Drop Ceiling Fix?

[Compy222]

This doesn't exactly fall into the subforums, so I decided to post here. I've got a drop ceiling that was installed by the previous owner of our home. It looks good and the tiles are all in good shape.

There is one problem though...whomever installed it, tucked it up against the joists above. You can't remove the tiles at all. Which basically makes the point of a drop ceiling (easy access to the above space) moot. I want to run surround sound wiring and it's just not going to work.

Is there anyway to rectify this without tearing the whole ceiling down and starting from scratch? Easier to remove panels? Thinner panels? If it was nasty or in rough shape I'd just tear it down, but it's in near new conditions and would prefer not to screw it all up and run up a huge tab fixing it.

Thanks for the insights.

 

[joeysh03]

If they got the panels in there then they have to come out. Keep trying. You could try removing the can lights which I assume you have with a drop ceiling and fish speaker wire that way

 

[oldtinsmith]

Sounds like it could be a zero clearance gridwork ceiling system.

Doug

 

[Smiliesafari]

I've done those ceilings. Look for a border tile that can be removed and go from there.

 

[Compy222]

I've done those ceilings. Look for a border tile that can be removed and go from there.

so at that point are you disassembling the entire ceiling? it doesn't appear to be a zero clearance set-up.

my guess is they literally put the tiles in as they worked their way across.

 

[eric_koski]

Don't try to take the tiles out. Push them up and over top top of the adjoining one, the run your wires. If they put them in, they have to come out.

 

[altec876]

I like Eric's idea think that's what I would try