Armstrong suspended ceiling has recently become very popular and is widely used in decoration office premises, supermarkets, pharmacies, various public and cultural buildings. The only place where it is not used is residential premises. One of the reasons is that the composition of the slabs suspended ceilings until recently it included asbestos, which is a carcinogenic material. Otherwise, these ceilings have a whole series positive properties.
What is an Armstrong suspended ceiling?
The Armstrong suspended ceiling is easy and quick to install, which has great value with the huge areas of modern supermarkets. Armstrong consists of:
- Light frame;
- Suspension system made of wire or special strings;
- Clamping tabs that are attached to reinforced concrete slabs ceilings using dowels;
- Modular slabs, the size of which is usually 600x600 mm.
The most labor-intensive operation when installing an Armstrong suspended ceiling with your own hands is the installation of a frame consisting of a wall profile and a main frame made of a T-shaped profile, having a length of 3.7 m; 1.2 m; 0.6 m. The slabs that are placed inside the frame cells can be varied - from any material, in various colors, with different acoustic characteristics. When installing such ceilings, luminaires measuring 600x600 mm are used - raster, matching in size with the ceiling tiles and having fluorescent lamps, and there can also be spotlights of various types.
Advantages and disadvantages of Armstrong ceiling
The widespread use of Armstrong-type suspended ceilings indicates the presence positive qualities:
- The design of the suspended ceiling is lightweight, which makes it possible to use these ceilings over large areas without any problems;
- All structural elements made of non-flammable materials;
- Armstrong slabs have soundproofing characteristics, which allows them to be used in rooms associated with sound reproduction;
- With its help you can hide all communications located on the ceiling;
- It is quickly installed and has a low cost.
Like everyone else building structures, in addition to the positive qualities, there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage of such ceilings is their very poor resistance to moisture in any form - if water gets in, the slabs become unusable.
Types of slabs for suspended ceilings
According to the installation method, there are two types of ceiling tiles:
- Classic type, which are inserted into the frame from the inside;
- Modern slabs that snap into place when installed outside.
Snap-on ceiling tiles
Based on appearance, quality and special characteristics, Armstrong slabs are divided into:
- Economy series - have normal characteristics and a fairly reasonable price, are not installed in places with high humidity;
- Prima series is a higher class, characterized by increased moisture resistance, the presence of six types of surface, and has greater durability;
- Acoustic series - special slabs with increased sound insulation characteristics;
- Hygienic series – characterized by increased antibacterial properties. They are used when installed in medical institutions;
- Moisture-resistant series - boards intended for use in rooms with high degree humidity.
Necessary tool
To perform high-quality work when installing an Armstrong ceiling on your own, you must purchase the following tool:
- Tape measure, black marker;
- Laser or water level;
- Hacksaw for metal;
- Painting knife with a set of spare blades;
- Chop cord;
- Rotary hammer with a set of drills 6, 8, 10 mm;
- Screwdriver;
- Metal scissors;
- Bricklayer's level;
- Extension cord for connecting power tools;
- Square;
- Hammer.
Calculation of suspended ceiling
When ordering a suspended ceiling, you only need to know the area in square meters. Based on this value, it is possible to calculate required quantity components of the frame and suspensions. There is a calculator to determine all the necessary components.
Design « Armstrong »
The suspended ceiling includes a frame, suspension system and slabs. The frame consists of:
- Bearing profile T24 or T15, length 3.6 m;
- Cross profile T24 or T15, 1.2 m long and 0.6 m long;
- Corner wall profile 19/24.
The frame is attached to the ceiling using a suspension system, which consists of:
- A string with an eye at one end;
- A string with a hook at one end;
- Butterfly springs with 4 holes.
Frame diagram Installation of suspended ceiling Armstrong
Preparatory stage
Before the start self-installation Armstrong suspended ceiling, all work on laying communications must be completed - electrical cables, ventilation ducts, etc. Do-it-yourself installation of an Armstrong suspended ceiling begins with detailed marking of the ceiling. The surface of the future ceiling must be strictly horizontal. This can be easily checked using laser level, which shows a horizontal line across all four walls. Our task is to determine the depth of the false ceiling, i.e. the distance from the floor slabs to the planned ceiling level. In this case, the height of the laid communications is taken into account and 100-120 mm is added. Using a tape measure, we transfer the marks in the corners of the room from the laser mark to the level of our ceiling and make marks with a marker. Then, using a tapping cord, we mark the lines. We smear the cord with graphite, apply it to the marks in the corners and beat off lines along all the walls. As a result, we have the level of our ceiling and are ready to proceed to the next stage.
