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Stylish Acoustical Ceiling Tiles

Written by Milan Jara on 24th Jul 2019

Lilies and Swirls - Faux Tin Ceiling Tile - 24 in x 24 in - #204 - Antique Silver

Stylish Acoustical Ceiling Tiles: It’s Possible, and We'll Tell You How

In the past, acoustical ceiling tiles were unstylish and detracted from a space. The trouble was they were functional, so if you needed to absorb sound in a room, you had no choice but to install this less-than-appealing décor option. Those days are gone, and it's now possible to get stylish acoustical ceiling tiles that work well and still look great.

PVC Tiles for Sound Absorption

It turns out PVC tiles can absorb sound if they are used in conjunction with an insulating material such as fiberglass insulation or standard acoustical drop-in tiles. This means you can have a decorative ceiling that is able to absorb sound.

Testing was performed on Laural Wreath Faux Tin Ceiling Tiles Over 3/4" Acoustical Ceiling Tiles, and they were mounted with airspace behind it.

Tiles were ranked based on sound absorption average (SAA), which is defined as a single number rating, rounded to the nearest 0.01, of the sound absorption coefficient of material for the twelve one-third octave bands from 200 through 2500 Hz, inclusive. The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is defined from previous versions of this same test method as the average of the coefficients at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, expressed to the nearest integral multiple of 0.05.

The results were as follows:

1/3 Octave Band Center Frequency Total Absorption (Sabins) Absorption Coefficient (Hz) (Sabins / ft2)
31.5

40

50

63

80

100

125

160

200

250

315

400

500

630

800

1000

1250

1600

2000

2500

3150

4000

5000

6300

8000

10000

12500

34.49

53.39

105.92

34.19

48.58

55.27

32.21

33.49

33.30

29.50

39.95

49.68

65.81

62.57

47.48

34.62

25.25

20.83

17.73

16.46

15.84

13.73

10.03

7.05

0.53

-5.34

-16.36

0.48

0.75

1.49

0.48

0.68

0.78

0.45

0.47

0.47

0.41

0.56

0.70

0.92

0.88

0.67

0.49

0.35

0.29

0.25

0.23

0.22

0.19

0.14

0.10

0.01

-.08

-.23

We offer a variety of stylish acoustical ceiling tiles that are right for any home or other environments where you need to absorb sound.

Perforating Metal Tiles to Absorb Sound

Grandma’s Doilies Quartet – Faux Tin Ceiling Tile – Glue up – 24x24 – #117 - Antique Silver

In addition to using PVC tiles with an insulating material, it’s also possible to create a sound-absorbing system by perforating metal tiles. These acoustic panels come in a variety of color options, so they can fit into any existing interior design aesthetic.

Additionally, this type of paneling has a light weight compared to other models, making installation easier in both residential and commercial settings.

The tiles tested were designated by the manufacturer as Micro-Perforated Acoustical Aluminum

Ceiling Tile with SoundTex - #MPA-1 Over 3.5" R-13 Fiberglass. Again, during the test, the specimen was mounted with airspace behind it.

The results were as follows:

1/3 Octave Frequency (Hz) Total Absorption (SI) (m2) Total Absorption (IP) (Sabins) Absorption Coefficient (Sabins/ft2)
100

**125

160

200

**250

315

400

**500

630

800

**1000

1250

1600

**2000

2500

3150

**4000

5000

9.35

6.46

5.98

6.47

6.49

6.17

6.22

7.10

7.23

6.99

7.01

6.93

6.55

6.34

6.14

5.93

5.71

5.21

100.66

69.52

64.40

69.66

69.88

66.38

66.91

76.40

77.84

75.29

75.49

74.58

70.49

68.20

66.06

63.88

61.49

56.13

1.44

0.99

0.92

1.00

1.00

0.95

0.96

1.09

1.11

1.08

1.08

1.07

1.01

0.97

0.94

0.91

0.88

0.80

 


 

Why Would You Need Sound Absorbing Ceiling Tiles?

Laurel Wreath – Faux Tin Ceiling Tile – #210 - Brushed Brass

The most obvious reason you'd want to install sound-absorbing tiles is to dull sound. But what situations warrant sound absorption?

Some homeowners prefer every room in their home to be able to absorb sound. They want quiet throughout their homes even if there is noise occurring in one room. Also, you might choose to just install sound absorption in a few rooms based on what might be happening in those rooms.

It is possible to dull sound in the bedroom, so it's easier to sleep. Additionally, you might have a music room where they want to muffle the sound of the instruments being played. The tiling will act as a diffuser, providing a more accurate sound than a regular surface.

Conserving Space

Another reason why you might want to install sound-absorbing tiles in a home is that you're living in a small space. As smaller homes gain popularity, homeowners are looking for creative ways to deal with common small-space problems. One of the most common issues to get attention in small houses is storage and organization, but dealing with sound is also a huge issue.

If you are living in a tiny house or other structure and you want to come up with a stylish way to reduce noise in the space, stylish acoustical ceiling tiles are a great option. They are easy to install even if you’re not an experienced DIYer, and they are an affordable solution when you are dealing with a smaller space that requires fewer tiles.

Sound absorbing tiles might also work well for certain work environments. If you are working in a noisy environment that also needs quiet space for various tasks, acoustical ceiling tiles can help reduce the noise and keep the environment safe for everyone in the workplace.

 


 

What Else Should You Know about Stylish Acoustical Tiles

Faux Tin Ceiling Tile - 24 x 24 - #DCT 10 - Old Black White

Shopping for acoustical tiles can seem like an overwhelming experience. There are plenty of options, so once you sort through what you need in terms of functionality, you can begin to narrow down what’s going to work in your space from a style point-of-view.

More than likely you’ll be able to find a style that suits your taste and your space, but if you aren’t able to determine exactly what’s going to work, you can paint the ceiling tile. Paintable ceiling tiles allow you to create a tile that perfectly matches your color scheme. In addition to colors, painting ceiling tiles can also help you create a tile that has the appearance of metal or tin or any other finish that appeals to you.

Finally, before you commit to acoustical ceiling tiles, determine whether you will be installing the tiles yourself or if you prefer professional installation. It’s a fairly simple and straightforward project either way, but if you don’t have an existing frame for the tiles it tends to be more complicated, so you might want to consider hiring a pro. This is especially true if you will be doing anything to enhance the sound absorption ability of the tiles you install.

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