A Simple Way To Redecorate The Ceiling: How To Properly Glue The Ceiling Tiles, Step-by-step Recommendations + Photos And Videos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to quickly and easily upgrade the ceiling? We glue the ceiling tiles with our own hands

Today, polystyrene foam, or plastic tiles for pasting the ceiling is perhaps the most common material. It is inexpensive, easy to stick, easy to maintain, and modern manufacturers offer such a wide selection of tile designs that you can easily transform your room into something that your fantasy tells you with its help.

Everyone who decides to repair the ceiling with tiles wants to approach this work not only individually, but also responsibly. You will need to learn a few features of choosing the right tile, the rules for preparatory work and other interesting information.

First of all, let's look at what types of tiles exist in order to accurately choose the one that suits you best.

Content

• 1 Choosing a ceiling tile: types and their features
• 2 Ceiling tile adhesive: the right choice is the key to success
• 3 How to properly glue ceiling tiles: we describe the workflow step by step
• 4 Seamless ceiling tiles: what are their advantages?
• 5 Preparing the ceiling surface for the installation of seamless tiles
• 6 Glue tiles to whitewash
• 7 Video on how to glue ceiling tiles

Choosing a ceiling tile: types and their features

Expanded polystyrene tiles for the ceiling are of several varieties, and each differs in both appearance and production method:

• Pressed tiles are made by stamping from polystyrene blocks; the minimum thickness of the slab is 6 mm, the maximum is 8 mm;
• Extruded blocks, which are produced from a strip of polystyrene by pressing, have a smooth glossy surface, imitate natural materials - marble, stone, wood;
• Injection tiles are produced by sintering raw materials, have the correct shape, deep pattern; plate thickness from 9 to 14 mm.

In order to properly glue the tiles to the ceiling, pay special attention to the physical, and especially the geometric parameters of the product when buying.

For example, you opted for a square tile. All corners of the element must be absolutely right, that is, equal to 90 degrees. Any deviation, even the slightest, in the process of work will lead to the formation of uneven seams, and this will entail additional material costs and an unaesthetic appearance of the ceiling. The corners of the tiles must not be rounded or rounded off under any circumstances.

It is also very important to take into account the material from which the ceiling tile is made. Make sure that the edges of the polystyrene tiles do not crumble, and that the grains are the same size among themselves. Fine-grained tiles are considered to be of the highest quality.

A polystyrene foam plate, if it is of good quality, will not break under its own weight when you hold it around the corner. The pattern must be clear and uniform throughout the package. Any flaws, dents and deformations are strictly not allowed.

Ceiling tile adhesive: the right choice is the key to success

Have you ever thought about how important it is to choose the right adhesive for a particular job? Many people mistakenly believe that "glue is also glue in Africa," and whatever you take it will still stick to glory. True, then you have to redo the repairs again, spending even more money and time on it.

It is not in vain that manufacturers of construction and repair materials have been distributing adhesives according to a narrow specialization for many years. It can be considered a marketing ploy that there are a huge variety of types of glue for the same ceiling tile on store shelves. But the fact is obvious: with glue for pressed tiles, you are unlikely to properly attach injection tiles to the ceiling. What features should be considered in order to choose the right option?

1. First, the adhesive should provide your ceiling covering with many years of service without the need to modify individual elements from time to time.
2. Secondly, the glue must have high bonding properties to ensure ease of use. Working with a ceiling is much more difficult than working with a floor or even a wall, so it is important to attach each tile to the surface as quickly as possible.
3. Third, it is very important to take into account the consumption of glue. The higher the level of adhesion of the substance, the less you will use it, saving significantly on materials.
4. Fourthly, the glue should adhere equally well to the surface in both small and large layers. This is due to the fact that in many houses the floors are uneven, which creates differences between the slabs of about 2 cm. In such cases, more glue may be needed to prevent the tiles from falling off. You can pre-align the ceiling, but this is a time consuming and expensive procedure.

First you need to determine how many tiles you need for the entire ceiling area. The calculation is quite simple: you need the ceiling area and the exact size of each plate. The standard ceiling tile size is 50 X 50 cm.

It may turn out that the dimensions of the ceiling and the sides of the tiles are not multiples. This will lead to gaps at the edges. For this particular case, experts recommend buying 10-15% more tiles than with a preliminary calculation. This will also insure you against rejection or pruning errors.

How to glue ceiling tiles correctly: we describe the workflow step by step

Glueing the ceiling tiles with your own hands is not a difficult task, and therefore many do this work themselves. Beginners will definitely need our advice.

