Finishing the ceiling with tiles is a budget repair method that is easy to carry out on your own. However, in most apartments, the evenness of the ceiling surface leaves much to be desired, and too large deviations on the plane create inconvenience in work, spoil the impression of the repair. If you know how to glue ceiling tiles on an uneven ceiling, you will get a monolithic surface.

Various materials are used to make ceiling tiles. So, fiberglass panels will provide reliable sound insulation. Other components used in the production of decorative boards include wood, expanded polystyrene, and light metals.

Expanded polystyrene (polystyrene, polystyrene) is considered a common and affordable option. Price, range of shades and surface textures are the distinctive features of such tiles.

According to the method of manufacture, it happens:

• pressed (stamped) - produced by pressing. The thickness of the segments is 6 - 8 mm;
• injection is made by sintering the components of expanded polystyrene. Product thickness - 9-14 mm;
• extruded is made from strips of polystyrene obtained by pressing. Finished tiles are painted or laminated.

According to the type of surface, the panels for finishing are divided into:

• laminated, covered with a protective film on the front side;
• seamless are characterized by smooth edges, after gluing the joints remain invisible;
• mirror ones are made of plastic, the front side of the segments is covered with a mirror layer.

How to solve the problem of uneven ceiling

Often, those who decide to stick ceiling tiles are faced with the problem of uneven overlap. But, if you know the technology of laying panels, the problem can be solved.

An easy way would be to install parts on an uneven ceiling. This is done with polystyrene foam, which hides minor height differences. But then you need to choose the appropriate size of the panels and pattern. For example, a large relief visually masks flaws more than a flat surface of tiles.

If the goal of finishing is to obtain not only even, but also durable decorative ceilings, it is better to pre-level the base base, and only then proceed to decorating the ceiling with tiles.

In this case, choose the following alignment methods:

• using putty mixture;
• installation of a frame base made of metal or foam.

How to glue ceiling tiles on an uneven ceiling: leveling with putty

Work begins with preliminary cleaning of the surface from the previous finish. To do this, use a mechanical method using water and a construction spatula. If this method does not help, they acquire special chemical compounds that corrode the old finish.

When the ceiling is cleaned, it is primed. Next, cracks are sealed on the surface, then the base is covered with a layer of putty in such a way as to remove irregularities and height differences. The layer thickness should not exceed 2 cm. The putty will hold better if a reinforcing mesh is glued to the ceiling.

After puttying, the ceiling is left to dry completely, then the plane is polished with fine-grained sandpaper. Sanding will make the surface smooth. At the end of the grouting work, the ceiling is again covered with a primer layer.

Construction of a foam frame for gluing tiles

This method is suitable for rooms with a flat ceiling plane, but with slight bulges. For example, if the ceiling is made of concrete slabs, the gaps between adjacent slabs are filled with putty, but the dried mixture protrudes from the plane. Then sticking the panels to such a base will not work.

To do this, construct a frame of foam strips:

• sheets are cut into strips, which are glued to the ceiling with a step corresponding to the width of the tile. As a result, one panel should lie on two strips;
• if the strip falls on an uneven area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe base, a recess is cut in the foam with a knife corresponding to the width of the unevenness.

When choosing the width of the strips, take into account the dimensions of the tiles that are supposed to decorate the ceilings. Such a frame is mounted only under light foam tiles.

After leveling the surface, proceed directly to gluing the panels. But first, they mark the ceiling for the ceiling tiles, choosing the method of mounting the segments:

• parallel to the walls - a simple option, used if the walls in the room are even. To do this, first the first row is glued from the wall, and then the following rows are laid one after the other;
• diagonally. Two lines are drawn on the ceiling from corner to corner, the intersection of which will be the starting point for installation. Then more lines are drawn along the diagonals;
• rhombus, when several squares are measured from the center of the ceiling, additional diagonals are drawn from each figure. The corner of the foam tile is placed in the center of the ceiling, and the sides of the part should run along the lines.

If the ceiling could not be leveled, then it is impossible to stick the panels on special adhesives. To mask minor height differences, glue is used under sheets of drywall or putty, which is diluted to the consistency of thick sour cream. So that the putty does not have time to dry out, the ceiling is smeared first for gluing the first four tiles, then the next four, etc.

The tile is laid on a layer of glue. The panels adhere well and move easily if a segment needs to be adjusted. First, the edges of adjacent elements are combined, and then set in a single plane using a rule or a building level.

If adhesive gets on the front of the panels, the composition is immediately removed with a damp cloth. The voids between adjacent parts are filled with sealant or putty. As a handy tool for masking joints, use a rubber spatula.

Thus, the problem of gluing tiles on uneven ceilings is easily solved. The main thing is to follow the technology when finishing.

Video how to glue ceiling tiles without seams

Currently, if it is necessary to quickly and inexpensively repair the surface of the ceiling, tiles made of polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene are often used. With the help of this finishing material, you can literally transform the appearance of rooms for various functional purposes.

