The installation of a 5th Wall™ ceiling is straightforward and consists of six easy steps. They are as follows:

The following instructions and diagrams detail the above steps:

Step 1. Install Perimeter Members

You will need a laser level, capable of illuminating a level line, at the elevation in the room where the perimeter members will be installed. A pole mounted laser level works very well. You will also need a nail gun or screw gun.

Determine at what elevation the ceiling will be installed. The system requires a minimum clearance of 1/2" from the top of the grid center vertical fin, to the bottom of the overhead structure, such as the overhead joists. To insure this clearance, establish your level line, at least 2-1/4" below the bottom of the overhead structure.

Next, place the bottom edge of your first perimeter member on the level line and nail the member at each wall stud, with two 15 ga., 2-1/2" nails. The nail specification is based on the assumption that you are penetrating a 5/8" thick perimeter member and 1/2" or 5/8" thick gypsum board, before reaching the wall stud. If the wall studs are steel you will need to use an appropriately sized screw. If this is the case you should drill a counter sunk pilot hole before setting the screw, to prevent splitting the member. Use a screw long enough to penetrate the steel stud by at least 3/8".

Now continue to install the perimeter members, as described above, around the complete perimeter of the room.

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Step 2. Install Long Grids

First, verify the dimensions of your plan layout before beginning this step. If you are happy with your plan, refer to Figure 1 as an example and determine the location of the midpoint (A) on both the north and south walls. Mark this location point (A) on the perimeter member, on both walls. Points (A) will be the centerline of your first long grid. Next make a precise measurement from wall to wall at points (A). Cut a long grid to this length. Using a coping saw, cope out about 1" of the center vertical fin on both ends of the long grid, as shown in Figure 2. Then position the long grid, with its centerline at point (A) to (A), up tight against the perimeter member. Using a nail gun, with 18 ga. 2" nails, shoot three nails up through the grid into the perimeter member at both ends.

You are now ready to install the rest of the long grids. Starting on the west side and at both ends of the (A) to (A) long grid, install a standard length short grid perpendicular to the long grid (A) to (A). Insure that the short grid is snug and tight against both the perimeter member and the long grid. Now, install the second long grid in the same manner as the first, and repeat the process until you have reached point (B), shown in Figure 1. This process eliminates the need to make any measurements and insures that each long grid will be installed in the exact correct position - exactly 24" on center. Make a precise measurement from the west edge of long grid (B) to (B), at both ends to the wall. Cut two standard 22-1/2" short grids to these measurements. Then butt the cut end of the short grid against the west wall and using a nail gun and 18 ga. 2" nails, nail the vertical fin to the perimeter member, as shown in Figure 2, Section Z-Z. Then at the north side of the room, attach the other “cut” short grid in the same manner.

Now move to the east side of the long grid (A) to (A) and repeat the above described process until you have reached the east wall.

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Step 3. Locate and Set Grid Connectors

Referring to Figure 1 as an example, determine the location of midpoint (D) at both the east and west wall. Mark the location of point (D) on the perimeter member at both ends of the room. Then from midpoint (D), in both directions, mark off 24" intervals, on the perimeter member, at both ends of the room and set a screw in the perimeter member at the 24" intervals. Set the screw such that a string can be attached, drawn taut and secured at the opposite end and remain slightly above the center fin of the long grids. Where the string intersects with the fin of the long grid is the location to set each of the connectors on this row. As shown in Figure 3, align the centerline of the connector with the string and push the connector down over the center fin of the long grid. Move the string to the next 24" interval and repeat the setting of the connectors. Continue in this manner until all rows for the room are completed.

