Installing Suspended Ceilings

Meagan: Drop down ceilings are one of those necessary evils from nice people, and the evil is because they do not look all that pretty. Just let me guess, this is probably what you drop down ceiling looks like. I know, I do not even know what this stuff is made up, but reminds me of rice cakes. Let me tell, any type of ceiling that reminds you of a country snack food is not that good with that idea. Just think of popcorn ceilings, not so pretty. My theory on drop down ceilings is that they were never meant to be seen. They were held on the utility rooms and storage rooms of basement. But now, we entertain in our basements. All basements have huge bars and media center, and let me tell you, the last thing you want is to be watching a movie and replying back and say oh yes, well, we have some rice cakes upstairs. Kind of always good right now. No, that does not count it. We want our basements be an amazing places for us to entertain at our beautiful and wow and impress people and that is why I brought you here to Armstrong today so that we can see the better options for drop down ceilings. I am hitting the road, searching for answers and finding great design. It is a quest for beauty, function, and of course inspiration. Now, I notice at your break, there are quite a few of you that looked at Patricia’s suspended ceiling and thought, it is not that bad, but yes, yes it is and I knew that I was going to have to prove it you, which is why I brought this visual aids so that we can compare this to the other products that are available, but before we do that, I am going to go find Rich Wiley, the marketing manager her at Armstrong. I find a lot of people are really confused by why do you drop down ceilings in their basements? Could you talk about that a little? Rich: Sure, drop down ceiling are suspended ceiling is a good option because it gives you access to the home systems above that might be running through the joints.\ Meagan: So like your electrical and plumbing? Rich: Electric plumbing and in case you have a leak or something goes wrong, you can get easy access to those systems and you do not have to cut out through the drywall and repaint the whole ceiling and pretencely bringing the contractor to that repair, you can just pop out the tile and replace it and you have thought that the repair, clinically the--- Meagan: Yes, it is a lot easier just to have a drop down ceiling? Rich: Sure, absolutely. Meagan: But this is what most people think of when they think of drop down ceiling. Rich: Yes, it is challenge for us and we much better looks visuals for the costumers and people in home owners that want to improve a lucrative of their basement. Meagan: So promise me that you would show me some. Rich: Yes, I have some of them here. We have a very smooth traditional look of plaster. Meagan: Is something a little close. Rich: Yes I know but some people do prefer that. Meagan: Yes but this. Rich: Absolutely. Here we have a thin look tile against simulating a thin ceiling and then this one simulates a coffered look and we have designed it so the grid blends right into the pattern and you barely will not notice the grid and some people find that objectionable to have grid in the ceiling. Meagan: Can you paint the grid and the ceiling tiles so that they do not have to stay the white? Rich: Absolutely, you can paint them any color you would like. Some people paint them black if they have a movie room or a theater room in the basement and you just paint the grid and the tile and--- Meagan: Do you use the same paint? Rich: Yes, you can do that. Meagan: Oh, that is pretty nice. Rich: Just a little text roll on and a spray paint. Meagan: Now, you mentioned that because it is in the basement, they have special protection in some of these tiles. Rich: Yes, that is correct. The basement has moisture issues and we do have tiles with humid guard plus which prevents sagging, also bio block for mold and mildew prevention, mold and mildew is a big issue for home owners. Meagan: Do a lot of basement get moistened? Rich: Absolutely,