The tile is fixed on the ceiling by gluing. It is quite possible to glue the facing ceiling tiles on your own, you just need to follow some technological subtleties and rules for performing the work. In this case, the original coating will delight its owners with an attractive appearance for many years without loss of performance.

Probably, only tiles will help to make the ceiling beautiful so quickly and inexpensively.

Ceiling tiles vary

Ceiling tiles, with the external similarity of its varieties, are different in density, surface smoothness and other parameters, on which performance characteristics and the time of trouble-free enjoyment of the coating largely depend. Depending on the manufacturing technology, the following types of ceiling tiles are produced:

• Extruded polystyrene foam has a good density and smooth surface. It is characterized by the highest price, but it is easiest to glue and care for it.
• The cheapest foam tiles produced by stamping. Its surface has a porous structure, into which dirt clogs during prolonged use. The material has low mechanical strength, easily breaks under bending loads, therefore, before gluing it, a margin of at least twenty percent should be provided.
• The so-called injection tile, which belongs to the middle price category. During manufacture, it is placed in a special mold and exposed to high temperatures. As a result, a clear pattern appears on the surface, the performance of the product is also average, and it is easy to glue such material.
• The most common shape is a square tile, while its edges are straight or in the form of a wave. In any case, the gluing method does not change, only the appearance becomes diverse. In terms of external design, there are many different options for the considered finishing material.

Styrofoam tile options for ceiling decoration

Choose a tile and count the number

Consider a few points that will help you choose the right material. When we choose a tile, we should take into account the totality of its technical characteristics and the specific conditions in which the latter will be used. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the accuracy of geometric dimensions and a good drawing of the pattern on the surface.

On the side cuts there should be no burrs and uneven edges, the edges should be located at a strictly right angle. An indispensable condition is the uniformity of the entire batch in terms of size, thickness and surface tone.

The number of tiles needed to glue it is not difficult to calculate. The standard form of the facing material is a square, the side length of which is half a meter. Four tiles are required to finish one square meter of surface.

Having determined the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ceiling and multiplying it by four, we get the desired result. As a result, we know how many pieces of tiles will be needed to cover the entire surface.

In the process of doing the work, you have to trim and fit the material for its high-quality styling. During installation, mechanical damage to some of the products is also possible.

As a result, when purchasing, a margin of about twenty percent should be provided so that there is no need to urgently go to the construction market in search of the same batch of material.

What kind of glue will we use

Of course, you need to know what glue to glue the ceiling tiles with. Most often, Titan glue or its analogues are used to fix the tiles, it can also be glued with liquid nails. The inconvenience of using these compounds lies in the fact that the tile coated with them has to be pressed against the surface for some time until the glue seizes. This creates certain difficulties when working on a ceiling with constantly raised hands.

The range of adhesive for tile stickers is wide enough

More convenient to use are commercially available special mastics for laying ceiling tiles. They have a paste-like sticky consistency that holds the facing material without prolonged pressing, gluing is greatly facilitated.

Such compositions are used in the absence of height differences on the ceiling surface. If it is uneven, gypsum-based putty or special Perlfix glue is used to lay the tiles. They allow you to simultaneously level the base and glue the facing material.

Preparing the surface for the sticker

After a visual inspection of the cleaned surface, the detected irregularities are repaired with putty. After it dries, a layer of primer is applied to the base. The surface prepared in this way is ready for gluing the ceiling tiles.

A few steps to prepare the ceiling for tiling

Layout scheme along the wall or diagonally

You can glue tiles in a variety of ways - placing them in a checkerboard pattern, diagonally or with edges along the walls, but its accurate installation requires accurate marking. Let's figure out how to properly mark the ceiling. First of all, the geometric center of the ceiling is determined, which is the intersection of lines. drawn from diagonally opposite corners. Through the intersection point along the walls and in the transverse direction, two more lines are drawn, located exactly at right angles to each other. Such marking is universal for any scheme of laying the facing material.

We glue the tiles with our own hands in different ways

You can stick tiles with your own hands in different ways. By choosing different colors, you can create the most daring geometric patterns, bringing design projects to life, but the main styling methods are as follows:

Starting from the geometric center of the ceiling, tiles are installed with side cuts parallel to the walls. You can use two colors of the material and arrange the square plates in a checkerboard pattern. The surface lined in this way well hides the defects of the ceiling.

The option of laying tiles diagonally can be very interesting.

The coating of elements located along the applied diagonal marking lines looks beautiful. In this case, the material consumption increases, since for accurate laying it will be necessary to trim the tiles, not all of which can be used.

Using two colors of tiles, a coiled snake can be laid out on the surface. Sticking also starts from the geometric center of the ceiling.

How to glue tiles on a flat ceiling

You can fix the tiles on a flat ceiling using Titanium glue or its analogues. The technology for performing the work is not particularly difficult. The following sequence of actions will be correct:

• a thin layer of glue is applied to the inner surface of the tile along the diagonal and perimeter;
• then it is installed in its place and pressed against the surface until the initial curing of the adhesive composition;
• laying of each subsequent tile is carried out with the most accurate combination of the pattern applied to the surface, while increased attention is paid to a good fit of the side surfaces;
• in places difficult for installation, the tile is cut.