Frame installation
Along the perimeter of the room, using the drawn line, we proceed to install an L-shaped profile with a section size of 24x19 mm. Depending on the material of the walls, dowels with a diameter of 6-8 mm are used for this purpose. The corner or, as experts call it, the starting profile is attached to the wall with dowels and screws every 500 mm. It must be remembered that the painted side of the profile should be facing down. At the corners of the rooms, the profile is cut at an angle of 45 degrees with a hacksaw.
The next step: we need to determine the center of our room. To do this, we connect two opposite corners in pairs and mark the intersection point. From the center across the room, 1.2 m are laid out in each direction - this is the step of the supporting profile of section T24 or T15. The supporting profiles are fixed to the ceiling using hangers. The length of the supporting profiles is 3.6 m; if necessary, they can be connected using special locks.
The suspension consists of two strings, at the end of one there is a loop for a screw, at the end of the second there is a hook. The strings are connected using a 4-hole butterfly. After attaching the supporting profiles, after 1.2 m we begin to attach transverse profiles T24 or T15 with a length of 1.2 m and 0.6 m - they are inserted into special slots in the supporting profiles. In this case, there should be formed frame construction in the form of cells with a cell of 600x600 mm.
Scheme of fastening frame profiles Important! All dowels for attaching hangers must be installed very firmly so that sagging does not occur during operation due to the dowels being pulled out.
The plane of the frame is checked with a level and adjusted using hangers.
Installation of ceiling slabs
The installation of an Armstrong suspended ceiling is completed by installing the ceiling tiles into the finished frame. After two or three days, the horizontal surface is checked and, if necessary, corrections are made.
Types of ceiling lamps
There are several types of lamps used in Armstrong suspended ceilings.
– lamps specially produced for ceilings of this type, 600x600 mm in size. They can be staggered instead of ceiling tiles. The only requirement: additional hangers are installed on the slatted frame in the places where the lamps are installed. Such lamps are equipped with fluorescent lamps.
also available in sizes 600x600 mm or 1200x600 mm and equipped with LED lamps.
– can be used in suspended ceilings; holes are made for them in the center of the ceiling slabs.
Video on the topic
Conclusion
The Armstrong-type suspended ceiling has a large number of positive qualities, which allows it to be successfully used when repair time and budget are limited. This ceiling can be easily repaired - installation is quite simple and does not require the involvement of highly qualified specialists.
Armstrong tile ceiling is the most popular among suspended systems. It is appreciated both in offices and in private apartments for its many advantages, but it also has disadvantages. Next, all the intricacies of installing an Armstrong ceiling will be discussed and tips and recommendations for using this coating will be given.
System Features
The exact name of this type of coating is a tile-cellular suspended ceiling. In our country, it is traditionally called Armstrong after the American manufacturing company. It was this company that began producing, among many others, more than 150 years ago building materials slabs from natural fiber. Similar slabs are now used to install Armstrong-type ceilings. Although the design and installation technology of such suspension systems have changed somewhat, the name remains as a common noun.
Armstrong tile-cellular ceiling coverings are frame systems made of metal profiles, suspensions, which are attached to concrete base and mineral slabs, which are directly covered. The material for them is obtained from mineral wool with the addition of polymers, starch, latex and cellulose. The color of the slabs is predominantly white, but decorative coverings may have other colors. Frame parts are made of light metals: aluminum and stainless steel.
The weight of one mineral slab can be from 1 to 3 kg, the load per 1 sq. m. it turns out from 2.7 to 8 kg. Products have mainly white, they are quite fragile, susceptible to moisture and high temperatures, so they are stored in reliable moisture-proof packaging. Such slabs are cut with a regular paint knife. There are also more durable options made from latex and plastic; these require a harder tool for processing.
Advantages ceiling coverings Armstrong types are as follows:
- lightness of the entire structure and ease of installation;
- the ability to hide all unevenness and defects of the ceiling;
- safety and environmental friendliness of the material;
- the ability to easily replace slabs with defects;
- good noise protection.
Suspended ceilings after installation form voids in which they are usually hidden electrical cables and other communications. If repairs or installation of new wiring are required, then it is easy to get to it by removing several plates, then they are simply put in place.
Ceilings of this type have their disadvantages:
- since they are installed at a certain distance from the ceiling, they take away the height from the room, too much low rooms It is not recommended to install the Armstrong system;
- mineral slabs are quite fragile, they are afraid of water, so it is better not to install them in rooms with high humidity;
- Armstrong ceilings are sensitive to temperature changes.
Usually, based on these disadvantages, they choose certain places, where Armstrong ceilings are installed. The leaders here are offices, institutions, corridors in various buildings. But often apartment owners make similar coverings when renovating, most often in the hallways. In rooms where there may be high humidity, for example, in kitchens, the problem is also easily solved - put special types Armstrong coatings: hygienic with protection from steam, grease adhesion and functional, moisture resistant.
