similar to above, with some important exceptions - there are no guides.Its elements are installed close to each other using special stringers. Briefly, the installation procedure looks like this:

1. Fastening of corner profiles, hangers, supporting guides.
2. Installation of combs or stringers exactly to the size of the cassettes.
3. Inserting cassettes.

This method faster than the first, but at the same time more difficult. Its main difficulty is in the marking, which must be done with absolute accuracy. This is due to the fact that the cassettes are inserted directly into the combs and there is no way to adjust them. Therefore, the work is often entrusted to craftsmen who have the necessary skills and equipment.

With careful study of the issue and a competent approach, anyone can install a cassette ceiling with their own hands. The main thing is to prepare everything you need in advance, calculate every step and be patient. When the work is finished, the result will surprise even the master himself.