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Step 4. Secure and level Long Grids

Set up the pole mounted laser level to the west side of the long grid (A) to (A), as shown in Figure 1, and about in the middle of the room. Aim the level line so that it is just touching the bottom edge of the wall attached short grid at midpoint (A). Rotate the laser to enable the level line to span the width of the room. This is the elevation to which all long grids must be secured. To ensure that the grids are level when the ceiling panels are installed, temporarily attach a weight of about 5 pounds near the center span of the long grid. To determine the location of the suspension wire, start 1' from the wall and drill a 1/8" diameter hole in the middle of the vertical fin. Directly about this hole, set an eye screw in the overhead structure and screw in, leaving about 3/16" of the eye screw shank exposed. This will permit a fine elevation adjustment later in the leveling process, if necessary. Thread the suspension wire through the eye screw and wrap tight to secure. Pull out an adequate length of wire to reach the hole in the fin and cut the wire. Feed the wire through the hole and up until the bottom edge of the grid is just slightly above the level line and wrap the wire tight. If the grid is too high, unwrap the wire and apply additional downward pressure to correct and rewrap. If the grid is too low you can adjust by further turning in the eye screw above. The next wire location should be midway between grid connectors but not more than 4' from the previously installed suspension wire. Attach the wire and continue the leveling process as described above. The last wire at the opposite end of this grid should also be about 1' from the opposite wall. Remove the weight from this grid. If the leveling has been done correctly, the level light line will pass below this grid, permitting the leveling of the next long grid.

Proceed to the next sequential long grid, apply the weight and repeat the leveling process described above, until all the grids have been leveled.

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Step 5. Install Short Grids

Referring to Figure 1 as an example, start at midpoint (D) at the west end of the room and measure from the finished west edge of the long grid (B) to (B) to the wall. Cut a short grid to this length and cope away about 1" of the vertical fin on the cut end. Insert the non-cut end of this grid into the corresponding connector on the long grid. Position the center line of the opposite end of this short grid, at point (D) against the wall, push up against the perimeter member and with the nail gun shoot 3 18 ga. 2" nails up through the grid, into the perimeter member. Now install a standard 22-1/2" short grid on the west wall, south of this cut short grid (D) to long grid (B) to (B). Nail the center fin of this short grid to the perimeter member. At this juncture, again measure from the finished west edge of the long grid (B) to (B) to the wall. Cut a short grid to this length and cope out the center fin and install as previously described. Repeat this process until you reach point (E). Now make a measurement from the south edge of short grid (E) to long grid (B) to (B), to the north edge of the previously installed short grid on the south wall. Cut a standard 22-1/2" short grid to this measurement and install on the west wall, by nailing the center fin to the perimeter member. Now move to the north side of point (D) and repeat the above process until you reach the north wall. Now proceed to install short grids in the middle row (D) to (D), to the east end of the room, up to long grid (C) to (C). At this point, use a bar clamp/spreader to put pressure on this row, ensuring a snug fit at each grid joint. Measure from the finished east edge of the long grid (C) to (C), to the wall and cut a short grid to this length. Cope away about 1" of the vertical fin, at the cut end. Install this short grid in the same manner as the similar short grid, previously installed at the opposite end of the room. Now remove the spreader from its location. Repeat this process for the next rows, south and north of midpoint (D), as described above.

The complete grid system is now installed and you are ready to install the ceiling tiles.

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Step 6. Install Ceiling Panels

The ceiling panels are all 23-3/8" x 23-3/8". Their installation is straightforward; simply tip the panel about 30° from horizontal and vertical. Insert the panel into the 22-1/2" x 22-1/2" grid opening. Pay attention to the direction of the grain of the panels and orient them in the desired pattern. More often than not, some panels around the perimeter of the ceiling will need to be cut to fit a non-standard sized grid opening. Use a table saw, if available, to make these cuts and again pay attention to the direction of the grain, to ensure the direction of the cut, cross or with the grain, produces the desired orientation when the panel is installed.

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3011 82nd Lane NE|Blaine, Minnesota 55449
Phone: 763-780-4935 1-877-(5th-Wall) or 1-877-584-9255|Fax: 763-374-4965
Email: info@5thwalldesigns.com