What Are the Benefits of a Dropped Ceiling?

Lower Heating Bills

• Heat rises. When you have high ceilings, much of the heated air collects over your head, where it doesn't do much to make you feel comfortable. Dropped ceilings trap the heated air lower, making it easier, and less expensive, to keep the room warm in winter. Dropping a ceiling means less square footage to heat in the winter, resulting in lower heating bills. You can also add extra insulation above a dropped ceiling, increasing your home's energy efficiency and saving even more money.

Acoustics

• High ceilings can make a room seem echo-ey, especially if you have hard-surface floors. Dropped ceilings, especially if made of acoustical tile, absorb sound more readily. This can be a plus for surround-sound stereos and entertainment centers. It can even make conversations more intimate. If you're in a condo with noisy neighbors upstairs, you can install a dropped ceiling with extra soundproofing.

Ease

• Grid systems make installing a dropped ceiling a do-it-yourself project. With a dropped ceiling, you can quickly transform a basement into living space or convert a garage to a playroom. If one part of the ceiling becomes damaged, you can quickly replace a single ceiling tile. Dropped ceilings also allow easy access to piping and wiring in the space above. Simply remove one or more ceiling panels and expose the piping or wiring.

Decorating

• Dropping a ceiling allows you hide an ugly high ceiling. If your ceiling features unsightly piping, air conditioning vents and wiring, hide all of that with a dropped ceiling. Today's dropped ceilings go beyond plain acoustical tiles. You can install dropped ceilings that resemble antique tin or copper or decorative plaster.