Drop ceilings are sometimes called acoustic tile ceilings because they prevent echoes in empty rooms and add soundproofing. They are also an easy, inexpensive way to hide utilities and ductwork located at the ceiling, making them popular in basements and commercial structures. The final costs depend on the price of materials and the location of the installation.
Basics
The framework for drop ceilings are mountable on any type of wall including drywall, brick, wood and concrete. The tiles add a finished look to any room, yet allow access to plumbing pipes, ductwork and conduits. The exact height of installation demands careful consideration and planning between homeowner and contractor, if any. Mounted too low, the tiles will make a room look cramped and claustrophobic. Mounted too high, the tiles will interfere with the utilities above it.
Installation
Installing a drop ceiling is easy enough for the average homeowner to do. The tile is available in 2-by-2-foot or 2-by-4-foot sizes, and run from under $6 to just over $10 a square foot, depending on quality. This puts the cost of a 12-by-14-foot room at about $1,000 to $1,700 for the do-it-yourselfer, according to Cost Owl. (These figures are accurate as of October 2011.)
Professionals
Hiring a professional provides the best job and efficiency, but costs an additional $2 to $5 per square foot. This bumps the total cost to between $1,300 and $2,500 for the same-size room. An entry-level set of 12 2-by-2-foot tiles runs from $25 to $40 for materials alone, while a premium set can run $100 and up.
Labor
Professional installation can vary according to the location of the home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2010, the mean wages of construction laborers is $16.15 per hour. They earn their highest salaries in Hawaii at a mean $24.63 per hour, New Jersey at a mean $23.42 per hour and Alaska at a mean $23.33 per hour. However, rates fall below average in Texas at a mean $11.83 per hour, Florida at a mean $12.47 per hour and New Mexico at a mean $12.49 per hour. For cities, the highest wages were in Trenton, New Jersey, at a mean $27.74 per hour, New York City at a mean $26.62 per hour and Newark, New Jersey, at a mean $26.42 per hour. Lower rates were available in the Texas cities of Corpus Christi at a mean $11.88, Houston at a mean $12.04 per hour and Dallas at a mean $12.06 per hour.
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