Ceiling Grid - Main Beams and Cross Tees

Tip 7: Bending hanger wire

Bend hanger wires so the bottom of the main beams are level with the bottom of the molding.

Tip 8: Using "Shenk clips"

These handy "Shenk clips" hold the leveling line to the molding on each side of the room. It¿s an easy way to clip main beams or cross tees to the wall molding. You can order Shenk clips through your Armstrong ceiling distributor.

  Tip 9: Supporting the main beam

Twist excess wire tightly around the support stand three times.

Tip 10: Squaring the grid

It is important that the grid is squared accurately. There¿s more than one way to do this:

Method One

1. Stretch a string from one end of the room to the other where the first main beam will hang.
2. Stretch a second string from one side of the room to the other, where the first row of cross tees will be placed. The cross tee notches must line up across each row of mains.
3. Square these strings by stretching the first string. Then use a plumb bob and a 3-4-5 triangle to stretch the second string. Or, you can use a laser to determine the location of these strings.

Method Two

1. Stretch the first string from one end of the room to the other where the first main beam will hang.
2. Install the first main beam of the first row of mains, cutting the end so a cross tee notch falls at the calculated border panel distance from the end wall.
3. Cut border cross tees to the side wall and clip to the wall molding. Align the main to the string.
4. Install the first section of the second row of mains, cutting the end so a cross tee notch falls at the same calculated border panel distance from the end wall.
5. Place two 4' cross tees between the main beam sections in line with the cut border tees. This will create a 2' x 4' opening in the grid.
6. Measure across the diagonals of this opening. They should be the same. If the measurements differ, trim one of the main beam ends until the measurements are equal.
7. Now this section of grid is square. Stretch the second string through the center of the cross tees where they meet the two mains.
8. Use this string to measure and cut main beams so the cross tee locations in each succeeding row of mains are aligned.