How to cover acoustic tile ceilings cheap and easy

http://frontporchmercantile.com/cover-acoustic-tile-ceiling/

You can have some one come in and paint them, Soft Ten-Tiles, were common in the 70's and early 80's and incidentally these panels are still made by the Armstrong Ceiling Tile Company. To clean your panel ceiling it's best to paint rather than washing them. Washing may blemish the surface or smudge the white colour.

First, prepare the surface by cleaning using a sponge and Shell Busey's Home Cleaning Formula. Rinse well with clear water. When dry apply Cloverdale Paint's "Pro-Fresh" Ceiling Paint. Using a nylon or polyester brush, paint seams and cut in to the wall. Then complete the rest of the ceiling with a "Foam Slit Roller" to finish the project off.

http://frontporchmercantile.com/cover-acoustic-tile-ceiling/

These are in a drop ceiling? What is under this framework?

You can’t just cover them. Considering the dropping ceiling, you can’t just go over this.

According to a chart I just read, it will cost about $120 to take this down, which must happen. Among other things, it’s not safe for either of you.

I ask what’s under it because we removed our drop and there was nothing wrong with the ceiling, it was just higher by 2 feet. Friends did the same and there was simply framing. They chose to just paint the framing in their farmhouse.

Maybe you could ask your pastor or at the Veterans center,if that applies, if there might be volunteers to take it down and to the dump. When you find out whats under it, you can ask the least expensive way to replace.

Homeadvisors.com has contractors who bid, online, on a project when you explain what it is. This photo and the dimensions of the room are important for bids. Thumbtack.com does also. They do guarantee their contractors. Obviously very important nowadays. Sadly.

I regret I’ve no easy answer for you. But you’re right. This must be taken care of. And a reputable contractor will understand if you need to pay over time.

If you you can get some volunteers to remove and help you clean up the rooms, it would be a big savings. But ask for estimates on removal and new inexpensive ceilings, separately.

God bless and good thoughts

They are falling. They need to be removed. Can't cover something in that shape. Get some help to remove them. Local teens, senior center advice. local schools, etc. Never know what under there.

Contact the USDA Rural Development Dept. -There are loans and grants for Senior housing repairs. I think you can apply online. Many states offer this kind of help too. Check with the Area Agency on Aging in your county/state. Also Habitat for Humanity does free home repairs for seniors and others on a tight budget / income. Those tiles certainly need replacing for your health and safety and I wish you the best in getting them taken care of.

We too have these type of tiles for our ceiling in our 4,000 sq foot home. We are working on one room at a time to remove them and improve the space. You do have to remove them to see where they attached. You can cover the ceiling with bead board - we did this in our kitchen with the ceiling or we are doing our family room now with corrugated metal panels - this is our inspiration photo! These are big jobs and depending on your skills, you might need to hire it out and get assistance.

We had this exact ceiling in our Country Farm home and I looked at it for 7 years until we finally decided it would be best to rip it out and put in pine ceilings. The end result was amazing and when it was all said and done it was somewhere around 700 -1,000 dollars which wasn't that bad since we did the work ourselves.

However this is how we did it, ripped out one weekend because it was a mess. Then the following weekend we began the install of the new ceiling. Took us a full weekend.

So maybe you have family that could help? Or possible hire an independent contractor and I would recommend getting referrals.