1. First of all, you need to mark the center of the area to be trimmed. Pull two strands in from the diagonal corners. The intersection of the threads will be the very center.
2. You can start working from the chandelier, taking its location as the center. You will need to cut the corners of the plates at the docking point at the wire. At the end of the work, you will close this gap with a curly glass attached to the chandelier rod.
3. The fastest and easiest way is to stick the tiles from the wall row by row. If you have chosen this option, then take into account one nuance: you need to lay the first row against the wall opposite the front door or window. Thus, the gaps closed by partial fragments will not be visible. Carefully cut the shims around the edges of the tile before gluing it. Thus, you get a seamless ceiling tile with a perfectly flat surface.
4. Do not forget to observe the symmetry of the pattern at the joints of the elements. Any deviation can disrupt the entire finish.

There are several options for placing tiles on the ceiling in relation to the walls in the room. Most often, parallel and diagonal arrangement is used. The tile can be monochromatic, colored and combined. For the combined option, there are the following location methods:

1. • Snake;
   • Alternating diagonals;
   • Intersecting diagonals;
   • In the center of the ceiling;
   • Along the perimeter of the ceiling;
   • Staggered.

After all the work is completed, install the skirting boards around the perimeter of the ceiling. If you chose plastic skirting boards, use the same glue as for the tiles, if wooden, it would be more correct to fix them with nails or screws.

Seamless ceiling tiles: what are their advantages?

Seamless ceiling tiles are almost ideal if you want your ceiling to look noble. In fact, this is a tile made of expanded polystyrene familiar to us, but its edges are decorated in such a way that the joints are almost invisible. This material is very fond of interior designers, because it allows you to transform any room without much time.

1. Seamless ceiling tiles are made of expanded polystyrene by hot stamping. This method compresses the sheets to a thickness of about 5 mm.
2. The usual size of models of seamless ceiling tiles is 50 X 50 cm, while there are usually 8 such tiles in a package. This allows you to tiled a ceiling of 2 square meters without much effort and measurements.
3. Tiles can have both smooth and wavy contours. The form is designed in such a way that the joining is as easy as possible, and the transition of the pattern at the joints is perfectly observed.
4. The design execution of seamless tiles is very diverse: imitation of plaster moldings, natural texture of stone or wood, wood carvings.

The advantages of seamless ceiling tiles are obvious:

1. • Low cost;
   • Refractoriness;
   • Moisture resistance;
   • Easy to maintain;
   • Possibility of painting in any color.

Plus, seamless tiles make it easy to hide the unevenness of the ceiling, and you don't have to level up.

Preparing the ceiling surface for the installation of seamless tiles

You don't need any special skills to install seamless tiles - it is practically no different from gluing simple tiles. But you will need to perform some preparatory operations. Their quality will determine how effective your ceiling will look afterwards.

1. First of all, thoroughly clean the surface of the ceiling from the previous finishing materials: remove the old wallpaper with a spatula, clean off the paint with a metal brush, wash off the whitewash to concrete.
2. Be sure to remove the chandelier from the ceiling or dismantle the lamps, insulate the wires from the lighting fixtures.
3. Cover the ceiling with several coats of primer. Modern adhesives allow you to attach tiles directly to concrete, but the primer increases adhesion, so it will not be superfluous.

After the preparatory measures are completed, proceed directly to gluing the tiles. This process has several features that are worth paying attention to:

• It is advisable, having opened the package with the tiles, leave it to lie in the room where you plan to mount it;
• To make it easier for yourself, apply the markings on the ceiling as described in the third part of the article;
• Be sure to remove any glue that comes out of the gaps immediately so that the tiles will not be damaged after it dries.

Glue tiles to whitewash

Yes, this option is also possible. We often face such a need, and it is not always possible to get rid of the whitewash layer. In order to cope with this kind of work, there are two methods:

1. Apply a primer over the old layer of whitewash. This product will soak into the old coating and adhere to the main surface of the ceiling. Wait until the primer coat is completely dry and start finishing.
2. When using the second method, you will need to partially scrape off the layer of whitewash with a spatula in those places where it peeled off. When gluing tiles to such places, apply the adhesive on the wrong side with a thicker layer, and press it against the ceiling for a few minutes. Thus, the glue will saturate the whitewash layer and set to overlap.

It is undesirable to glue the tiles to the whitewashed ceiling in several layers. Such a layer, weighted with glue, will surely collapse over time. Ceilings treated with frozen lime are also not suitable for tiling. The fact is that such a solution will crumble like dust, and the glue will not have a setting zone.

Be sure to clean the ceiling before work: sweep it from debris and cobwebs and wipe it with a wet rag.

Video on how to glue ceiling tiles

We hope that our article has shown you all the simplicity and ease of installation of ceiling tiles. Surely these tips will help you in the process, and if you have any questions, ask them in the comments, and we will be happy to answer them. Please leave advice, suggestions, share your experience in gluing ceiling tiles with our readers. Comfort for your home!