suspended ceiling

ericbx1500 · Jan 21, 2007

Has anybody ever installed a suspended ceiling in there garage/pole barn. I thinking of doing this to mine with 8'ceilings. If you have could you show some pics.

Farwell · Jan 21, 2007

ericbx1500 said:
Has anybody ever installed a suspended ceiling in there garage/pole barn. I thinking of doing this to mine with 8'ceilings. If you have could you show some pics.

Eric,
Question, is the 8' your existing ceiling or is 8' the height of the desired finished ceiling? Reason why I ask is there are different ways to go depending on the height. There is a plastic product that fastens right on to the floor joists above basements that are two parts. One part is fastened to the joist, the panel is installed and the second part clips into the fastened part holding the panel in place. If you have a high ceiling and want an 8' drop ceiling then you have to use wires and standard suspension material.
The two part system will work on ceiling joists as well.
HD carried them at one time and can probably still special order them. The 2 part system is designed for spaces with little head room.
David B

ericbx1500 · Jan 21, 2007

David I have 8" ceilings. Her is a pic.

bugstruck · Jan 21, 2007

Acoutical tile may not be a good choice with trusses that low. Don't like that much for garages anyhow. If the door(s) face prevailing winds you have to clip each tile due to pressurization. Unless of course the method mentioned earlier (unknown method to this guy) locks each tile in place. I like drop ceilings even in residential when the application is right, good ones with commercial grid and tile, just not in garage conditions. Pretty much never in a garage. Somebody may post one and like it, but I bet their doors face south or they clipped every tile to control blow out. I see you're up north. Sheath that ceiling with something. It will help hold heat that way and you can insulate of course if you desire. I'm in Maryland and don't heat mine except rarely with propane. It's plastered with no insulation, so it works on the rare day I need to warm it up some. Permanent heat would make me insulate of course.

HTH

jk96 · Jan 21, 2007

Here's a couple of pics - 12' sidewalls/16' center

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q263/jk96/Hall-View.jpg

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q263/jk96/Hall-View2.jpg

LarryD · Jan 21, 2007

I've seen exactly what you describe Chris, open a door and the wind fills the space with no where to go. Played havoc with the ceiling.

bigtiller · Jan 22, 2007

I put a suspended ceiling in my Morton building and every time the wind blew I had a few panels pop out when the overhead doors were open. I had 4 clips on every panel and 12 inches of fiberglass insulation. Sometimes the entire ceiling would raise up just a little before the panels blew out, and this was in a 30x54 building. It was frustrating working on a project on a nice but windy day and having to keep the doors closed.

Farwell · Jan 22, 2007

ericbx1500 said:
David I have 8" ceilings. Her is a pic.

Eric,
You may have to use 1X2 furring strips to fasten the 2 part panel holding brackets. This ceiling is not quite the same as a suspended ceiling because it is fastened directly to the support. There is no space between the ceiling panel like with a true suspended ceiling so the panels can't move. To remove a panel you remove the second strip that fits in a grove on the first strip.

The product name is : CEILING MAX do a Google search and all the information you need is there.
David B

dtd24 · Jan 23, 2007

I believe the 2 part panel system is expensive. I used them in a few basements. I like the ease of being able to just pop an accoustical panel to get up in the attic if needed, but would hate to keep setting the tiles because of them popping themselves. 7/16" OSB seems to be low priced now. I would hang the grid and use osb as panels. They should be heavy enough to stay put. Paint them if you want. Easy to fasten those lights to.

Good Luck
DaveD

Paddy · Jan 23, 2007

Not sure why you'd want such a ceiling when you can rent one of those drywall lifts and hang sheet rock in an afternoon. One coat sealing/tape will give you fire protection where the hang cieling won't (Idon't think)