Finished basement family room with a white drop ceiling and flush LED panels

Drop ceilings

Drop ceiling installation in Suffolk County and the Hamptons

Basements, pool houses, shops and offices. Straight lines, bright tiles, clean trim along the walls, and easy access to the pipes above.

  • Fully insured
Bright shop with a new white drop ceiling and rows of flat LED panels

Why so many drop ceilings look cheap

It's almost never the tiles. It's how the ceiling was put in.

  1. The grid is wavy

    If the frame isn't hung level and tight, you see every dip in the tile lines.

    We level every run before a single tile goes in.

  2. Skinny tiles along one wall

    Start the grid in the wrong spot and you end up with thin slivers on one side of the room.

    We lay out the room first so the edge tiles match on both sides.

  3. Lights wherever they landed

    Fixtures and vents dropped into random tiles, off-center and uneven.

    We plan the lights, vents and access panels before we build.

  4. Gaps and dents at the walls

    Bent trim and gaps where the ceiling meets the wall.

    Straight, tight wall trim, or a recessed reglet trim for a sharp, modern edge.

How we put in your drop ceiling

One crew, start to finish. You'll know the price and the start date before we begin.

  1. Measure and plan

    We measure the room, find the pipes, ducts and wires above, and center the layout so the edges come out even.

  2. Pick your ceiling

    Tile style, grid color, wall trim and lights. We go over the options and put it all in a written price.

  3. Hang the frame

    Wall trim goes up first, then a level grid on hanger wires.

  4. Tiles and lights

    Tiles cut clean, lights set in place, access panels where you'll need them.

  5. Clean up and walk through

    We clean up, walk the room with you, and fix anything you're not happy with.

Your options

A drop ceiling doesn't have to look like an office. These are the choices that change the look the most.

Ceiling tiles
Smooth or lightly textured, bright white or off-white. Moisture-resistant tiles for basements, and washable tiles for kitchens and restaurants.
Grid
Standard white, black for a modern look, or a slimmer grid so the lines almost disappear.
Wall trim
Standard trim along the walls, or reglet trim, which is recessed and leaves a clean shadow line where the ceiling meets the wall.
Lighting
Flat LED panels that drop right into the grid, or smaller recessed lights. We lay them out evenly with the tiles.
Access panels
Tiles lift out anywhere, and we can add panels right where your shutoffs, cleanouts and junction boxes are.
Replacing an old ceiling
Stained or sagging tiles? Sometimes new tiles on the old grid is enough. If the grid is bent or crooked, we replace it.

Where we put them in

Anywhere you want a finished ceiling but still need to get to what's above it.

  • Finished basements and family rooms
  • Pool houses and cabanas
  • Finished garages and home gyms
  • Laundry and utility rooms
  • Retail shops and showrooms
  • Offices and medical suites
  • Restaurants and cafés
  • Rentals and apartments

Drop ceilings for Long Island homes

Most basements around Medford, Sayville and Stony Brook have the same thing overhead: water lines, a main drain, ductwork and a tangle of wires. A drop ceiling covers all of it and still lets you get to it. When a shutoff needs turning or a pipe needs fixing, you lift a tile instead of cutting open a finished ceiling.

The difference between a basement that looks finished and one that looks like an office is the install. We plan the layout around the room, so the tiles along the walls come out even, the lights line up, and the trim at the walls is straight and tight.

Pool houses, shops and offices in the Hamptons

Out east, we put in drop ceilings for pool houses, cabanas, shops, offices and restaurants. These spaces need to look good and still give you access to the lighting, sprinklers and mechanicals above. Bright tiles, a slim grid and reglet trim along the walls give a clean, modern ceiling that fits a coastal interior.

Part of a bigger project?

A new ceiling usually comes with other work: framing, sheetrock walls, patching, painting, new doors and trim, or new flooring. Our same crew handles all of it, so you’re not waiting on a second contractor to finish the room.

Low basement ceilings

A lot of Long Island basements don’t have much height to spare, especially under a main beam or a run of ductwork. A drop ceiling needs a few inches below the lowest pipe or duct so the tiles can be tilted in and out. When we measure, we check the height in every part of the room and tell you where the ceiling will sit. If one area is tight, we can box around a beam or duct with sheetrock and run the drop ceiling everywhere else, so you keep as much height as possible.

Getting ready for the walk-through

You don’t need to do anything special before we come out. It does help to know a few things:

  • Which rooms or areas you want covered
  • Where your water shutoffs, cleanouts and electrical panel are, so we can keep them easy to reach
  • How many lights you’d like, and whether you want them on one switch or split up
  • Whether the room gets damp, so we can suggest moisture-resistant tiles
  • Any other work you’re thinking about for the same room, like walls, flooring or new doors

Photos help too. If you send a few with the quote form, we can come prepared with ideas.

Drop ceiling questions

How much does a drop ceiling cost?

It depends on the size of the room, the tiles and grid you pick, how many lights you want, and what's in the way above (pipes, ducts, beams). We measure the room and give you a written, itemized price before any work starts.

Should I get a drop ceiling or a sheetrock ceiling in my basement?

A drop ceiling lets you get to your pipes, shutoffs and wiring any time by lifting a tile, which matters in most Long Island basements. Sheetrock gives a smooth, one-piece look but you'd need access panels, and a leak means cutting it open. We do both, so we'll tell you what makes sense for your space.

Can you just replace my old stained tiles?

Often, yes. If your grid is straight and solid, new tiles alone can make the room look brand new. If the grid is bent, rusted or crooked, we'll recommend replacing it so the new tiles sit right.

What is reglet trim?

Reglet is a recessed trim where the ceiling meets the wall. Instead of a flat strip of metal, it leaves a small, even shadow line, so the ceiling looks like it's floating. It's a popular upgrade for pool houses, shops and newer-looking basements.

How long does it take?

It depends on the size of the room and how many lights are going in. Your written price includes a start date and how long the job will take.

Do you do drop ceilings in the Hamptons?

Yes. We install drop ceilings from our home base in Medford all the way out to the Hamptons, including Westhampton Beach, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor and East Hampton.

Get a price on your drop ceiling.

Tell us about the room and we'll set up a time to measure. Photos of the ceiling help a lot.

631-745-9982
  • Price in writing before any work starts.
  • One crew from start to finish.
  • Fully insured

Step 1 of 3

What are we working on?
Where and when?

Phone photos are perfect. They help us give you a better price.

How do we reach you?

A phone number or email is fine. We use it only to talk about your project.