Sticking tiles on a flat ceiling with ordinary glue

Side surfaces should fit together as tightly as possible. If a gap has formed between the tiles during installation, do not move them with your hands, as the material may break. To perform this manipulation, you need to use a wooden plank, it is applied to the side surface of the cladding element and the latter is moved to its place.

How to glue if the ceiling is uneven

In the event that the ceiling is uneven, laying tiles on an ordinary adhesive base is very problematic. To perform this work, putty compounds or special glue are used to fix drywall elements. The compositions are diluted to the consistency of a mixed dough and applied to the surface in the place of the smallest height difference, capturing an area on which approximately four tiles can be laid. This is done to level the coating until the initial curing of the adhesive mixture.

After laying four tiles, the resulting surface is leveled using a sufficiently long building level. The tool is applied to the coating, and pressure is applied to the surface in the right place to bring it into equilibrium.

A sticker with mastic helps to neglect irregularities

Then the next fragment of four elements is glued and again placed in the same plane. In this case, the thickness of the adhesive composition should not be increased by more than five millimeters, in which case the facing coating may fall off.

Cleaning and sealing seams

To obtain an impeccable appearance of the lined surface during the installation of tiles, certain technological subtleties must be observed.

Quite often it turns out that the adhesive composition falls on the outer surface of the tile. It should be removed immediately.

Immediately after installing the tile in place, its surface is cleaned of all traces of glue, otherwise it will be impossible to wipe off the smudges in the future, and they will spoil the appearance of the coating. To do this, keep a container with clean water of sufficient volume and cleaning material near the place of work.
Sealing gaps with sealant after tiling

The gaps remaining after laying the tiles between its side surfaces are filled with white putty and smoothed out with a rubber spatula. Surplus is wiped off immediately. Excellent results are obtained by using a special sealant based on acrylic. It has good adhesion to the material from which the facing tiles are made and perfectly masks surface defects.

Ceiling tiles can be painted

The simplest method of decorative finishing of the coating is its coloring. It is impossible to process seamless tiles in this way: the joints will clearly appear on the surface. The paint material must have water-repellent properties, prevent the reproduction of pathogenic microflora, and not attract dust pollution. These requirements are best met with water-based acrylic paints. Before applying them, the surface of the tile is covered with a primer layer.

The paint adheres very well to the tiles.

Painting is best done with a paint roller made of foam rubber, the use of such a tool makes it possible to obtain the most uniform coating layer. The technology for performing work is no different from painting walls covered with wallpaper - the application of the painting material is carried out in two layers. Thus, it is possible to realize unique design ideas - to create a unique pattern on the decoration of the ceiling.

Rules for the care of tiles on the ceiling

In order to keep the tiled ceiling surface in good condition, it must be maintained regularly. Over time, dust pollution is deposited on the coating, which give it a dark color.

Leaks in water pipes or a neighbor's flood form rusty spots on the surface. If you do not remove them in a timely manner, then it will be impossible to do so.

To prevent such consequences, the following rules for caring for tiles on the ceiling must be observed:

• using a vacuum cleaner, dry clean the coating at least once a month;
• every two months to carry out wet cleaning of the cladding;
• detergents should not contain aggressive chemicals and solvents;
• the drawings extruded on the surface are processed with a soft sponge moistened with a cleaning solution.

Water is retained in the recesses of the ceiling tiles after wet cleaning. It should be removed with a hygroscopic cloth, leaving no ugly streaks. Especially carefully should dry the surface of geometric decorative elements.

A beautiful and elegant ceiling not only decorates any room, but creates a cozy atmosphere in the house. Ceiling tiles are a way out for those who are fed up with the ideal evenness of the ceiling. Ornate patterns, imitation of stone or wood, a variety of colors help to enliven the interior of any room. Easy installation and budget added pluses to the popularity of this finish.

Types of ceiling tiles

Before choosing the right option, you need to figure out what kind of pvc tile is for the ceiling.

Today, manufacturers present this decorative ceiling covering in three types:

1. Pressed. This is the cheapest type of finish, the product is created by stamping. Thickness in finished form - from 6 to 8 mm. A seamless tile ceiling, imitating a solid coating, is most often represented by stamping.
2. extruded. Produced by pressing. Its surface is perfectly smooth, no graininess, as the product is painted or coated with a film. The thickness of the finished product is from 2.5 to 3 mm. This type of ceiling finish is distinguished by special strength and durability. It is this coating that perfectly imitates natural materials. If you need a wood effect ceiling tile, it will be extruded.
3. Injection. During its production, very high temperatures are used. Sintering gives the finished product increased strength. Thickness - 9-14 mm.

To save the budget, use pressed - its range is quite wide and varied. To create an exclusive design, extruded with a wide range of decorative properties is more suitable.

Wall marking rules

To create a work of art on your ceiling, it is not enough to buy a coating with an intricate pattern. Before you glue the ceiling tiles with your own hands, you need to decide how the coating will be installed. A stylish interior is created using multi-colored tiles, which are glued in a checkerboard pattern or in the form of a snake. The usual options are diagonal and straight.

