Products to Install Acoustical Ceilings

Metal Framing

• One of the major types of acoustical ceilings is a drop ceiling, in which the foam panels and light fixtures are suspended from a metal frame. The frame itself is attached to the ceiling joists, providing support for the entire weight of the ceiling. The metal frame is made of modular elements, which you can assemble yourself to provide openings for acoustical panels and lights while working around the shape of the ceiling and elements such as pillars that alter its shape.

Ladders and Lifts

• Installing an acoustical ceiling requires you to find a convenient, safe way to access the ceiling where you're working. Depending on the height of your ceiling, this requires a latter or lift of some sort. Raising the metal frame pieces into place may require more than one person, meaning you'll need to buy or rent enough products to allow ceiling access for the number of workers you have on the project.

Adhesives

• Another type of acoustical ceiling uses soft foam pads that are attached directly to an existing ceiling. These pads, which feature textured patterns several inches deep for maximum sound absorption, are extremely light and can be installed to a drywall ceiling using an adhesive product such as a general-purpose spray adhesive or a roll-on glue. You can use the same product to attach acoustical panels to doors and walls for additional control of the sound quality in a media room or home office.

Paint

• Painting acoustical ceilings is an option for certain types of acoustical panels. In general, rigid foam acoustical panels are paintable if you avoid filling in the small holes that absorb sound. Painting the surface with a soft roller and an interior latex-based paint allows you to customize the look of the ceiling to accent your home's decor. Soft foam panels, which are very porous, will absorb paint as well as they absorb sound, making them poor candidates for painting.