How to fix an ugly ceiling.

by Marilyn Descours

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This room has styrofoam tile on the ceiling. Can I put something over it (bead board or tin tile type cover) or do I need to remove the tile first? I REALLY don't want to take it down.

Styrofoam ceiling tiles

6 answers

Holly Prim on Aug 11, 2015
I added beadboard to my basement ceiling, but i removed the acoustic tiles first because they were in a suspended ceiling grid and were not stable enough to secure the heavy beadboard to. I love the look of beadboard on the ceiling, you should go for it. I love mine!

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B. Enne on Aug 11, 2015
I have the same thing and need to go over it. I know I can glue lightweight plastic or syrofoam tiles over them, or glue anaglypta-type wall paper. If you are sure that there is no asbestos in the tile or the adhesive they can be removed... if not, don't take them down yourself without bringing in an abatement team $$$. Some of my neighbours have drywalled over them but you need to know where the joists are...Apparently though, one thumbtack in an asbestos tile can release 6000 fibres. My father added screws over his tiles and applied a hand trowelled textured surface...it was indestructible! LOL

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- Marilyn Descours on Aug 11, 2015
  I have styrofoam tiles now, no asbestos, and want to cover them.
  
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- B. Enne on Aug 12, 2015
  @Marilyn Descours Yes I mentioned asbestos, since you had not. I am not referring to gluing the same type over them, but the new modern tiles that are polystyrene, not acoustic like your picture shows. Here is one company: http://www.ceilume.com/shop/ I have tiles that look like yours and was told to have them tested for asbestos. http://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Ceiling_Tiles.php My point was that if they do contain asbestos it is better not to remove or screw/nail anything into them, but you could glue something lightweight on them as I mentioned. If there isn't any asbestos you can remove them, or screw/nail anything you want over them.
  
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- Marilyn Descours on Aug 12, 2015
  Thanks. The acoustic tiles are fairly new, so no asbestos. I am looking into lightweight modern tiles to glue on over.
  
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- B. Enne on Aug 12, 2015
  @Marilyn Descours If you check my link there are some examples. I really like the Ceilume brand but they are quite expensive here. I have considered putting beadboard over mine but I am afraid to screw into them. You can certainly go that route but the lightweight ones are so much easier. I'll check for you to see if I bookmarked the other ones.
  
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- B. Enne on Aug 12, 2015
  @Marilyn Descours Here are some that I had bookmarked. I don't know if they are any good. You might want to check for fire rating, as some may not be to code in your area, or are no longer fire rated once painted. It seems to me I saw some at Costco before too. http://www.decorativeceilingtiles.net/styrofoam-ceiling-tiles-20x20/ http://www.amazon.com/Antique-Ceilings/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_7536641011?ie=UTF8&node=7536641011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Antique+Ceilings http://www.betterceilings.com/products/styrofoam-ceiling-tiles/ http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Ceilings-Ceiling-Tiles/N-5yc1vZc58l http://www.ceilingtilesbyus.com/store/index.php/ceiling-tiles/20-x-20-styrofoam.html
  
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Gail on Aug 11, 2015
I saw a recent program covering ceiling tiles just like yours. A sample website is http://www.decorativeceilingtiles.net/pages/Faux-Tin-Glue-up-Install.html Or Google plastic ceiling tiles. Some really beautiful ones out there.

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Funnygirl on Aug 12, 2015
Saw a show with Lara spensor redoing a basement with your ceiling.She glued these large very light tiles on top of existing ceiling.do not think they looked expensive.They looked great!Wish I had more info,but it's a start.

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- Marilyn Descours on Aug 12, 2015
  Thank you!
  
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Funnygirl on Aug 12, 2015
Send us a picture when you done!

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Ger26825312 on Feb 03, 2018

rain stains

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