Staple up ceiling tile removal
The ceiling in my basement has 12X12 ceiling tile stapled to furring strips.
Is there a way to remove these things other than just ripping them down?
And, are they still made?
I have to take down a strip about 1-ft wide, and 25-ft long to install a new water feed to my mechanical room.
The existing 1-in steel pipe service line from the meter, has enough corrosion in it that flushing the toilet drops the pressure from almost 90-psi to about 30-psi. It is run below the basement floor, and comes up through the concrete in the middle of the mechanical room, at just about the dead center of the basement floor.
So I’m going to run a new pex feed from the meter, and drill through the wall just above the floor level, and then run the feed up the wall in some cabinets, and across the basement ceiling and into the mechanical room.
The only thing I haven’t figured out is how to remove and replace the strip of ceiling tile.
Replies
Using a utility knife, cut along the joint between tiles, then pull down the row you need. When replacing them, cut the back of the tongue away, and then glue the new ones in place with construction adhesive, maybe adding a few DW screws or nails to hold the in place. If the tiles are smooth faced, you can spackle over the fasteners.
Some are still available, you might get lucky to match.
However, if you look at one you'll see that two edges are tongue, two are groove. It is impossible to take out anywhere but on the edge of the field.
Still, you should be able to carefull cut through the tile along one side of the long cut and then disassemble pc by pc all the way back. Finding where to start is going to be the key. The tongues are the parts stapled up to the furring. Pulling the staples on your way back.
Putting it back will require glueing it back where the tongue was that you cut. Use PL Prem. and support (press) in place till glue dries if you don't think your new staples hold it perfect. Even the slightest drop in the tile will show as a straight crappy line when you're done.
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J-n-F
Careful...i've seen those tiles made out of what looked to be asbestos.
DC
If you are using Pex, why not relocate the line to one side or another and just box it in? Then you don't have to damage the cieling at all. The box could be small, a couple of furring strips nailed next to each other in an ell shape.
If you feel that the pipe must go under the tile, you might want to try snaking it through without taking down the whole row. Take down individual tiles instead. If the pex is running in a single chase between two floor beams, you have lots of room, maybe too much. It will bend and hang up. Try going to the "far end" and pushing a straight board (or a fish wire) through to where you are starting, then pull the pex right through. Maybe you could just cut out one tile in the middle and one on each end?
Tiles are still made in various designs and patterns. If the tile is flat with slightly beveled edges, it should be easy to get. Other patterns are available to. Depends on how long they have been up there. You will likely be in for a paint job either way. Figure at least two coats. That stuff is dry and will soak up the paint. It's pretty easy work though.
Good luck.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
If you are using pex you should be able to fish the ne line above the ceiling.
I have to go under or through about 15 floor joists. The furring strips the tiles are stapled to is 1X4 pine.So, there is only 3/4-inch to work with between the top of the tile, and bottom of the joists. Which isn't enough for 1-inch pex. I guess I could put in two runs of 3/4 pex. But that would be a really tight fit.