How to calculate the amount of materials?
To calculate the amount of materials for installing suspended Armstrong ceilings, you generally need to know what parts they are assembled from.
Needed for installation standard products with dimensions:
- mineral slab - dimensions 600x600 mm - this is the European standard, there is also an American version 610x610 mm, but it is practically not found here;
- corner profiles for walls – length 3 m;
- main guides – length 3.7 m;
- cross guides 1.2 m;
- cross guides 0.6 m;
- suspensions with adjustable height for fastening to the ceiling.
Based on the area (S) and perimeter (P), the number of required elements is calculated using the formulas:
- mineral plate – 2.78xS;
- corner profiles for walls – P/3;
- main guides – 0.23xS;
- transverse guides – 1.4xS;
- number of hangers – 0.7xS.
In these calculations, the number of whole parts is rounded up. But you need to understand that only with a visual picture can you imagine how it is actually more convenient and beautiful to cut slabs and profiles in a room. So, for example, for 1 m2 you need approximately 2.78 pieces of standard Armstrong slabs, rounding up. But it is clear that in practice they will be trimmed with maximum economy in order to use as little trimming as possible. Therefore, it is best to calculate the material standards using a drawing with the lattice of the future frame.
Additional items
As additional elements Armstrong ceiling frames are equipped with fastening units, which are fixed to concrete floor pendants. For them, you can use a regular screw with a dowel or a collet. Another additional component is lamps. For such a design, they can be standard, with dimensions of 600x600 mm and simply inserted into the frame instead of a regular plate. The number of lighting fixtures and the frequency of their insertion depends on the design and the desired level of lighting in the room.
Additional components for Armstrong ceilings can be decorative plates with patterns or squares with round cutouts in the middle for recessed spotlights.
Preparatory work
Next point technological map Installing Armstrong ceilings means preparing the surface. This type of finishing visually hides all defects of the old ceiling, but it is not protected from mechanical damage. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to remove the old coating - plaster or whitewash, which can peel off and fall onto the mineral slabs. If existing material If it sticks tightly to the ceiling, you don’t have to remove it.
If the ceiling is leaking, it needs to be waterproofed, since Armstrong ceiling slabs are afraid of moisture. Even if they are functional and moisture-resistant, this will not save the future ceiling from major leaks. As waterproofing material You can use bitumen, waterproof polymer plaster or latex mastic. The first option is cheaper, the last two, although more expensive, are more effective and harmless to living space. Existing seams, cracks and crevices must be sealed with alabaster or gypsum putty.
Armstrong ceiling construction technology allows the frame to be placed at a distance of 15-25 cm from the floor slab. This means that thermal insulation can be placed in the free space. For this purpose, various insulating materials are used: polystyrene foam, mineral wool, expanded polystyrene. They can be attached to the old ceiling using an adhesive base, screws, or use a rigid frame metal profile, wooden slats. Also at this stage the necessary electrical wiring is laid.
The following Armstrong installation instructions include markings. A line is drawn along the walls along which the perimeter corner profiles will be attached future design. Marking can be done using a laser or regular level from the lowest corner in the room. The mounting locations for Euro-suspensions are marked on the ceiling. It would also be useful to draw all the lines along which the transverse and longitudinal guides will go. After this, you can begin installation.
Installation
It is very easy to install the Armstrong system with your own hands, 10-15 sq. m of covering can be installed in 1 day.
For assembly you will need the following tools:
- laser or bubble level;
- roulette;
- drill or hammer drill with concrete drill;
- Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver;
- metal scissors or grinder for cutting profiles;
- screws or anchor bolts.
The good thing about the elements of such ceilings is that they are universal; the parts from any company are identical and are made up of guides and adjustable suspensions with the same fastenings. All profiles, except for the corner ones for walls, do not require self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws; they are connected using their own fastening system. Therefore, to install them, you do not need extra tools and materials.
Installation begins with securing the corner guides around the perimeter. They need to be fastened with the shelves down so that the top edge runs exactly along the previously marked line. Self-tapping screws with dowels or anchor bolts are used, pitch 50 cm. In the corners, where the profiles join, they are cut off a little and bent.
Then in old ceiling you need to screw in the fastening units and hang all the metal hangers on them by the upper hinges. The layout of the fasteners should be such that the maximum distance between them does not exceed 1.2 m, and from any wall - 0.6 m. In places where heavier elements are placed: lamps, fans, split systems, additional hangers must be fixed, at some offset from the location of the future device .
Then you need to assemble the main guides, which are attached to the hooks of the suspensions in special holes and hung on the shelves of corner profiles around the perimeter. If the length of one guide is not enough for the room, then you can build it up from two identical ones. The lock at the end of the rail is used as a connector. After collecting all the profiles, they are adjusted horizontally using a butterfly clamp on each hanger.
