Drop ceiling tiles come in a variety of colors, sizes and materials.
Drop ceilings or suspended ceilings provide a false ceiling that sits suspended below the actual ceiling in a room or building. Drop ceilings come in a variety of setups, some with small tiles and others with larger panels. Different setups provide options for various budgets and styles of rooms or buildings.
Grid Options
Grid drop-ceiling setups come with either exposed or concealed grids. In exposed grid setups, you can see the metal grid network from below. The long strips of metal, called mains, connect to each other with short strips of metal, called tees. The ceiling tiles' edges sit against the grid, holding the tiles in place. In concealed grid setups, you cannot see the grid from below. The tiles have grooves in their sides, allowing the grid pieces to slide inside the tiles so from below the tiles sit flush with one another. Gaining access to the ducts, electrical wires or plumbing in the ceiling involves more work with a concealed grid system.
Wire Suspension
Not all drop-ceiling setups make use of a grid that keeps the drop-ceiling tiles in place. Some systems use wires that anchor into the true ceiling as well as panels that sit suspended below. These panels may be made of drywall, plastic or a variety of other materials. Wire suspension systems do not require the extensive framework used in grid drop-ceiling setups, allowing them to cover a greater area with less hardware and fewer setup steps. The panels may cover only certain parts of the true ceiling, adding architectural interest in the building.
Color Options
Drop-ceiling tiles come in a variety of colors, which you may keep consistent for all of the tiles or mix with other tiles to create patterns. Some drop-ceiling tiles come with a pattern or design already printed on them. If you need a custom color, look for ready-to-paint drop-ceiling tiles. You may use the same type of paint you use for your walls or drywall ceilings to paint the tiles. Clear ceiling tiles come with no color at all, allowing you to place pictures, posters or whatever else you desire inside the ceiling to be viewed from below.
Material Options
Drop-ceiling tiles come in a variety of materials, each with its own set of advantages. Tiles made of gypsum have a natural resistance to fire. Gypsum also does not allow moisture penetration as easily as other materials such as drywall, helping protect against mold or mildew growth in high humidity environments. Mineral fiber ceiling tiles help block sound passing through the floor and into the room above, with different brands promising different levels of sound dampening. Metal ceiling tiles give an older or higher-end look to your room, and also provide durability versus other materials that may break or crack over time. Plastic tiles come in a variety of colors, as well as textures and designs. Plastic tiles can be made to look like metal, even though the cost a fraction of metal tiles.
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