If you are finishing or renovating your home, then the ceiling is one thing that you will need to focus on. There are two very common options for creating and finishing a good-looking ceiling in any room, and these include drywall and drop ceiling tiles.
Now, both can be good options to consider, but they are also very different. Today, we want to figure out what both drywall and drop ceiling tiles are, what makes them different from each other, and which option is best to choose for various situations.
Drywall and Drop Ceiling Tiles: The Basics
Before we get to talking about the similarities and differences between these two ceiling materials, let’s first figure out what both drywall and drop ceiling tiles are.
What Is Drywall?
Drywall is also known as plasterboard, sheetrock, buster board, wallboard, and gypsum board. As the names imply, this is a panel made out of gypsum and calcium sulfate. To be exact, a slurry or paste of gypsum and calcium sulfate is mixed together and then sandwiched between two pieces of specialty paper.
The plaster is mixed with fiber, glass wool, paper, and other materials, as well as various additives, to create a fairly durable and water-resistant panel. Now, drywall is not 100% waterproof, but it is water-resistant, and it can look pretty decent too, especially if finished properly.
Drywall is most often used when making interior walls and ceilings, as it is an ideal material for interior use, although it falls very short when it comes to exterior use. Drywall is not something that should be exposed to the elements in any way.
What Are Drop Ceiling Tiles?
We then have drop ceiling tiles, which as the name of them implies, are special ceiling tiles that sit just a little bit below the actual ceiling. Due to the way in which this works, there is going to be a small space between these drop ceiling tiles and the actual ceiling, therefore allowing for easy plumbing and electrical work to be done.
These drop ceiling tiles are generally made out of expanded polystyrene or vinyl, come in many different sizes and finishes, and are made by many different manufacturers. This is a special type of ceiling that uses a suspension method to keep the ceiling tiles in place, with the three main components being the perimeter track, the membrane, and the harpoon or catch.
In other words, you have to install a lightweight frame onto which all of the ceiling tiles will then be fitted. Most people view drop ceiling tiles as being one of the best ways to create a unique and good-looking ceiling, although at a cost.
Similarities of Drywall and Drop Ceiling Tiles
Now that we know what both drywall and drop ceiling tiles are, let’s figure out what makes them similar to one another.
1. Common Ceiling Materials
One basic similarity here is that these are both commonly used materials to create interior ceilings. In fact, they are the two most popular options for interior ceilings out there at this time.
2. Suitable for Indoor Use
Another thing worth noting about both drywall and drop ceiling tiles is that they are both really only suitable for indoor use.
Now, drop ceiling tiles, depending on what they are made of, tend to be a bit more water-resistant than drywall, but this only goes so far, with drywall not being very resistant to water at all. The bottom line is that both of these materials cannot be used outdoors, as they will break down far too quickly.
3. Low Maintenance
One thing that does make both drywall ceilings and dropped ceilings attractive options is that they are super low maintenance. When it comes to drywall, it is easily wiped down and cleaned.
Moreover, if any part of the drywall needs to be replaced, it can be easily cut and removed, with new drywall being placed over top.
In terms of drop ceiling tiles, these are also very easy to replace, and the reason for this is that they come in single tiles. If just a few tiles are damaged, you can easily pop them out, remove them, and replace them with new ones.
Differences Between Drywall and Drop Ceiling Tiles
Now that you know what makes drywall and drop ceiling tiles similar, let’s figure out what makes them different from each other.
1. Size
One of the major differences here is that drywall and drop ceiling tiles come in different sizes, which is important to note both for the installation process and the appearance. Regular drywall sheet sizes come in 4’ x 8’, 4’ x 12’, and 4’ x 16’. On the other hand, drop ceiling tiles usually come in either 2’ x 4’ rectangular tiles or 2’ x 2’ square tiles. They just look fundamentally different.
2. Weight
Another big difference to note is that drywall is very heavy. Even a small sheet of drywall can weigh as much as 60 pounds, whereas individual drop ceiling tiles can weigh just a few ounces. In terms of the overall installation, this does make things easier when using drop ceiling tiles.
3. Ease of Installation
Related to the above point, installing drywall is quite difficult, which is the case for walls, and it is even harder when it comes to ceilings, as you have to lift up that super heavy drywall and keep it suspended manually until it is installed. Due to the weight of drywall, it is much harder to install when compared to drop ceiling tiles.
On that note, drywall also requires an extensive and professional installation process that involves the use of tape, plaster, and much more. Installing drywall is hard and best left to the professionals. Drop ceiling tiles on the other hand, if you know how to use a power drill, can qualify for DIY work.
4. Cost
Something else to consider here is that drop ceiling tiles tend to be much more expensive to install than drywall ceilings. Sure, the exact cost for both will depend on a variety of factors, but generally speaking, expect to spend anywhere from 50% to 200% more on drop ceilings than on drywall ceilings.
5. Appearance and Finish
The next major difference to consider here has to do with appearance because after all, you want your ceiling to look nice. In terms of drywall, this is often going to be flat and painted. It’s not like it looks bad per se, but it’s also nothing fancy or super appealing to the eye. It’s quite plain.
Then, we have drop ceiling tiles, which often have a reputation for being super ugly, such as those white ceiling tiles you might find in schools or hospitals.
However, these ceiling tiles have come a long way in the past few years and are now available in many styles, colors, and textures. If you are willing to spend some money, you can actually get some pretty nice-looking tiles.
6. Accessibility
The next difference to consider is accessibility. With drywall, if you want to install pipes, wiring, or anything else of the sort, you have to cut a hole into the drywall, do the wiring or plumbing, and then replace the section of drywall. It’s just a very labor-intensive process.
On the other hand, with drop ceilings, you just have to pop out the panels that are in your way, do the plumbing or wiring, and then put the tiles or panels back.
7. Overall Durability
In terms of overall durability, which of these two is tougher really depends on what the tiles are made of. Generally speaking, the tiles will do better with moisture, whereas the drywall will do better with overall impact resistance.
8. Ease of Cleaning
Drop ceiling tiles are often textured and can therefore be fairly difficult to clean. Drywall ceilings on the other hand, although they do stain easily, are also easier to wipe down and clean.
Drywall vs. Drop Ceiling Tiles: Which Should You Use?
If you want something that looks very nice and is easy to install on your own, then drop ceilings are the way to go, plus they also come with plenty of variety. However, if you don’t mind a more extensive installation process, you want something cheap, and you aren’t too concerned with aesthetics, then drywall is the way to go.
Summary
Now that you know what all of the major differences between drywall ceilings and drop ceiling tiles are, you can make an informed decision between the two. Both have their pros and cons, so choose wisely.
How Does Drywall Compare with Other Materials?
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