The national average drywall ceiling installation is between $400 and $1,200. Option Z - wireless headphones. Contractors suggest a drop ceiling in basements where you need to hide these unsightly features, and it leaves you with a stylish basement ceiling. Installing a Drop Ceiling Grid Step 8 - Install the main tees of the grid perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Panels may be stored in areas with a temperature between 60and 80F. The end result is a job 10 times that of a paper faced job. You must select a suitable drywall type to address basement issues like moisture and noise. Start from the top and then work your way downwards for maximum results. Step 2: Hang the full sheets of drywall to the basement ceiling first. Assuming we're not talking about "fancy" drop ceiling panels, which will likely cost more for me to install, drywall or a drop ceiling. Let your ceiling panels adjust to the environment in the room of installation. T TANC Registered Joined Jan 12, 2010 45 Posts Place one screw every 8 to 12 inches. No problem! The ceiling drywall will be unsupported along the entire length of the one wall. But you either need a lift or a buddy and know the routine. Check Your Local Building Codes. $0.55 - $0.95 per square foot | Fiberboard Drop Ceiling Tiles. Snap a chalk line marking the top of the wall angle. If you're not into DIY though, consider getting help from a contractor. With some time and effort, the diagram will essential build itself. Drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall making drywall the cheaper option. Drop ceilings are typically a few inches lower than a drywall ceiling. There are surface mount grid ceiling products that require only 1" of head space, which compares to 1/2 drywall and furring. The first step is to determine the maximum height of the new suspended ceiling. Installing a drop ceiling is a DIY-friendly way to finish your basement and. If you add drywall to the walls. Installing drywall costs $1 to $3 per square foot, but that does not include painting prices, which are $2 to $6 for each square foot. Normally interior doors get installed after the drywall is hung, taped, and finished, but you also have the option to start hanging interior doors before drywall. If you install 1/2" drywall, then you should use 1-1/4 drywall screws, as if you are installing 5/8" drywall a better option would be 6 x 1-5/8 screws. The drywall jack will lift and hold the panels in place while you insert drywall screws through the panels and into the ceiling joists. That gives you the number of straps to be installed. $1.75 - $4.75 per square foot | PVC and Vinyl Drop Ceiling Tiles. Ray also. Drop ceiling installations are easy and the labor cost should be less than a drywall ceiling. Place insulation on top of your drywall sheets as needed. Affix the drywall sheets permanently to the ceiling joists. Step 2: Install the Main Grid Measure the ceiling across parallel to the joists. Second, make sure that the drywall you choose is of the right thickness. At the beginning of this article, I shared that we did both a drop ceiling and a drywall ceiling. Furring strips are long strips of wood that measure 1-inch thick and usually 2 or 3-inches wide. In a nutshell, installing a drop ceiling has several parts: Preparing the space for installation. Given the same walls. The reason for putting drywall on the ceiling first is because the walls can then support the edges which will only be attached every 16" Over time, the ceiling drywall can sag and crack. At the low end of the spectrum, you can spend $60 to install -inch standard drywall ceiling in a 40 sq.ft. There are three main reasons you should install drywall on the ceiling before the walls: Increased ceiling support: Wall pieces aid in supporting the ceiling. Then add drywall to the ceiling. hallway. Also, be sure to check that the relative humidity is below 70%. Installing drywall costs $1 to $3 per square foot but that does not include painting prices, which are $2 to $6 for each square foot. Final Thoughts on Drop Ceilings or Drywall Ceilings. You don't want the screw head to pop the paper's surface, so don't drive too hard. Using nails and wire, hang 6' long support wires at 4' intervals from the joists above. Drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall at $5 to $28 per square foot. Go with drywall with access panel, its worth the bit of extra efforts. - Jason. Click on the photo to go to find it in store. Drop ceilings are installed by simply mounting them on the substructure of your ceiling while drywalls require you to first cut into the wall around it, then apply insulation and finally install the panels. Installation Installation of a drop ceiling is not so complicated process, but definitely, the setup for the install takes a good amount of time and thought even for the professionals Drop Ceiling Cost 2. If you are adding drywall to both the ceiling and the walls of your basement, you may be wondering which one to do first. At $5 to $28 per square foot, drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall. Measuring for your border panels and for hanging hardware placement. Drop ceilings are typically a few inches lower than a drywall ceiling. Nail the wall angle at every stud with 1-1/4-in. And it may not even crack at all. Set up a stepladder tall enough to work. The "real" way to do it is to install the cans and wire before drywall. If you are going to do drop ceiling, don'g get the deep fissure tiles they sell at typical home product store, go for something solid and flat that looks like drywall and a thin profile track instead of the upside down Ts. . Do you install doors before flooring? Drywall drop-ceilings can be constructed to cover mechanicals in lower areas while still allowing for higher ceilings in the rest