We are nearing the point of being able to install the drop ceiling and insulation but I want to check with all of you and make sure we dont do anything detrimental. The plan is to attach vapor barrier along the lower chord of the trusses and then blow insulation on top of that. The ceiling grid will be about a foot below the trusses. We live in Central Ohio, the building will be heated throughout the winter, there will be no air conditioning. The building has 2 soffits, and a ridge vent running the length of the building and we will also be adding an attic fan. Does this sound doable?
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Drop Ceiling
- Thread starter LisaOH
- Start date
rkevins
Well-known member
what size tile are you using 1' is not a lot of room to get tile in/out.
what size tile are you using 1' is not a lot of room to get tile in/out.
We are planning on 2x4 tiles
CJDave
Well-known member
I have some 1'x1' tiles that are only 3-4" below some of my cold air returns. No big problem removing them. The insulation is going to be blown in directly on top of the vapor barrier? Will the barrier support the weight of the insulation? Maybe I have something confused. Dave R.
what size tile are you using 1' is not a lot of room to get tile in/out.
one foot is way more than enough.
41ratrod
Well-known member
The 1ft. will be fine . What type of tile are going to use? Some of the tile is made from recycled paper and will burn real easy. and will get real dirty.
I had installed drop ceilings for years in a industrial building, clean rooms,
manufacturing areas and over plating equipment nasty acids, copper.nickel,gold plating. Offices and brake rooms.
I had installed drop ceilings for years in a industrial building, clean rooms,
manufacturing areas and over plating equipment nasty acids, copper.nickel,gold plating. Offices and brake rooms.
I think 1' will be plenty to get 2x4 tiles in and out.
How many inches of blown in is the vapor barrier going to hold? Can you do faced batts and then blown in on top of that? If it is just plastic and it let go that would ****.
Make sure you have the flutes on the sides for the so the soffit vents don't get plugged.
How many inches of blown in is the vapor barrier going to hold? Can you do faced batts and then blown in on top of that? If it is just plastic and it let go that would ****.
Make sure you have the flutes on the sides for the so the soffit vents don't get plugged.
Blown insulation on a T-bar ceiling? How are you going to get the insulation put back if a tile has to be lifted? Just a couple of questions, fiberglass batts are much more user friendly.
The insulation would be on top of the vapor barrier, the ceiling is a foot below that
The insulation would be on top of the vapor barrier, the ceiling is a foot below that
How are you going to spread the insulation back out if a tile is moved for access?
How are you going to spread the insulation back out if a tile is moved for access?
We have a small corner of the building which has an office, bathroom and above ceiling storage with an attic ladder access, we can get above the ceiling grid, the vapor barrier and into the insulation and rest of the building from that route
csp
Well-known member
How are you going to spread the insulation back out if a tile is moved for access?
As was said, the insulation and vapor barrier has a foot of empty space between it and the tiles. The insulation isn't going to be sitting directly on the dropped ceiling tiles.
rburke65
Well-known member
They are not going to blow insulation ON the ceiling tile!!!!! Re read post #1.
csp
Well-known member
The insulation will be sitting on top of the vapor barrier.
Like this, top to bottom:
-Insulation-
-Vapor barrier-
-1' Dead space-
-Ceiling tile-
Like this, top to bottom:
-Insulation-
-Vapor barrier-
-1' Dead space-
-Ceiling tile-
My point was that when lift a tile it will be disturbed and if I take it correctly the vapor barrier is a foot above the tile? If it is it better be well supported or the weight of the insulation is going to be a problem with time.
Do you have any suggestions as to best support the weight? We are trying to add as little lumber as possible. The truss manufacturer said our trusses would support the drop ceiling and insulation, but drywall is out of the question. So lightweight is a big concern for us. The insulation we are using is supposed to weigh .65 psf
tcianci
Well-known member
There is a non woven type of fabric that's specifically made for your application. I don't know the name of it but you could probably google it. OTOH, adding strapping under a poly vapor barrier will provide you plenty of places to anchor your tie wires for the drop ceiling.
myredracer
Well-known member
I would definitely install some sort of strapping material under the sheet plastic to prevent it from pulling away from the staples over time. I recently finished my workshop and did a dropped ceiling with vapor barrier above. I used 1x2 but there are other options at a lumber yard like furring strips. These won't weigh much at all and won't affect the trusses. For blown-in type insulation that doesn't weigh much, you could install the strapping to the underside of the trusses. If it were heavier stuff like Roxul, you might install the strapping at 90 degrees.
Oh, and use the thicker 6 mil version of the poly...
Oh, and use the thicker 6 mil version of the poly...
Last edited:
cat06
Well-known member
recommend you make them 2x2 instead of 2x4, reason being in time the 2x4 tiles tend to sag