Installing ceiling tile is a fairly simple process, but it requires the right products to achieve the perfect look.
You need the right ceiling grid system, the right tiles, and the right wall support to hold the perimeter of the ceiling in place. While many people will spend hours, days, and even weeks thinking about the ceiling tiles, few people give much thought to the ceiling grid. A lot of people don’t know that instead of using the standard Wall L or U shape, you can actually use Crown Molding. This means a lot of people are missing a great chance improve the overall appearance of their rooms.
Wall L is the common outer support around the grid system. Shaped like an L, it supports the edge of the tile. It’s a standard product for hanging a ceiling tile system, but in some cases, it can be replaced by decorative crown molding.
Using crown molding as your wall support gives you the chance to add a more decorative flare to your home. Crown molding can match classic designs, modern styles, and can even be equipped to meet the needs of running wires and lighting. It gives you a world of options, but it may not be the right choice for every room in America.
Let’s take a closer look at crown molding and see how it compares to the more basic, straightforward wall L.
The Advantages of Crown Molding
For the most part, the advantage of crown molding is the highly-decorative nature and versatility of the product. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different crown molding options available, and many of these can be used as a perimeter support for hanging ceiling tile. The crown molding needs to be mounted to the wall, sometimes requiring wood wedges to provide the support the ceiling tiles.
You can choose crown molding that has a detailed, busy design, or choose crown molding that is more simplified and reserved. There is crown molding that is hollow, allowing you to conveniently run wires and cables through a room, or crown molding that can be illuminated, giving your home a superb lighting structure that will impress anyone who visits your house. If you are going for decorative or dramatic, crown molding may be the right choice.
The Advantages of Wall L
Simply put, wall L is a more basic product, giving a homeowner two clear advantages. The first and most obvious advantage is pricing. Essentially, wall L is a single strip of L-shaped plastic or metal. It is made of less material and requires less effort to manufacture. For these reasons, it is easy to find wall L that is affordable yet reliable. It may not have the decorative versatility of crown molding, but it is a top choice for someone remodeling their home on a budget.
The next advantage is simplicity. If you want a clean, simple look for your home, wall L gives you a piece of material that is easy to install and easy to fit with a wide range of tiles. It’s a smooth, straightforward way to hang your ceiling tile. For someone who wants uncomplicated style and ease of installation, wall L may be the right choice.
When to use the Wall U
While crown molding and wall L have their uses, there is also a third options that you can implement: wall U. Instead of mounting directly to the wall, wall U mounts to the ceiling, giving you a finished edge at the bottom of a soffit, near beams, or around stairwells. Wall U is also handy for mounting ceiling tile in areas where you can’t connect to the wall, like block wall basements or around exposed wiring, ductwork, and pipes.