Sonex® Contour Acoustic Panels by Pinta Acoustic, Inc. direct mounted to the ceiling reduce the echo in this exhibit space.
When customers call to inquire about sound absorption options for ceilings, I love to hear their reaction when I say that ceiling tiles are making a big comeback. It’s fair that we tend to have a negative opinion about ceiling tiles; everyone remembers the shoddy, often stained and/or cracked ceiling tiles found covering drop ceilings in classrooms of old. In modern times, however, ceiling tile manufacturing has improved A LOT, allowing for not only more powerful sound absorption qualities, but aesthetic advantages, too.
In this article, I’m going to discuss one of my favorite sound control options to massively improve the acoustics with your space with minimal effort: glue-on acoustic ceiling tiles.
The Benefits of Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
Even though those old ceiling tiles left a bad taste in our mouth when left wanting by their aesthetics, they have always been very useful. Typically found installed in drop ceilings, ceiling tiles perform two beneficial roles: visually covering the space above the drop ceiling where HVAC equipment and plumbing exist and allowing for powerful sound control to improve the room’s acoustics. Let’s unfold these benefits and more.
1. Noise Reduction
It’s often misunderstood, if understood at all, but the main benefit of ceiling tiles is how they improve acoustics and thus sound quality in a space. In fact, they are the most commonly used sound absorption tool by far and are thus taken for granted! Part of their ability to control sounds has to do with the ability to reduce noise. Not only do they visually and acoustically shield a space from the often noisy sounds of the equipment above drop ceilings, but they work to absorb “bad” noise from below so that the sound quality in the room is improved.
2. Improved Sound Quality
In addition to suppressing noise, acoustic ceiling tiles also improve sound and speech quality by absorbing echo and reverberation. If, for example, the same space had a ceiling made of harder material, like drywall, soundwaves more easily bounce against it, meaning they are redirected downwards to continue bouncing all over the room and against other hard objects. This mess of sound waves we call reverberation and will negatively impact sound quality. Whether in an office or a school, any negative impact to sound quality can breed inefficiencies. Since ceiling tiles are often used in important spaces like these where learning and work are being performed, it’s beyond ideal to make sure acoustics are on point so speech intelligibility is maximized.
3. Easy Install and Maintenance
One of the best attributes of ceiling tiles is not only their power to positively alter acoustics, but how easy they are to install. Especially in drop ceilings, installing ceiling tiles is a cinch and can be done very rapidly. Even better, since tiles are individual, if one breaks, gets stained from a leak, or any other issue, they can be individually replaced cheaply without having to replace the entire ceiling.
The only drawback to this is, what if you don’t have a drop ceiling? There are options to install ceiling baffles and other sound control devices, but in low ceilings this can be prohibitive. To this problem, I have a fantastic solution: glue-on acoustic ceiling tiles. No matter your ceiling type, ceiling tiles can not only be installed, but can be installed quickly, offering a fantastic option to improve your acoustics without renovation.
How to Select and Quickly Install Quality Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
PolySorpt® Acoustic Ceiling Tile
When it comes to acoustic ceiling tile selection, my go to is PolySorb Water Resistant Acoustic Ceiling Tiles. These acoustic ceiling tiles can be utilized in drop ceilings or they can be installed on any type of ceiling. Even better, they can be installed in exterior environments, like patios at restaurants and bars. With an NRC rating of .55 and .70 for 1” and 2” tiles respectively, you will find these ceiling tiles offer powerful sound absorption to achieve excellent acoustic improvement for your space. They also come in either a standard flat surface pattern or decorative design options so you can make sure your aesthetics stay intact.
Now, what I really love about these ceiling tiles is that they can be used on virtually any ceiling. As mentioned above, ceiling tiles are typically installed on drop ceilings, but that isn’t their only calling. Especially in shorter ceilings where hanging baffles and acoustic clouds isn’t feasible, ceiling tiles are a great option as they can be affixed directly to the ceiling with a small amount of effort.
Loctite® Power Grab Adhesive
To do this, all you need is Loctite® Power Grab Adhesive applied to the ceiling tiles and then place them on the ceiling. The adhesive cleans up easily and provides a permanent installation, with one tube covering 16-24 square feet.
For the Best in Acoustic Ceiling Tiles, Trust in the Expertise of Acoustical Solutions
Improving acoustics is my passion, and finding sound control solutions that can achieve remarkable results while at the same time fitting into budgets and providing an easy, simple installation is how I can help many and more do just that.
To learn more about glue-on acoustic ceiling tiles and how you can rapidly improve the acoustics in your space for immediate results, reach out to me today!
To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.
