How is a suspended ceiling installed?

1. Survey and setting out

We measure the room, check the soffit and the depth of the void, and agree the finished ceiling height. Then we set out the grid on a plan so the cut tiles at opposite walls come out equal. A room 6.9m wide in a 600mm grid gets 11 full tiles and a 150mm margin either side, not one full-width tile edge and a thin sliver on the other wall.

2. Wall angle to a laser datum

A rotating laser projects the ceiling height around the room. The perimeter wall angle is fixed to that line, which is what makes the finished ceiling level even if the floor is not.

3. Hangers and main tees

Hangers are fixed into the soffit at the centres the grid maker specifies, commonly around 1.2m, and the main tees are hung and levelled to the laser. Extra hangers go at heavy fittings and changes of level.

4. Cross tees

Cross tees clip between the main tees to form the modules. The grid is squared up at this stage, because a grid out of square shows as tapering margins once tiles go in.

5. Services and fittings

Electricians and mechanical engineers position LED panels, cassettes, diffusers, detectors and sprinkler heads to the grid. Heavy items get independent support from the soffit.

6. Tiles

Full tiles go in last, ideally with clean gloves, then the margins are cut and fitted. The room is cleaned and checked from below before handover.