Help with drop ceiling 2x4 panels

Liz Cairo-Eagan
by Liz Cairo-Eagan
I have the standard issue drop ceiling in the basement and the grid system is for 2x4 but the tiles are UGLY!!! Any ideas what I can do? I would love to have wood looking tiles, something like that...help!!!!

  11 answers
  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Oct 21, 2017

    Shop stores like Homedepot or Lowe's, and check out the different types, styles and textures. You'll find something you will like that has a wood look.

  • Bijous Bijous on Oct 21, 2017

    Before you do anything, check with the building codes in your area for basements and the piping and electrical the drop ceiling is concealing. Even though a homeowner can usually do "anything" they want to their home, you want to make it is safe and if you ever want to sell, something that can be sold without having to tear it out.

  • Ruth Ruth on Oct 21, 2017

    Check out Architectural Depot for their many colors and styles of vinyl ceiling tiles.

  • Randal Randal on Oct 21, 2017

    get some wood looking construction paper and put it on the tiles, or you could paint them to look like wood as well, which is easy, if you are artistically inclined, also you could use actual thin 3/ 16" wood plywood, and have it cut to the size of your panels (they will cut it for you at the lumber yard, for a price, and you could easily just take the existing panels number them where you took them out of the grids, and use them for a template, and cut from those, and replace them with that. It would be an expense, but it would look great, also make sure the grids are secure of course, and do some secured wiring of the wire grids ( and paint those as well before you put up the new wooden tiles), if necessary to be sure they will hold the weight, but it should be no problem.

  • Joanne Joanne on Oct 21, 2017

    White ceiling has always been my choice. It reflect the light and keeps a room bright. You could use a raise stencil with drywall mud. then paint the stenciled tile with a color may be gold spray and go over it in a white with a wash or distress it.



  • Joanne Joanne on Oct 21, 2017

    or glue on picture frame moulding to each panel and paint.


  • Carolyn Ball-Hanson Carolyn Ball-Hanson on Oct 21, 2017

    I found some beautiful replacement tiles @ proceilings .com. There are also other sites . Choices ranger from traditional looking, to photos, tin looking, and wood .

  • Kat30489814 Kat30489814 on Oct 22, 2017

    Paint


  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 22, 2017

    Joanne has a good point about white tiles in a basement ceiling being the brightest and reflecting the most light. "Wood look" ceilings are much darker.


    If you are really set on the darker ceiling, then I would suggest that you replace your light fixtures to the new flush LED style at the same time.

  • Judy Judy on Oct 22, 2017

    If the tiles are still level, paint them, that's what I did and they looked great.