Next you need to assemble the longitudinal and transverse slats. They all have standard fasteners that fit into slots on the side of the guides. After complete installation frame, its horizontal level is checked once again for reliability.
Before installing mineral slabs, you must first install lamps and other built-in elements. This makes it easier to pull the necessary wires and ventilation hoses through the free cells. When everything electrical appliances in place and connected, then proceed to fixing the slabs themselves.
Blind mineral slabs are inserted diagonally into the cell; lifting and turning, you need to carefully lay them on the profiles. You should not put too much pressure on them from below; they should fit effortlessly.
During subsequent repairs, installation of new lamps, fans, laying cables or decorative panels, the laid slabs are simply easily removed from the cells, and after the work they are also placed in their place.
It's worth remembering that different options finishing materials can be used for various institutions. For entertainment venues, schools, clubs, cinemas, it is worth choosing Armstrong acoustic ceilings with increased sound insulation. And for canteens, cafes and restaurants, hygienic plates are specially made from a material that is resistant to grease stains and steam. Moisture-resistant elements containing latex are installed in swimming pools, bathhouses, and laundries.
Separate view Armstrong ceilings are decorative slabs. Usually they do not have any useful physical properties, as described above, but they perform an aesthetic function. Some of them are excellent design options. There are mineral slabs with a three-dimensional pattern embossed on the surface, with different textures, reflecting light, glossy or matte, to match the texture different breeds wood So you can use your imagination when renovating.
Slab-cellular suspended ceiling (Armstrong type ceiling) or simply Armstrong ceiling is the most common type of suspended ceiling. Installing an Armstrong suspended ceiling with your own hands is child's play compared to installing other types of suspended ceilings, and Armstrong breaks all records in terms of cheapness. However, nothing is perfect. The Armstrong ceiling has both undeniable advantages and significant disadvantages.
What's good and what's bad about Armstrong?
Armstrong ceiling, in addition to ease of installation and low cost, also provides excellent sound and heat insulation. The inter-ceiling space is vast; lamps and communications are conveniently placed in it. Access to them and ceiling repairs are easy and do not require tools.
However, the Armstrong ceiling is not very strong and does not actually protect against leakage from above, and if the slabs are fibrous, then it itself is irrevocably deteriorated by moisture. It is impossible to obtain curved configurations with Armstrong, and the diagonal design of the ceiling negates all its simplicity and cheapness: only a highly paid master will undertake such work, and it will require a lot of time.
In terms of the height of the room, the Armstrong ceiling “eats off” at least 250 mm, so it can be found extremely rarely in city apartments. Nevertheless, the Armstrong ceiling is used not only in offices and supermarkets, as intended by its creators, but also in restaurants, entertainment centers etc. But in such cases, Armstrong is no longer economic, but design solution(see picture above).
How does Armstrong work?
The structure of the Armstrong-type ceiling is clear from the figure. Designations on it:
- Ceiling plate.
- Cross profile 600 mm long.
- Bearing profile 3700 mm long.
- Longitudinal profile 1200 mm long.
- Suspension, where 5a is a hook; 5b – rod.
- Perimeter (wall) profile 3000 mm long.
- Mounting unit in the base ceiling.
- Fragment of a ceiling slab.
Explanations for the picture:
The dimensions of the ceiling tiles are 600x600 and 1200x600 mm. The latter are almost completely out of use - the ceiling made from them is not strong enough.
Plates soft, mineral and organic are produced, and hard - metal and glass, mirror and with a pattern. Rigid slabs are heavy, so profiles and hangers for them require special, reinforced ones; respectively expensive. Mineral soft slabs are also almost never used: they contain harmful mineral wool. Organic boards are made from paper waste and are harmless. Soft boards are easy to cut with a mounting knife; hard boards require special tool; glass – diamond.
Profiles– painted metal or metal-plastic, with holes for hanging. Shelf width – 15 or 24 mm. Wall - L-shaped with a bend or just a corner; others - T-shaped. The profiles are connected along the length using spring locks or bendable tendrils. All profiles can be cut to size on the side opposite the lock.
Suspension consists of a pair of 6 mm metal rods, flat and with a hook, connected by a curved sheet spring with holes - a “butterfly”. By squeezing the butterfly, the rods can be moved, adjusting the height of the suspension, and when released, it fixes them tightly. The upper part of the even rod of the reinforced suspension is profiled for reliable fixation in the fastening unit.
Mounting unit– a regular dowel for a self-tapping screw or a metal collet. The latter is used for reinforced suspension or with a smooth, even rod. Such suspensions are required not only for hard ceilings, but also for places with concentrated loads: lamps, ventilation grilles, etc.
