When you are in the midst of building a new property or remodeling your existing residence, at some point, you will have to decide whether to install drywall or go for a drop ceiling. Typically, this decision is based on your personal likes and dislikes.
Drop ceiling, aka suspended ceiling, is a grid system that holds tiles in place on the ceiling. On the other hand, drywall ceilings are pieces of sheetrock that are screwed together, taped, and mudded to provide a smooth surface and are often found in office buildings and commercial buildings.
For you, we made some research on which option is suitable for different rooms and also the cost comparison.
Drywall Ceilings
Drywall ceilings require massive labor during the installation process. The drywall sheets are very heavy and naturally require strength during installation so they can be attached properly to the ceiling beams. When drywall sheets are attached the job doesn’t end because there is finishing work that needs to be done. That includes covering screw heads, painting, sanding, and cleaning.
Drop Ceilings
Drop ceilings, on the other hand, are quite simple to install. If you have good hands you can easily make this project a DIY task because of the simplicity of handling the suspended tile ceiling. The suspended ceiling installation process doesn’t create a mess that requires a lot of clean-up work and can be completed over the weekend.
Drop Ceiling - Overview
Also known as a suspended ceiling, a drop ceiling covers damaged ceilings, provides noise suppression, and hides ductwork, plumbing pipes, and wiring. They are composed of two basic parts: the grid and the tiles. The grid attaches to the walls in a crisscross pattern of ceiling beams. The ceiling beams have a small ledge that supports the tiles and holds them in place.
Pros of a Drop Ceiling
Easy Access
Drop ceiling tiles gives you easy access after you have installed them. This is one of the biggest advantages of the suspended tile ceiling compared to the drywall ceiling. With a suspended ceiling, you have easy access to the electrical junction boxes and plumbing works. Simply just pop up a few tiles and you are in.
With a drywall ceiling, you have to be 100% sure that everything is in the right place before closing up because is extremely difficult to access after it’s installed.
Repairs are Easy
No matter if it’s water damage or you have a problem with the electricity, drop ceilings are easy to fix, just pop up a ceiling tile and put in a new one. No time-consuming, fast, and DIY repair. This is one of the main reasons why homeowners choose drop ceiling tiles.
Look Cool
The look of a drop ceiling is pleasing to the eye. With so many ceiling types available, finished basements and the living space can be transformed into something unique and cool.
Lightning
Installing lighting fixtures, pot lights, or recessed lighting, is much easier with drop ceilings. Also, you can move the tiles around if you don’t like how the lightning is to get a flash of better lighting set up.
Noise Suppression
A suspended ceiling is a great way to insulate the sound in the room. This is great for a movie room, media room, or just simply to muffle the sound.
Cons of a Drop Ceiling
Someone Doesn’t Like the Look
This was actually an issue in the past when different ceiling types were not available. But now you can get so many different tiles and layouts that it can really add to the overall look of the living space. But, if you prefer a smooth-looking ceiling over a tile ceiling grid, then this option is not for you.
If you have looked at the floor joists, and plumbing for a long time then any changes will be welcome, and you will love the look of the grid.
Loss of Height
Suspended ceilings usually require 4-6 inches below the floor joists to install them, so if you have a low ceiling height, these extra inches can make a big difference. Drop ceilings are typically a few inches lower than a drywall ceilings. If you have a low ceiling then a drop ceiling can be a big problem.
Installation
Installation of a drop ceiling is not so complicated process, but definitely, the setup for the installation takes a good amount of time and thought even for the professionals
Drop Ceiling Cost
Installing a drop ceiling costs $5 to $28 per square foot for labor and materials. Add $2 per square foot if you want insulating panels that go behind the ceiling tiles and up to $1 per linear foot for decorative rail covers.
Labor typically costs up to $5 per square foot. Grid rails and ceiling tiles are $13 per square foot on average, mostly depending on the tile material you want. Fiberboard tiles are the cheapest with a price of $2 to $7 per square foot, while wood could cost you up to $20 per square foot.
