Installation & Assembly

Installation Guide

If you have any questions, please call:

1-888-231-7500 or visit us online at

www.AmericanTinCeilings.com

NAIL-UP CEILING INSTALLATION

Required Substrate Material: 3/8” Plywood • 7/16” OSB Board • Furring strips on 12” centers

1. Determine the center point of the ceiling by snapping a chalk line diagonally from corner to corner of the ceiling. The

“X” where the chalk lines intersect is the center of your ceiling.

2. Set your ﬁrst ceiling tile with the edges square to wall in the center of the “X” of your chalk

line. Using an 18 gauge brad nail gun or cone head nails, nail your tile to the ceiling. Note: If

hand-hammering the nails, you will want to use a small piece of wood with a 1/2” hole. This

will prevent you from accidentally hammering your panels, which will dent if hit with your

hammer.

3. Install the remainder of the ﬁeld tiles by lining up the dimples on the panels. When possible, you want to have your

overlapping seams facing away from your main entry point of the room. In most cases when installing a 24” pattern,

ﬁller panels will be needed because of the deep proﬁle embossment of the panels. For example, if your room is 11’ x

13’, you would install your ﬁeld panels in a 10’ x 12’ area in the center of the room and then install 12” of ﬁller panels

around the perimeter. This creates a uniform look and allows your molding to sit ﬂush with the ceiling, as it is overlap-

ping the ﬁller panels.

4. In most installations, you will use ﬁller panels and can use ﬂat molding for a smooth transition between the ﬁeld panels

and the ﬁller panels (refer to the ﬂat molding installation guide on page 9).

5. If you have light ﬁxtures you will need to lay them out on the back of the ceiling panel as you

reach them. Measure from the edge of your ceiling tile and mark out your ceiling ﬁxture place-

ment. Drill a hole in the center of the layout, then use tin snips to cut away the material. You can

do this by either cutting at 90 degrees to the lay out mark, then cutting the perimeter mark out, or

by cutting a spiral to your layout mark (cutting in a circle). You can now install your beauty rings

for the lights.

6. If the ﬁeld panels go wall to wall then you are ready to install the molding (refer to the Crown Molding and/or Flat

Molding instructions).

7. Finally, caulk the joints in the ceiling tiles and the molding if necessary. You can also touch up any nail heads with touch

up paint.

TOOL/SUPPLIES REQUIRED:

• Tape measure

• Straight edge (framing square or 4” level)

• Chalk line

• Fine point Sharpie

• Cone head nails or 18 guage brad nail gun with brad nails

• Tin snips

• Ladder or scaffolding

• Hammer

• 1/2” drill bit

• Drill

If you have any questions, please call:

1-888-231-7500 or visit us online at