Ceiling fixing Armstrong is completely reversible and dismountable: a straight rod is driven or screwed into the fastening unit without disassembling the suspension, the profile is put on the hook and, squeezing the butterfly, the height is adjusted along the tightly stretched cord. To access the interceiling space, one of the plates is lifted and moved to the side. Close the opening in the reverse order.
About homemade stoves
Plates from wood materials(solid wood, laminate, MDF) for Armstrong for some reason are not produced, but in vain. This ceiling looks great. Wooden slabs for Armstrong, you can cut it yourself from boards 600 mm wide or narrower. In the latter case, each square is assembled in a cell on standard tongues, and the excess width is cut off evenly on both sides. If you use the cheapest “tin” for the frame under soft slabs, then each longitudinal plank will need to be supported with an additional suspension in the middle.
Armstrong ceiling equipment
For Armstrong ceilings, a wide range of 600x600 mm equipment is produced: raster and ceiling lamps, ventilation grilles, indoor units of air conditioners, etc. Round holes for spotlights in soft slabs they are simply cut with a mounting knife; You can also cut shaped holes. For hard slabs, of course, you need a special tool.
Factory Armstrong plates
Armstrong calculation
The Armstrong ceiling is installed according to the calculation results. The purpose of the calculations is twofold: to fit the ceiling harmoniously into the interior and to determine the consumption of materials for it. Calculating the perimeter is simple: we measure along the walls and round up to a multiple of 3 m. For installation in corners, the wall profile can be cut and bent like any corner.
As for the grating, manufacturers do not recommend cutting the slabs by more than half, i.e. up to less than 300 mm – additional cells appear, which requires extra work and materials. However, excessive trimming does not affect the strength of the ceiling, and the materials are cheap, so the slabs are often cut together, gradually reducing their width towards the walls. This gives the ceiling a less austere look.
Example No. 1: room width – 4.2 m = 7x0.6 m. We cut the slabs closest to the walls into 400 and 200 mm.
- Along the length of the room, the cut row belongs to the wall farthest from the entrance.
- The width of the scraps is supplemented by a solid size, the result is divided by 2 and a pair of slabs cut to that size are carried to the walls.
Example #2: width of the room – 2.7 m = 4x0.6+0.3 m. We take THREE rows of solid slabs 0.6x3 = 1.8 m along the width. Divide the remainder 0.6+0.3 = 0.9 m by 2. Rows of 45 cm slabs will be adjacent to the long walls. The number of frame cells will not increase.
Material consumption rates for rooms of a standard configuration are as follows:
For square rooms or with an aspect ratio of 3/4:
- Supporting profile 3700 mm – 0.80 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Longitudinal profile 1200 mm – 1.60 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Cross profile 600 mm – 0.80 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Hanging – 0.6 pcs/sq. m of ceiling.
For rooms with an aspect ratio of 2/3 to 1/2, the consumption rates increase slightly:
- Supporting profile 3700 mm – 0.84 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Longitudinal profile 1200 mm – 1.68 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Cross profile 600 mm – 0.87 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Perimeter profile 3000 mm – 0.5 m/sq. m of ceiling.
- Suspension – 0.7 pcs./sq. m of ceiling.
In any case, the obtained values are rounded to the nearest large integer values of standard length profile pieces or suspension. The perimeter is attached to the walls in increments of 0.6 m in the case of soft slabs without additional load or 0.3 m for a hard or loaded ceiling. Spotlights and plastic ventilation grilles are not considered additional load.
The specified standards are valid for premises with an area of 9-10 to 100-120 square meters. m. For other area values or for rooms of complex configuration, the calculation of the Armstrong ceiling is carried out using an online calculator, in a construction CAD system (computer-aided design system) or according to a diagram drawn to scale, see figure in the next section. The main rule is that load-bearing profiles should be positioned parallel to short walls, this strengthens the structure (fewer joints of load-bearing profiles) and saves material.
Suspension units
The rules for installing Armstrong ceilings provide for suspension by supporting profiles in increments of 1.2 m. The suspension units should be no further than 450 mm from the walls. The last condition is not always met. In this case, the rows of suspensions along the length of the room are arranged with a shift back and forth so that the suspension nodes are staggered.
Armstrong ceiling design diagram
Concentrated loads are supported by additional hangers located diagonally from the nearest main one. Very heavy earbuds (eg. indoor unit split systems or dynamic lighting installation) are supported in the corners and, if possible, located close to the wall.
Note: the hanger hook will not allow you to put it in the cell additional device, so additional suspensions need to be placed a little to the side.