of your living space. Cutting border panels and then fitting panels into the grid. One other major difference between drywall and drop ceilings is that the latter offers easy access to plumbing, wiring, and ductwork that may be covered by the ceiling. The remainder is blown with continuous poly vapor. This is due to the amount of effort required to install drywall overhead. Before You Drywall Your Garage #3 - Clear out the corners and small spaces. Do not install a drop ceiling in an older house, which has smaller rooms and lower ceiling heights. The total would depend on the ceiling area to be covered. We have installed a 6 mil plastic barrier on the underside of the rafters to act as an air & moisture barrier. Also, adding the drywall is easier if you start from the ceiling down to the walls. When installing drywall onto any concrete surface, including a ceiling, you need to install furring strips. With drywall, you've got the drywall, mud, screws, paint, a few specialty tools, and rental of a hydrolic panel lifter. If you do go with insulating after you hang the ceiling just install a continuous poly vapor barrier, hang the ceiling, then either drop in unfaced attic batts from above or use blown. You can also remove the wires from their mounts in the true ceiling. In any case, you can install can lights in a drop ceiling by following this guide. You would pay US$ 1,490 for a 130-square foot suspended plastic ceiling and trim. Drop ceilings are cost-effective, easy to install on your own, and allow you to access ductwork and wires easily after it's been installed. Install the drywall panels, positioning them perpendicular to the ceiling joists. 1.) Drywall Over A Ceiling. Pick a height so the ceiling tile will clear the lowest ceiling obstruction, like plumbing lines or ductwork. Purchase rolls or packages of insulation that will fit in the spaces between the ceiling joists. You can see it in the picture at the beginning of this article. But I still get the same old questions about drop ceilings at least once a week. Is drop ceiling more expensive? How to Install Ceiling Fans. Taking these walls for example. Steps for Installing a Drop Ceiling. Here's why what we decided . 70 Square Feet - $105 to $157.50. If you are looking to convert a drop ceiling to drywall, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. ft project using suspended aluminum-painted ceiling panels and a hidden grid costs US$ 2,710. 1. In 3 steps, you can completely cover an existing grid with the planks. Drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall making drywall the cheaper option. Screw the drywall to the joists using 1-5/8 inch drywall screws every 8 inches along the perimeter and 16 inches in the field. These panels come in various sizes, but use the largest panels you can safely manipulate to reduce taping. Tape and block. Depending on the state where you live, you may need a building permit before starting your project. Either way, determine how you can reposition the suspension wires . Since the drop ceiling usually requires 4 to 6 inches below the floor joints to install them if you are dealing with a low basement, these extra inches can make a big difference. In order to put in a drop ceiling, you need to first install a grid system of runners to support your ceiling tiles. Tight and clean corners: Tight corners and clean edges can be created when the ceiling pieces are already in place. Below are some of the most sophisticated designs for modern ceiling tiles. Finally, you can opt to not install drywall on the ceiling but do in add insulation batts in between the joists, basically this acts like carpet on ceiling and is quite effective at reducing noise. Just remove old ceiling panels from the grid, snap on EASY UP clips, and slide planks into place, securing them with the clips. Drive the nails through the shoulder of the tongues into the framing at about a 45-degree angle. Furring strips allow an air gap between the drywall and concrete to allow air to move and prevent mold. One of the biggest advantages to installing them after drywall, is that your doors will stay cleaner and will be less likely to be damaged. It's important to ensure that the framing for the ceiling is perfectly level, and there are some pointers for reinforcing the grid ceiling to be able to support most drywall work. I talked with another insulation guy that said he thinks it might trap moisture in the house and cause problems with the ceilings. Repeat steps 1-4 berayun-ayun your ceiling is covered. Just something to consider before you drywall the ceiling. I could go on about my dislike of drop ceilings, but I think you get my point. On average, the national cost is between $955 and $1,510. One chore that you should perform before you drywall your garage is to clean out the corners and other smalls areas in and around the studs. This doesn't include labor, and you'll add between $35.00 to $80.00 an hour for your contractor's price when they install them. Slightly thin your joint compound ("mud") by mixing in a little water. drywall nails. Begin in a corner and find the best way to face the length of the full sheet. A 15- or 16-gauge brad nailer with 2-in. Overall drywall was the better choice for me, and it looks better in my opinion as well. Step 2: Install the Long Framing Pieces. If this number is less than 16 feet, you can buy one strap for each length. We highly recommend watching this video for an . If you have a low ceiling then a drop ceiling can be a big problem. #1 reason NOT to go with drywall is access to any runs of wire or pipe in the basement. How to Install a Drop Ceiling in 8 Steps. Then use a rotozip (or generically a drywall router) to cut the holes as the drywall goes up. Meanwhile, the national average cost . The main benefit of installing a drop ceiling in the basement is hiding wiring, plumbing, light fixtures, and even a sprinkler system in the space between the main and drop ceiling. 