Nail up tin ceiling tiles from American Tin Ceilings are the original plated steel ceiling
panels that date back to teh 1800's. Initially popularized at the turn of the century, they
still add a beautiful design element today. Nail up tin ceiling tiles require a plywood
substrate or furring strips in order to effectively support the panels. 3/8 inch plywood, 7/16
inch Oriented Strand Board, or furring strips every 12 inches running perpendicular to your
joyce are sufficient to hold the weight. With just a few tools, you'll be able to install
your nail up ceiling. You will need a 4 ft level or t-square, a chalk line, a box of
cone head nails or braid nailer, a tape measure, and a pair of tin snips. Depending on the
height of your ceiling you may also need a ladder or scaffolding. Many people find that
a guillotine cutter and a rotozip tool can also be useful. Before you begin, you will
need to determine your ceiling level layout. Our easy to use project planner and dedicated
staff of experts are here to assist, providing you with helpful design tips and ideas. Once
you've determined your ceiling's layout you'll want to transfer your perimeter measurements
to the ceiling by using chalk lines. We've already transferred our measurements and snapped
our chalklines. We're now ready to insteall our first tile. Attach the first panel at
your starting point. Line up the nail flange with the chalkline and nail it to the substrate.
The flanges have small dimples along the edges called beads. Line up your panels by overlapping
the beads then nail the panels along the rail every six inches. making sure your nail rails
alingn and your pattern remains square. Use tin snips or a rotozip tool to cut around
any existing fixtures. Begin by drilling a hole to start your cut. When you reach the
perimeter you can crop your tin panels to sit flush against the wall. Or, install filler
panels in the remaining area. Once you have installed the final perimeter panels, crown
molding can be added to provide a professional, complete look. Molding is offered in four
foot lengths. With pre-minored corners speeding up installation. Gaps and spaces can be caulked
with color and clear caulk and painted to match the tin. Nails and exposed metal edges
can also be concealed with touchup paint available at most paint or hardware stores. Remember,
if you have any questions during installation the team at AmericanTinCeilings.com is happy
to help and available to assist at any stage of the process.