When marking holes on the ceiling for the mounting units of the suspensions, no special precision is required: a slight tilt of the suspension can be easily compensated by adjusting its height. An example of an Armstrong ceiling design diagram is shown in the figure.
Ceiling frame installation
Installation of Armstrong ceilings begins with the installation of the perimeter. SNiP recommend using a laser or bubble level at least 1 m long to mark the height of the perimeter, but in practice, the height of the perimeter is often marked off from the opposite: they check the horizontalness of the floor (hack workers often do without this, and nothing, they hand over the work), make height marks in the corners and the three of them beat off the outline with a chalked cord. Fast, simple and angry.
Armstrong ceiling assembly diagram (click to enlarge)
Next, the wall profile is cut to size and attached to the brick and concrete walls self-tapping screws in dowels. If the walls are lined with wood, there will be no special weights in the ceiling, and raster lamps should not exceed 1 per 5 square meters. m, then the perimeter can be secured with nails: the main load is carried by the suspensions. It is strongly not recommended to mess around with hangers: use propylene dowels or use metal collets instead of dowels.
After marking and drilling holes in the ceiling, the supporting profiles are cut to size, connected to the floor into strips of the required length and laid in the perimeter. Then they are moved apart along the length, hangers are installed and each supporting bar is aligned according to the sag along a tightly stretched cord.
The next stage is the installation of longitudinal and transverse connections. Basically, two installation schemes are used: parallel and cross, see figure; longitudinal connections are highlighted in green. In terms of material consumption, they are equivalent. The cross pattern is somewhat more labor-intensive, but stronger, so it is used for places where communications will be laid or for additionally insulated ceilings. Of course, before installing the frame, partial profiles are cut to size.
Armstrong ceiling assembly
How to assemble an Armstrong ceiling? It’s very simple: the contents of the cells are lifted one by one, tilted, introduced into the inter-ceiling space and neatly placed into the cell. If it's at an angle, you can't press on top to straighten it out! You need to gently push from below in the corners.
First of all, concentrated loads are stacked and communications are connected to them. Then - slabs with pre-installed spotlights; Wires are immediately connected to the lamps.
Today you can find it very often. These hanging systems are very popular due to modern style. Installation of the Armstrong suspended ceiling is very simple and allows you to hide any ceiling communications.
Regular suspended ceiling Armstrong technical specifications has simply impressive:
- Noise reduction up to 39 dB
- Light reflection over 92%
- The ceiling deflection is only 2 mm at a temperature of +32 degrees and a humidity of 90%
In addition, the materials from which the ceiling plates are made are environmentally friendly and do not contain formaldehyde and asbestos.
In a room that has already been renovated. Compared to plasterboard ceilings, Armstrong does not require additional finishing (putty, painting, wallpaper).
Any type of lighting fixture can be built into them. The structure is attached to the floor slabs, but due to its low weight it does not place any serious load on them.
If you decide to use for finishing an apartment or country house Armstrong type suspended ceiling, then this great option. It will give the room a modern, stylish look.
The ease of assembly of the structure will not take much of your time, and will also allow you to avoid dust in the room. Almost any self-respecting home craftsman can do Armstrong with his own hands.
Calculation of the ceiling system kit
To know how to calculate an Armstrong suspended ceiling, you need to draw a floor plan (top view) and indicate on it the exact dimensions of each wall. To do this, use a measuring tape. To calculate the ceiling, you need to know what is included in its delivery.
Armstrong components are listed below:
- Decorative ceiling tiles 600 mm x 600 mm x 15 mm
- Wall corner (PU profile 19 x 24)
- Supporting profile type T 15 x 38 or T 24 x 38
- Cross profile type T 15 or T 24
- Universal suspension (spoke, spring)
- The number of wall corners is equal to the perimeter of the room. It is attached to the wall with dowel nails 6 x 40 mm in increments of 35-45 cm.
- The supporting profile for the Armstrong suspended ceiling is attached on hangers to the existing one along a long wall. The distance between the profiles is calculated in such a way that decorative plate measuring 600 x 600 mm lay on the shelves of two adjacent profiles.
- When to install the ceiling hanging Armstrong, the hangers are placed in increments of 1 m along the line of the supporting profiles. The lines must be drawn on the room plan and the points for attaching the suspensions must be indicated.
- The supporting profiles and the wall corner are connected to each other by jumpers. They are fastened in increments of 600 mm.
Important to know! Supporting profiles must be placed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the room.
These four simple rules, will help you easily calculate the number of elements for a suspended ceiling system. The calculation of Armstrong suspended ceilings is completed and you can proceed to the next operation.
How to assemble a suspended ceiling: marking the walls and ceiling
Important to know! The minimum height to which the ceiling can be lowered is equal to the height of the recessed lamp plus 1 cm (this is the technological gap).