Before you properly start gluing the ceiling tiles, you need to mark the ceiling. The scheme of future work will avoid trouble in the form of noticeable seams or violations of the pattern.

Markup from the center

The essence of the method is simple: connect the opposite corners of the room with a regular thread. The intersection of the lines is the center of the ceiling, from which the installation begins.

If you intend to glue the tiles to the ceiling diagonally, then no additional action is needed. The threads connecting the corners will serve as markings. The corner of the first square is placed in the designated center of the room. The rest are mounted relative to it.

For mounting in a straight line, you need to draw two more lines. Threads to determine the center divided the ceiling into four parts, forming triangles. For marking, you need to draw lines perpendicular to each other. The new lines pass through the vertex of each triangle at a 45 degree angle. Removing the threads with which we searched for the center of the ceiling, we get two lines of direct marking. The squares of the coating are laid relative to these lines.

Marking from the chandelier

Not always markup from the center will be a good option. The difficulty lies in the fact that the chandelier rarely hangs clearly in the geometric center of the ceiling. Due to the displacement of the light source, installation becomes more complicated - you will have to cut a hole for the lamp cable.

Where to start gluing ceiling tiles in this case? Experts advise gluing not from the geometric center of the ceiling, but from the chandelier. And the installation is easier, and the harmony in the interior is not broken.

The marking technology is the same, but you do not need to look for the center of the ceiling. Lines (straight or diagonal) are drawn through the chandelier hole.

Marking from the corner

Mounting from a corner is the most straightforward way to mark up. It simply won't be needed. The corner of the first square is mounted in the corner of the ceiling. If the sticker option is suitable in a straight line, the whole square is glued first.

Algorithm for mounting diagonally:

• Cut the square in half diagonally;
• Glue the resulting triangle into a corner;
• Glue the whole square with the second, connecting the side with the cut side of the glued one;
• Mount the remaining squares of the cover, respectively, the first two.

In order to hide the unevenness of the ceiling, use multi-colored tiles. It can be laid out in the form of a chessboard or a snake.

How to choose glue

If you decide to update the ceiling in a room or in the kitchen, then you will probably wonder what kind of adhesive is best for gluing ceiling tiles. A small overview of popular adhesives will help you make the right choice.

Before deciding what to glue the ceiling tiles on, you need to understand what requirements to apply to the candidate:

1. The glue should dry quickly. The strength of the coating and the speed of work depends on this.
2. The adhesive must be sufficiently viscous to hold the coating (even such a light one) on the ceiling.
3. The adhesive must be white or transparent so as not to spoil the appearance of the finished ceiling.
4. The glue must be universal in order to glue different surfaces.

So what is the best adhesive for ceiling tiles?

Glue Titanium for ceiling tiles has a high viscosity. This means you don't have to press it against the ceiling while waiting for the adhesive to set. Titanium is a popular adhesive for pvc tiles due to its affordable cost and versatility. It is suitable for gluing various materials, so the remaining glue is always useful in the household.

Clay Master for ceiling tiles has a too strong smell. You will have to work with it with an open window, and temperature changes will negatively affect the installation. The negative qualities of this glue can be safely attributed to the duration of drying. Even after several hours, the finish is easily moved.

Dragon Polymer All-Purpose Adhesive also has an unpleasant, persistent odor and a drying time.

Acrylic putty is usually used for finishing work before painting or wallpapering. But its qualities - density and good tenacity - allow it to be used for finishing the ceiling.

When choosing how to glue the tiles, you need to pay attention to the convenience of packaging. Tile glue in tubes is much more convenient to use than in cans.

Installation of tiles on the ceiling

Installation of a new ceiling coating is carried out after surface preparation. In this case, the old coating can be left in place.

If you still do not know what to glue first: wallpaper or ceiling tiles? To this tricky question, experts say there is no difference in the order in which the work is done. After all, one does not interfere with the other. And all the irregularities at the meeting point of two perpendicular planes can be hidden with skirting boards.

It is allowed to glue ceiling tiles on whitewash. The main rule in this case is the surface primer. Contrary to popular belief, the coating will hold firmly and long enough. Especially if you still clean those places where the whitewash is cracking and moving away from the ceiling.

If everything is simple with whitewashed ceilings and wallpaper, then gluing ceiling tiles on old ceiling tiles is definitely not worth it. This will affect the quality of installation and the appearance of the ceiling. The old finish is noticeably translucent, and such a coating is held very poorly.

If you decide to prepare the ceiling carefully, then the video tutorial below will help you:

The classic installation method is the answer to the question of how to properly glue ceiling tiles. This coating method involves cleaning the ceiling, leveling its surface, priming, preparing all the tools, and then decorative finishing.