Tools needed for drop ceiling installation
These are needed for just a small area on the entire ceiling.
- Drop ceiling tiles
- Wire and wire hanging eyelets
- 4-foot cross T’s, T channel, L channel, and 2-foot cross Ts
- Tin snips
- Screws
- Cordless drill
- Drill eyelet adapter
- Utility knife
Drywall Ceiling - Overview
Drywall is one of the easiest-to-use and cheapest construction materials. Even a serious mistake will make you chuckle, knowing you’ve wasted little time and probably a few bucks. And the money you save handling the task yourself will come in handy when furnishing the new room.
Pros of a drywall ceiling
The look
Drywall provides a nice and smooth surface to the entire ceiling that is pleasing to the eye. It blends into the room and gives an easy aesthetic to the room.
Easily repairable
The drywall is thin and light, which is helpful when installing. But it also makes it slightly prone to damage. A great benefit is that drywall repair is an easy task.
Drywall ceilings usually suffer from chips and holes that are easy to repair by patching dings with simple spackling paste and paint. Even the replacement of some drywall sheets is a relatively easy task.
Eco-Friendly Option
Certain materials, such as drywall, are the perfect green option for building materials. Drywall sheets are made from gypsum and there are many eco-friendly options, even waste is easily recyclable.
Cost-Effective
Drywall is a budget-friendly option with a wide range of price ranges when it comes to drywall sheets. Labor costs are also reasonable but you can eliminate them if you are able to mount drywall boards yourself and just pay a contractor to finish them. Anyway, there are many options to find a labor budget that works for you.
Safety Features
Drywall will provide you extra protection in the event of a fire because it is a fairly fire-resistant material and many manufacturers add additional processes to make their sheets more resistant to flames.
In addition to fire resistance, drywall is also mold and mildew-resistant. Some types are even specially formulated for areas with a high level of humidity and exposure to water like the kitchen sink or laundry room. A drywall can help control moisture and prevent mold from forming in your home.
Cons of a Drywall Ceiling
Installation is a Pain
The hardest part of this process is lifting up the drywall. Adequate upper strength is required for mounting the drywall boards. If you DIY this then you will cut some expenses. You can do the finishing by yourself too, but it is better to hire a pro. Mudding the drywall, for example, is an art. If you get wrong you will have to see the seams all the time. Better consider hiring a pro at least for the finishing process.
Screw Heads Pops
Drywall shifts over time and this can make the screws protrude through the drywall and screw heads will ruin the initially smooth surface. This is an easy repairable issue but it is time-consuming, and if you are dealing with extreme temperatures throughout the year, you can end up dealing with them several times over the years.
Lightning
You do a drywall ceiling for many reasons, for example, in the basement you don’t want to lose ceiling height that you normally would with suspended ceilings. So when you have a drywall ceiling, you want to put in pot lights (or recessed lighting). This type of lightning requires boxing in the light and can cost you a lot of time and effort.
Another factor of lightning in a drywall ceiling is permanent. If you are DIYing your basement ceiling, then you want to make sure that your ceiling lights are placed properly before the drywall goes up.
Water Damage
When you have water damage on a ceiling tile you just change the ceiling tile, but when you have water damage on drywall, you will have to cut out the whole damaged area, and put in a new piece of drywall.
That includes screwing it in, mudding it constantly, and repainting it. New fresh paint will cause a huge difference compared to the rest of the surface.
Accessibility
There is no easy access with a drywall ceiling. Drywall ceilings are really hard to run wires, and cutting into them is hard even for professionals.
Drywall VS Suspended Ceilings - Decorations
When it comes to decoration, a drop ceiling is an absolute winner over drywall. With drop ceilings, you can choose a ceiling type that will fit the rest of the house. If you are tired of the old and traditional look, suspended ceilings are the best addition. Ceiling tiles in the suspended ceiling come in so many different colors and textures and for sure you will find something that blends perfectly in your basement walls or living space.