Using a laser or water level, determine the horizontal plane of the ceiling to be assembled. To do this, make marks along the perimeter and connect them with masking plaster tape. The operation requires the presence of one assistant.
After marking the walls, mark the axes of the supporting profiles. To simplify the work, at a distance of 30 cm or 60 cm from the longest wall of the room (depending on how the axes are shown in the drawing), pull the cord parallel to the wall. The edges of the cord are tied to dowels driven into the walls. This is the first axis.
The second axis is tensioned perpendicular to the first, departing from the corner at a distance according to the drawing. The remaining supporting profiles are marked from the axes. On lines with a step of 1 m mark the installation points of universal hangers.
Installation of suspended frame
The galvanized wall corner is cut to size. The ends of the profile that meet at the corners are cut with metal scissors at an angle of 45 degrees. Holes are drilled in the corner in increments of 30-40 cm.
The corner profile is applied to the wall along the marking line and marks for the holes are made with a pencil. The holes are drilled with a drill and a concrete drill bit (or depending on the material from which the walls are made). After the holes are ready, dowels are driven into them with a hammer. The wall corner profile is secured to the wall with self-tapping screws.
According to the marks on the axes of the supporting profiles, 6 x 40 mm dowels are used to fasten the hangers. A hole is prepared using a drill and a concrete drill. A dowel is driven into it with a hammer. A self-tapping screw is screwed through the loop at one end of the suspension with a screwdriver. If dowel-nails are used, then the nail is driven into the dowel with a hammer.
The Armstrong suspended ceiling is attached to the hangers using a hook in the notch on the profile. The end of the profile should lie on the shelf of the wall corner. In order to increase the length of the profiles, they are joined together.
To do this, you can use ready-made joints or homemade plates cut from scraps of the same profile. The profile is cut to size using a grinder or a hacksaw. The profile height is adjusted with a universal suspension. A spring is installed to fix the position of the suspension spokes. It is quite rigid and can withstand high tensile forces. This will ensure reliable fastening structures with floor slabs.
A transverse profile is used for the construction of jumpers and structural rigidity. The supporting profile has grooves for the joint, and the cross profile has hooks. The hook and cutout (notch) form a reliable lock when connected.
Important to remember! There should be an angle of 90 degrees between the supporting and transverse profiles. Check this condition with a construction corner.
At the wall, the hook of the transverse profile can be cut so that it fits on the shelf of the wall corner. After assembling all the frame elements, you can proceed to installing the lighting wiring.
Installation of lamps
Before starting work, make sure that all electrical communications (wires) do not have exposed ends and are laid in protective corrugated pipes.
This precaution will prevent possible damage electric shock and emergence short circuits wiring. Perform the wiring electrical wires to the locations of lighting devices. At the connection points of the lamps, the corrugation is cut, and the wire is pulled out in a loop.
Raster fluorescent lamps are often used. Their size of 600 x 600 mm allows them to fit precisely on the shelves of the load-bearing and cross profiles. In addition, daylight is wonderfully diffused throughout the entire room thanks to large mirror reflectors. For lighting, you can use recessed spotlights. For this purpose in decorative ceiling panel Carefully cut a hole equal to the diameter of the lighting fixture.
Spotlights for Armstrong suspended ceilings have mounting springs. They are pressed out and the device is installed in the hole, after which they are smoothly released. Springs press the lamp to the panel.
Installation of ceiling panels
When the lighting fixtures are installed and connected, the cells suspended ceiling fill out decorative panels. If necessary, they are cut to size using a pencil, ruler and a construction or stationery knife. If applicable metal panels, they are trimmed with a grinder.
The installation of the suspended ceiling is complete. A video on installing suspended ceilings will help you visually familiarize yourself with the process
Armstrong presented above.
Today, few would deny the popularity of suspended ceiling systems - and this applies not only to classic ceilings made of plasterboard sheets, but also slatted ceilings, and even more so - Armstrong ceilings. That is why this article is entirely devoted to such an issue as installing an Armstrong ceiling with your own hands - after all, it is better to carefully study the technology than to spend money on paying for the services of hired craftsmen!
A few words about ceilings
Armstrong ceiling design
In order to thoroughly understand how the technology for installing these popular ceilings is carried out, we first need to understand what an Armstrong ceiling is.
The Armstrong type ceiling is one of the varieties. This means that it metal frame suspended from the ceiling at a certain height, and the main elements of the ceiling are mounted on the frame.
By its design, the Armstrong ceiling refers to ceilings with an open profile. This means that the frame elements are not hidden behind the cladding, but are located outside and are an integral part of the design of the entire ceiling.
The main element of Armstrong ceilings is slabs of pressed mineral fiber (sometimes called cassettes).