Installation steps in pictures:

Answers to the most popular questions will help you quickly and competently update the ceiling:

1. How to apply adhesive to ceiling tiles? Special compounds are applied dotted around the entire perimeter and in the center for strength. Acrylic putty should be applied in an even strip around the entire perimeter.
2. How to glue ceiling tiles on an uneven ceiling? In this case, the glue must be applied around the perimeter in an even layer. If the ceiling is too uneven, then no finish will save the situation. Visually correct the irregularities will not work, as well as glue the coating with high quality. The ceiling in this case is better to align.
3. How to clean ceiling tiles? Care must be taken during installation. But if the glue still got on the front side, it is better to immediately remove it with a dry cloth.
4. How to clean the ceiling from tile adhesive? When removing the old coating, you need to remove all traces of its presence, including glue. An effective way is mechanical removal using a special power tool (grinder) or a conventional spatula and chisel. Less labor-intensive use of solvents.
5. Can ceiling tiles be glued to wallpaper? Oddly enough, you can. Recommendations, as in the first case: remove the wallpaper in those places where they already move away from the ceiling. In this case, it is important to consider that bright wallpaper shines through the white coating. It is allowed to glue wallpaper on the ceiling tiles, of course, if its surface is without relief.

We wish you good luck with your tasks when repairing the ceiling!

Everyone knows how to glue ceiling tiles, even those who first have to deal with the exciting process of pasting a ceiling with tiled material. The simplest, at first glance, the process will require some skill and skill before you can glue the tiles into a monolithic ceiling surface. And there is something to try for, after a little practice, gluing a ceiling finish made of polystyrene tiles is no more difficult than gluing wallpaper, and the visual effect is an order of magnitude higher and more expressive.

Ceiling tiles: description, characteristics

The raw material for the manufacture of ceiling finishes is foamed and extruded polystyrene or foam. Depending on the technology used, tiles for ceiling decoration are produced in several versions:

• Dense, textured tile with a large number of micropores, with a slightly rough, as if untreated surface. The material is produced with an edge of 20-60 cm, a thickness of 9-14 mm. Thanks to the mixture of polystyrene fibers and balls sintered in an injection mold, the material is quite strong, light, with a porous surface;
• The pressed ceiling board has a smooth, almost glossy surface. The wall thickness is 4-5 mm, the structure of the finishing plate is quite strong and dense, like PVC;
• Ceiling slabs made by hot semi-pressing of blanks from foam or low density polystyrene foam. Instead of a scattering of balls, sheets cut from a block are used in the production process.

The latter method is the simplest, so the ceiling tiles are relatively inexpensive, but not the most durable. Glossy boards are considered the most resistant to dirt and damage; it is enough to simply glue such a lining on the ceiling even without helpers. It is easy to change, if necessary, paint or add new trim elements.

For your information! Due to the use of heat pressing, the finishing tiles, even within the same pack, may differ slightly in external dimensions.

Most tiles for finishing the ceiling are made with a small processing allowance, which does not interfere with gluing plates or lamellas. A small spread is not considered a marriage. Before gluing the coating, the plates are sorted and cut exactly according to the template.

When choosing a ceiling tile, more attention should be paid to the presence of chips, cracks and striae in the material. Such plates are immediately rejected and sent for cutting, ceiling surfaces are glued in separate pieces in “blind” corner zones, or a repair adhesive mass based on dichloroethane is made.

Calculation of the number of tiles on the ceiling and the choice of glue

Before gluing foam ceiling tiles, it is necessary to at least calculate the required amount of material. The calculation procedure itself is relatively simple and is performed in three stages:

• We measure the size of the ceiling of the room;
• We count the number of tiles;
• We make an adjustment for the width of the seam.

After measuring the dimensions of the room from wall to wall, we get the size of the ceiling in width and length. Knowing the dimensions of the tile that we will glue, we alternately divide the sides of the ceiling into the leg of one tile. We get the number of pieces of tiled material that fits on the ceiling along each of the walls, multiply and find out the total number of pieces.

For your information! If the room in which the ceiling tiles are to be glued occupies several hundred squares, for greater accuracy it is necessary to take into account the width of the inter-tile joint.

Calculation features

Calculating the width of the seam is simple. It is enough to take three or four single tiles, lay them in a row with a minimum gap at the seams or even with a slight overlap, approximately as they will be located on the ceiling. It remains to measure the total length of the laid out row with a tape measure and subtract from the result the size of a single tile multiplied by the number of pieces. This determines the installation joint allowance for a certain amount of ceiling cladding. For small rooms, the seam allowance can be neglected.

If the ceiling tiles are supposed to be glued in a wooden house, the material must be laid with a slight overlap of the edges, approximately 1.5-2 mm. In this case, the estimated number of tiles must be increased by 4-5%. Without overlap, the ceiling cladding will separate over time, and thin strips of seam will appear between the plates.

If there is no desire to mess around with such difficulties, you can simply divide the quadrature of the ceiling covering, which is supposed to be pasted over with foam trim, by the area of ​​\u200b\u200bone tile. The ceiling must be measured with your own hands, the dimensions of the tiled material can be taken from the catalog. With this approach, the material will need to be bought with a margin of 5-7% in order to be able to experiment with ceiling cladding cutouts in more critical areas.

