Now I’ve never seen or heard of this being done, but today as I was working from my step ladder in a basement utility room I could see over the wall dividing the utility from the rest of the basement I noticed that the ceiling sheetrock what actually screwed to a metal grid.
The grid wasn’t your everyday ceiling tile T-rail, this was heavy-duty stuff. The mains were run every 4′ and cross pieces were every 16″. Very slick way to hang sheetrock below all the mechanical plumbing etc.
Anybody have first hand experience with this I would like to know more about the specifics and any nuances with this method.
Replies
How was the grid suspended from the joists?
Tom
It's not the grid but the wirees holdin it up that does the job. I'm sure that stuff was tougher than hat track but also more expensive by far, both labor and materials. Probably a guy who worked with the stuff and got it on the cheap.
Excellence is its own reward!
Scott, its sounds like a commercial application .
As I was up on that ladder and looked over and saw the grid I didn't think about it until several minutes latter when I thought wait… that is a sheetrock ceiling. I got real curious and had to check it more. From above it looks just like any suspended ceiling, although I would have guessed many more suspension wires.
With the basement 10' from floor to joist they still dropped the ceiling about 12" to allow for mechanical, light cans, etc. It appears to be the perfect application, how else could you drop a sheetrock ceiling and cover a room approx. 35 x 25 more economically.
Tim, it's residential.
Scott R.
I know the application you saw is on residential , but the way its done sounded like commercial. They sell tracking for fur downs and lowered ceilings , etc. Usually though its a series of metal braces giving "up" support to hang the drywall on . Ive never used wires , except for temporary setting . That is done quite often , but it is reninforced with the metal braces. I think you probably saw , "I done it my self job". I cant imagine hanging a ceiling being hung off all wires for drywall. For another thing it looks like it would allow movement , thus giving the drywall a chance to crack. JUst for the fun of it , Im thinking about fiber tape and hot mud to hold it together .
I worked for a few years as a metal framer , in the union hall , along with drywall and taping.
Tim Mooney
It's done all the time in commercial work. USG, Chicago Metallic, etc. all make the grid system. Hung by wires similar to a lay-in ceiling. It saves space (only an + - 1 1/2" high VS cold rolled channel and hat track) and is faster (no wiring the hat track to the cold rolled). In sesmic areas splayed wires and compression struts are used plus the lights have to be hung with thier own support.
What gives "up" support needed in hanging ? The size of the ceiling ?
Tim Mooney
Scott,
Use this link to USG's site. http://www.usg.com/product_index/_product_index.asp?vProdCat=25&vFamily=2
Click on flat drywall ceilings, technical. You need Acrobat Reader to view the file (28 pgs).
Plenty here to keep you busy for a while!
Eric
Eric, BINGO! That's exactly it! Thanks for the link.
Scott R.