Armstrong ceiling cassettes are available in two sizes:
- Squares 600x600 mm;
- Rectangles 1200x600 mm.
The material for cassettes can be either standard or moisture resistant. Installation instructions ceiling structure Armstrong provides for the installation of such moisture-resistant cassettes in rooms with high level humidity, as well as in those rooms where there is a risk of moisture getting on the ceiling.
Advice! If you don't like it appearance slabs for the ceiling, you can always decorate their lower (i.e., outer) surface in any way convenient for you, from painting to covering with fabric or applying appliqués.
Reasons for popularity
Armstrong ceilings are traditionally used in office and industrial buildings. However, by showing imagination and choosing ceiling tiles with a suitable pattern and texture, we can safely install such a ceiling in a living space.
In this case, the ceiling will not only look decent, but also perfectly perform quite utilitarian functions:
- The Armstrong ceiling, as well as other suspended ceilings, perfectly masks defects and unevenness of the ceiling, and also hides communications such as pipes and wires.
- The installation diagram of the Armstrong ceiling system allows you to install built-in lighting fixtures, ventilation grilles, fire extinguishing system elements, etc.
- A number of Armstrong ceiling systems have improved soundproofing characteristics. Ceiling slabs are also produced from non-combustible material, which makes it possible to significantly increase the fire safety of the room.
At the same time, the ceiling has a fairly simple and understandable design. So almost every master can figure out how to install the Armstrong ceiling system.
It is precisely the analysis of Armstrong ceiling installation technology that we will now analyze.
We install the Armstrong ceiling
Tools and materials
What do we need to install the Armstrong ceiling?
To begin with, you need to purchase the components of the ceiling itself:
- Armstrong ceiling cassettes;
- Profile for frame;
- Spring hangers;
- Recessed lamps.
Pay attention! In some cases, to install the frame, not special hangers are used, but simply steel wire with a thickness of 2 mm or more. True, experts recommend using such a replacement only in extreme cases - for example, if the ceiling drops a significant distance from the ceiling, and the length of the existing suspension is not enough.
The volume of purchase directly depends on the area of the ceiling, and, as a rule, is easily calculated. As for profiles, for 10 m2 a pair of load-bearing profiles and 15-17 transverse ones are usually sufficient.
We will also need:
- Hammer;
- Screwdriver;
- Fastening elements;
- Scissors for cutting metal;
- Metal saw (preferably a circular saw);
- Level;
- Hammer and pliers.
As a rule, almost every master has such a set of tools.
Preparation for installation
The first stage, which includes instructions for installing the Armstrong ceiling structure, is marking.
Marking the ceiling includes determining the height of the ceiling and marking the ceiling for fasteners.
- To set the ceiling height using a laser level, a base line is drawn on the walls of the room along the entire perimeter - it is this line that will determine at what distance from we will place the Armstrong ceiling.
- The distance from the ceiling is determined both by the design of the room and by practical considerations - for example, the features of communications running along the ceiling, as well as the dimensions of the recessed lamps.
- After determining the height, we move on to marking the ceiling. We draw marking lines depending on the standard size of the slabs we have chosen and the characteristics of the frame. We mark where the hangers will be located.
In principle, marking the ceiling for an Armstrong ceiling is not difficult. The main thing is not to rush!
Frame and ceiling assembly
When the markings are applied, the most important stage begins - installation of the frame and assembly of the ceiling. This process is shown in detail in the video attached to this article - but we, for our part, will provide you with the most detailed description.
The installation technology of the Armstrong ceiling system includes the following operations:
- Along a horizontal line on the walls of the room we attach the corners - the support of our future ceiling. For fastening we use dowels with plastic sleeves.
- After securing the corners, we begin installing the hangers. Suspensions for ceiling We also fasten with plastic dowels into pre-drilled holes.
Advice! It is necessary to fasten the hangers after installing the corners, since the hooks of the hangers should in no case fall below the base level of the ceiling.
The result of our work should be a fairly rigid frame fixed to the ceiling and walls of the room.
We put it in the cells of the frame.
It is better to work with tile cassettes with gloves, and here's why:
- Firstly, Armstrong ceiling tiles get dirty quite easily. Therefore, there is no need to leave fingerprints on it.
- Secondly, skin contact with mineral fiber may cause irritation.
Installation of tiles is quite simple. We insert the tile into the corresponding cell of the frame, and, holding it from below, align it, placing it exactly on the guides.
Instead of tiles, we insert lamps into the corresponding cells, having previously connected them to the wiring hidden behind the frame.
This concludes our work. So if you carefully studied the article, and also watched the video about installing the ceiling, then you know exactly how to install the Armstrong ceiling system, efficiently and quickly!