Choosing the right glue

The modern market offers more than two dozen different adhesive compositions and products that can easily be used to glue anything on the ceiling, from wooden slats to plastic and cardboard.

If a base of plasterboard, plywood or fiberboard has already been assembled on the ceiling, then it is best to glue it with polyurethane and acrylic adhesives. They provide a very viscous and durable seam. The only drawback is that such adhesives are always made in opaque form and inconvenient packaging. You can use "Super-Moment", rubber glue, "Globe", but such adhesives are quite expensive.

It is best to glue the tiles with a transparent "Titanium" or "Dragon", you can use polypropylene hot melt adhesive, especially with a heating gun it is much more convenient to glue than with a regular tube.

It holds transparent silicone sealant well, over time it becomes whitish-cloudy and can stand out at the seams. Acrylic and methacrylic sealants turn yellow over time, like the popular "liquid nails", so they are used for the installation of ceiling cladding in limited quantities.

Ceiling tile options

The manufacturing technology of the ceiling slab is designed in such a way as to make the cladding as adaptable as possible to all irregularities and defects in the ceiling. The use of a soft edge for glue, the rejection of gloss and the application of a relief pattern to the surface of the tile, in addition to purely decorative qualities, helps to glue the tile to the ceiling surface with defects, peeling or a slope to one side.

Ceiling tile layouts

If the ceiling is even and smooth, like a table, you can glue the ceiling cladding in any order, you just need to choose the right direction for the incidence of daylight and flows from the chandelier. If the ceiling surface has small defects, then it is best to glue the material according to one of the most common schemes:

• Laying material from the far corner or the main window of the room;
• Installation of plates from the geometric center or suspension point of the chandelier;
• The arrangement of the ceiling tiles with a diagonal pattern, snake, chess, with bandaging of rows.

Advice! Masters advise gluing the ceiling decor so that the lower part of the ceiling is primarily illuminated. In this case, the decorative finish will visually look more even.

If the ceiling base has slopes or defects in several places, then it will not be possible to solve the problem by tile orientation alone, it will be necessary to glue the material with a more complex pattern, for example, a snake or diagonal stripes of several colors.

Why glue the ceiling decor from the chandelier

The first and basic rule for installing ceiling tiles is that it is necessary to start gluing the material from the place where the chandelier is suspended. Only in this way can a stable impression of even and symmetrical rows be ensured, even if the tiles are glued with a slight error.

It often happens that, at the whim of electricians or builders, the central ceiling lamp or chandelier is suspended not in the center of the room, but with a shift of half a meter to one side. In this case, it would be correct to move the laying start point from the geometric center of the ceiling to the fixture of the chandelier.

If the room has perfectly even walls, the proportions and dimensions of the ceiling plane correspond to the correct rectangle or square, you can also glue the slab material from a window or corner, but with the obligatory use of marking cords or a laser level.

How to glue ceiling tiles

The quality and durability of the plates directly depends on how well the surface is prepared and the method of fixing the ceiling cladding is chosen correctly. You can glue in two ways:

• Directly on the concrete base of the ceiling;
• With the use of an intermediate sublayer laid on the surface of the ceiling.

The second option allows you to get the best quality of fastening, gluing on a prepared base is easier and easier than on concrete. In addition, the use of a slab base allows you to level the plane of the ceiling and make it as smooth as possible.

The first option is the fastest and easiest, but the quality of the sticker is worse, in addition, it will take a lot of effort to level and clean the concrete surface, otherwise it will not work to stick the tile evenly and beautifully.

Ceiling surface preparation

In any case, the ceiling surface must be cleaned of the old decorative finish, the remnants of the primer and the water-based paint layer, wallpaper and adhesive flakes will have to be removed. At first glance, the ceiling plane may seem quite flat, but the impression can be deceiving. In any case, at the end of the stripping, two cords are pulled, one of which is basic, the second is movable.

The base cord is pulled along the midline of the room and leveled along the horizon using a building level. A movable cord stretched perpendicular to the base one is sequentially rearranged along the ceiling in increments equal to the width of the tile. By the distance from the ceiling to the cords, the failures of the ceiling surface are determined and eliminated with the help of finishing putty. After drying, the stains are cleaned and primed.

Ceiling markings

To perform marking work, the same two cords are used as when stripping. If the tiles are planned to be glued in the classic row way from the far corner, the cords do not change, the movable cord is transferred to the first line of laying the material. To simplify the work, it is recommended to apply marking lines to the ceiling, along which you can glue the tiles without being distracted by rearranging the marking cords.

If it is supposed to glue the plates diagonally, the cords are pulled along the corners of the room, or with an offset if the initial point does not coincide with the geometric center of the ceiling surface.

How to glue tiles on a flat ceiling

The first tile must be glued in the center of the row. The technology of the sticker is quite simple, the slab is laid in place of the future gluing and risks are applied to the concrete with a pencil, indicating the dimensions of the spot. Glue is applied on the back at five points - in the center and at a distance of 3-4 cm from the corners.