100 Square Feet - $150 to $225. Drive the fasteners in .375 inches (0.95 cm) away from the edges of each sheet and space them 7 inches (18 cm) apart along the perimeter. Is drop ceiling more expensive? Step 1: Setting the Perimeter. So you've got an unfinished basement but you're not comfortable doing drywall on the ceiling. If you add drywall . Dropping the faced batts in from the top will . Drive the screws so that the heads press just below the paper's surface, making a dimple. Examine the way the dropped ceiling suspension grid is installed. Mark the position of the joists on the sheet. By untwisting these wires, you can remove them from the grid bars. Most grids are suspended by wires extended down from the true ceiling. The standard width for joists is 24 inches. Answer (1 of 2): If the ceiling joists were installed correctly, you should be able to just take the insulation batts and "stuff" them into the cavities between the joists. This system is applied . However, there are some things to keep in mind about drop ceiling costs, which we will detail below: While you can expect to pay for labor anywhere between $2 to $5 per square foot, ceiling tiles and grid rails cost $3 to $23 per square foot total. Installing the ceiling grid. Installation The average drop ceiling cost ranges from $1/sf to $2/sf. 4. So if you have a low ceiling in spots, a drop ceiling can be a pain. Is drop ceiling more expensive? If they're falling out, one thing you can do is stretch a string or similar across the ceiling perpendicular to the joists. It is recommended to drywall the ceiling first. With a drop ceiling, you've got the the grid, some specialty tools, and the ceiling panels. living room. Most professionals will tell you to do the ceiling before the walls. Whenever some maintenance is required, these areas can be easily accessed if you have a drop ceiling. Use one of the drop ceiling material calculators to determine how much of each is needed for your ceiling. Be mindful of the fact that the drop ceiling itself has plastic coverings or supports. Finally, make sure that both pieces of drywall are covered by a backer board or other coverings to . This is so that the wire has enough length to be tied when the grid is attached. At $5 to $28 per square foot, drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall. Use either nails or screws to attach the drywall to the joists. Media Platforms Design Team. Click here to find a drywall specialist. Unpack all panels at least 24 hours prior to installation. Install the long ceiling cross framing pieces by putting one end on the wall channel and supporting the rest with the support wires. You can simply remove a tile, fix the issue and then put it back. To install a drop ceiling appropriately around ductwork, the ceiling should be 5-7 inches away from any ducting. Look 1: Cover Your Existing Ceiling Grid. If you are looking for a high-end one, a 150 sq. Step 5. You may consider purchasing a dehumidifier with a humidity reader for this. PS. Installing drywall costs $1 to $3 per square foot but that does not include painting prices, which are $2 to $6 for each square foot. Drop ceilings are more expensive to install than drywall making drywall the cheaper option. Once the diagram is complete, measure one more time to verify your accuracy. Get a partner if it proves too heavy for you! Beautiful Drop Ceiling Tile Options. Installing drywall costs $1 to $3 per square foot but that does not include painting prices, which are $2 to $6 for each square foot. Some of these are acoustic tiles designed to absorb noise and reduce echo. first, make sure that your Drop ceiling is of the correct size. If not, you can run the wire and leave a generous service loop, then install old work cans when the drywall is up. Drywalling the ceiling in a basement or other area is a good option. And the # 1 Reason Drop Ceilings Suck is(Drum Roll PLEASE!) Some municipalities even require you to submit your drop ceiling designs in advance. This also helps the drywall last a long time. Cut the holes for the ceiling lights using a circle cutter and jab saw, or a roto-tool with drywall attachment. Installing a drop or suspended ceiling couldn't be easier. Measure the ceiling perpendicular to the joists. Drop ceiling installation cost varies greatly by region. Step 7 - Install the grid wiring into the joists making them at least 12 inches longer than the height difference between the suspended and primary ceiling. Easy Access Press the drywall sheet against the joist with a drywall gondola for about 10 seconds. Most homeowners spend $700 to install -inch fire-resistant drywall ceiling in a 280 sq.ft. They make your basement "look like a basement"! Cost. Step Thirteen Along the interior joist, install the fasteners at about 12 inches (30 cm) increments. Higher Ceilings: With typical drop acoustic ceilings, you need at least 3 - 4 inches of clearance from the lowest point of obstruction to get ceiling tiles in place. However, if you can install a drop ceiling by yourself, you can save on labor costs. Before you purchase a drop ceiling, contact your local building authority. Cut one flange of the angle and bend it around outside corners. Lightly mark any holes you need to cut for light fixtures and where joists are. Ceiling First. Outside corner treatment. All you need to do is install metal tracks that are hung above the ground before layering the tiles between the tracks. This can be exhausting and it's easier to make mistakes when setting up drywall on the ceiling. Step 2. In this guide, I will tell you the drop ceiling cost vs. drywall. Use drywall screws to screw the drywall panel to the ceiling joists.