How to put up a DROP IN CEILING?

Tami O'Neal
by Tami O'Neal

We have irregular duct work in our basement. Any idea on how to cover it so it’s uniform?

  5 answers
  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Sep 06, 2018

    Drop ceilings are usually made from large tiles and a metal frame to hold them up. If you can build a ceiling that is solid since you do not need access to your duct work, then think about framing it and putting up drywall.

    • Tami O'Neal Tami O'Neal on Sep 07, 2018

      Thank you! My husband is building the frame. There is one 4x5 area that has the duct work at different levels (impossible for the box to work).

  • Gk Gk on Sep 06, 2018

    Using a dropped ceiling is helpful if you ever have to get at any of your duct work or electrical wires. If your duct work is located up inside your ceiling joists it is easy to install a dropped ceiling framework or drywall--if you don't have to worry about access. If you have duct work that hangs down from the ceiling joists--below where you could normally have a ceiling you would have to frame around it. You have to consider what your ceiling height would be in order to add a ceiling. If you are lucky you will be able to cover your duct work with either the dropped ceiling or a sheet rock ceiling and still have an acceptable ceiling height.

    • Tami O'Neal Tami O'Neal on Sep 07, 2018

      Thank you! The plan is to use shiplap but one area 4x5 has four irregular duct work levels & we can’t afford to have them redone.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Sep 06, 2018

    Rethink it and save some time and money. The good interior design way of finishing a basement ceiling is to make sure you have nice lighting in place like recessed cans, not ugly flourescents. Then spray paint the ceiling and all the duct work, pipes, wires, etc black or a very dark color like navy, come down on the wall a bit to even up the look. Paint walls as want. Looks very clean and professional. You have full access, more headroom and the dark ceiling disappears like the night sky.


  • Ive33385161 Ive33385161 on Sep 07, 2018

    have you tried contacting Armstrong ceiling tiles company through email or wrbsite? I bet they have an expert on hand to offer suggestions.

  • Jody Jody on Sep 07, 2018

    I agree 1000% with the paint the ceiling matt black! I have seen them and they are STUNNING! Save yourself many $$$ and LOTS of time and just spray PAINT EVERYTHING (except can lights!) on the ceiling the blackest black you can find! You will thank us, and yourself, for doing this. You can always go the tired, old fashioned drop ceiling later, if you want.....