The slab is laid on the spot and leveled according to the previously made risks. To be sure of positioning accuracy, we apply a thin wooden strip 80-100 cm long to the front edge of the tile, and align the position of the slab along it before gluing the next one. It is advisable not to rub the tile to the base, as is usually done with wallpaper, to expel bubbles. Before gluing the next part of the finish, you must wait at least 5-7 minutes.

Uneven ceiling tiles

Often, tiled cladding has to be glued without careful alignment of the ceiling base. In this case, an additional thread is pulled along the row, which determines the lower level of the facing surface. With the help of a thread, you can align the tiles even on a crooked ceiling, but it will take three times as long.

As in the previous case, initially the risks of the border of the spot are applied to the ceiling, on which the tiles will need to be glued. If there is a depression on the ceiling, an increased amount of transparent silicone is applied under the tile, the material is laid on the base. After 30-40 minutes, the plate can be aligned along the thread without pressing and fixed with an invisible pin.

Whitewash ceiling tiles

The answer to the question of whether ceiling tiles can be glued to whitewash sounds simple. You can glue on whitewash, paint or lime, subject to the pasting technology. The ceiling surface is pre-treated:

• Sweep dust, chalk or lime with a damp cloth, rag, sponge;
• It is treated twice with a water-based primer so that the whitewash layer is saturated and saturated with a primer solution to concrete.

After the primer layer dries, the whitewash turns into a strong crust, to which any tile can be glued. Sometimes the dried primed surface is rubbed with coarse-grained emery to increase the adhesion of the adhesive to the ceiling surface.

A more difficult option is to glue the slab on the ceiling, covered with water-based emulsion or lime with soap. The coating must be carefully cleaned with a spatula along the marking lines.

Cleaning and Sealing

No matter how carefully they try to glue the ceiling cladding, there are still remains of the adhesive mass in the seam lines, and sometimes on the edges of the tile. If the cladding material is laid with an overlap, there are usually no problems. It is necessary to carefully remove the protruding traces of glue with a carving knife. We leave everything that got on the front of the foam until the adhesive mass dries completely.

Any attempt to remove the adhesive ahead of time and even accidental contact will result in dirty spots, so the material must be glued only with clean hands, preferably with cotton gloves.

In the event that it is necessary to glue the plates butt-to-butt, the resulting seam must be painted over with a special toner or covered with a plastic edging.

Ceiling tile painting

With all the advantages, foam tiles have one significant drawback - the material collects and absorbs, like a sponge, a huge amount of dust and fumes. Instead of gluing new plates every year, it is easier to paint the surface with a quality water-based emulsion or acrylic paint.

It is enough to remove the dust accumulated on the ceiling with a vacuum cleaner, and carefully apply a double layer of paint with a roller or spray gun.

Conclusion

How to glue ceiling tiles, and what is the secret of high quality work, can only be understood after a little independent practice. In each case, any master has to look for his own installation method, the most convenient marking scheme and the best glue option. To glue the ceiling decor with high quality, you do not need to save on two things - on glue and on the time allotted for the job.

Expanded polystyrene tiles are one of the most popular types of ceiling coverings. Therefore, the question of how to glue ceiling tiles is of interest to many novice craftsmen who plan to do the finishing work with their own hands.

How to choose a tile for finishing the ceiling?

The great popularity of this decorative material is due to its following advantages:

• simple installation - everyone can handle gluing tiles;
• easy care - foam tiles can be washed with any non-abrasive agent;
• the ability to hide small defects in the base;
• speed of finishing - a small base (for example, a ceiling in a bathroom) can be easily decorated in a few hours;
• low cost - prices for ceiling tiles are quite low, so everyone can afford such a finish.

To successfully complete the repair work, you need to answer 3 questions:

• how to choose a facing material so that it lasts for many years;
• how to glue the selected finish option so that it does not fall off;
• how to properly glue ceiling tiles so that the ceiling is not only reliable, but also attractive.

In the domestic market, ceiling tiles are presented in a wide range. Different models differ in color and texture design, production technology, geometric dimensions, quality of expanded polystyrene and cost. Therefore, before gluing tiles to the ceiling, you need to choose the right finishing material.

According to the production method, ceiling tiles are divided into 3 types:

1. Injection. It has a low density and, accordingly, strength, and therefore it costs less than other types of finishes. Its thickness is no more than 14 mm. Such a tile is made by sintering foamed plastic, which is why it is called foam.
2. Stamp. It is characterized by a denser structure and mechanical strength. The thickness of the product is 6-8 mm. It is made by pressing polystyrene foam at high temperatures.
3. extruded. It is the most expensive and highest quality tile. With high density and strength, its thickness is about 3 mm, which, when finishing, saves extra millimeters of free space. During the production process, the tile is covered with a laminated layer, which not only improves its appearance, but also protects it from the harmful effects of moisture. This allows you to use the material in rooms with high humidity (bathroom, kitchen).

Having chosen the appropriate type of product, its color and pattern, you need to check the quality of the material and its geometric dimensions. The first step is to inspect the edges of the sheets - they should be dense and consist of small granules. The smaller the granules, the better. Then the strength of the material is checked. To do this, from the selected batch, you need to take one element by the edge and shake it a little. If at the same time it does not deform or break, then its quality is good.

Each tile must have the correct geometric dimensions. For example, if it is a square, then all the edges must be the same length and the corners must be 90°, that is, they must not be rounded or flattened. Only in this case you will be able to finish the ceiling without seams.

Choosing a ceiling tile adhesive

When answering the question of how to glue a ceiling tile, one cannot ignore the glue, which is the connecting link between the base and the finishing material. The adhesive composition for cladding ceilings must have the following properties:

• strength and reliability;
• quick grasp;
• good adhesion;
• environmental safety;
• the ability to lay down both thin and thick layers.

If everything is more or less clear with the first four points, then the last one needs a little pause for clarification. Most old-style apartments do not have flat ceilings; they can have height differences of more than 15 mm. How to finish in this case? There are two ways to get out of this situation: before facing, level the ceiling or use glue that can be applied in a thick layer. The first option is not optimal, since it requires additional financial investments from the contractor. Therefore, the best option is to apply the adhesive composition in a thick layer, thereby simultaneously leveling and finishing the ceiling base.

Gluing tiles on a flat ceiling can be done using adhesives such as liquid nails, "Moment", "Eco-naset" or "Titan". They have excellent adhesion to any coating, be it plaster, wallpaper or other material, and a quick drying time, which greatly facilitates installation work.

What to glue foam tiles on an uneven ceiling? In this case, the best option is the usual putty and glue for tiles or drywall. These compounds can be applied in layers up to 40 mm, thereby leveling even large height differences.

Preparatory work

Any repair process begins with preparatory work. And finishing the ceiling with tiles in this regard is no exception. Before gluing this material, you must do the following:

• choose a laying scheme;
• calculate the required number of tiles;
• prepare the ceiling for finishing.

There are different ways to place tiles on the ceiling relative to the walls, the most popular are (Fig. 1):

• rows;
• in a checkerboard pattern (with a shift);
• diagonally.

Each styling option allows you to create a specific pattern that is best suited to a specific design idea.

To calculate the required amount of finishing material, it is necessary to make drawings on a sheet of paper in a box in the selected scale, which indicate the dimensions of the room and the layout of the tiles. It should be noted that the standard dimensions of the ceiling tiles are 50x50 cm. You can start laying from the center of the room or from the wall opposite the window. If there is a chandelier in the center of the ceiling, then it is recommended to start finishing from it (Fig. 2).

After that, according to the drawing, the number of whole tiles and the number of elements that will be cut off are counted. If gaps remain near the walls, the width of which will be less than the width of the tile (less than 25 cm), then in this case 1 element will go to cover two rows. If the size of the gaps is more than 25 cm, then you should buy tiles at the rate of 1 piece per 1 row.

How to glue the tiles so that they do not fall off over time? To do this, it is necessary to properly prepare the finishing surface. First, the ceiling is cleaned of poorly adhering old finishes and treated with a deep penetration primer. If the base has deep cracks and chips, then they should additionally be repaired with putty. Before finishing, it is recommended to prime the ceiling made of chipboard or plywood with a special mixture with abrasive additives that increase the adhesion of the material. After the primer dries, you can glue.

How beautiful to glue the ceiling? First you need to correctly draw the finishing base and designate its center. For this, two cords are taken, which are pulled from opposite corners diagonally. The point of their intersection will be the center of the room. Then they retreat from this point by 25 cm (half of the tile) and draw lines along which the first element will be glued.

Do-it-yourself tile gluing

Before gluing the tiles, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

• ladder;
• spatula, if a mixture for drywall or putty will be used as glue;
• roulette;
• stationery knife;
• mounting gun;
• tiles;
• adhesive composition;
• white sealant.

How to apply glue to the tile depends on what composition will be used. If gluing will be done using a putty or cement mixture, then the glue is applied pointwise so as not to increase the weight of the finishing material. If it is planned to use Titanium, liquid nails or another similar composition, then it is applied around the entire perimeter of the tile with a thickness of 20-30 mm, and a small spot is also made in the center.

After applying the glue, you need to leave the tile alone for a few minutes so that the glue dries a little. After that, the finishing material is applied to the ceiling along the markings and pressed with uniform efforts over the entire area. Before mounting each subsequent element, it is applied dry to its place to see how it will lie down and whether it will spoil the drawing. The tiles in the last row, if necessary, are cut with a clerical knife on a hard surface. At the last stage of finishing work, the ceiling plinth is glued.

Before gluing tiles, all windows and doors in the room must be closed to prevent drafts, because they adversely affect the strength of the hitch.

If for some reason small gaps have formed in some places, then you should not be upset, as they can be sealed with white sealant. After the sealant dries, it will need to be painted over.

There is nothing complicated in gluing ceiling tiles. The only thing that can cause difficulties is the marking of the ceiling, since it must be done as accurately as possible. If everything is done correctly, then the do-it-yourself ceiling will look no worse than if the installation work was carried out by the repair team.