Armstrong Ceilings - Keeping the Visual Look of Your Office

Most modern businesses normally have a number of staff working within them. These staff are likely to be using computers, telephones and other wired and wireless equipment. In a modern office you want it to be ‘clean’ and free of clutter and wiring. A solution to this is to introduce a suspended ceiling. A suspended ceiling will allow you to trunk cabling through it and ensure that (where possible) you can reduce the visibility of unsightly wiring and cabling. These can also be known as dropped ceilings and can be used for wiring, piping and ductwork.

Armstrong World

Armstrong World Industries are generally considered the worlds largest manufacturer of Suspended Ceiling Products, turning over $2.8 billion dollars in 2009 across 9 countries. Armstrong Ceilings manufacture a range of different ceiling tiles, ceiling grid suspension systems and perimeter solutions. The most popular types of ceiling tiles are either mineral fibre and metal, although they are also made in wood fibre, gypsum and glasswool materials.
Suspended Ceiling Tile Types

Mineral Fibre Tiles come in a variety of finishes, sizes and edge details and consequently can range from £4.00 per m2 to in excess of £20.00 per m2. Mineral Fibre Ceiling Tiles come in a number of edge details. Square Edge, 24mm Tegular and 15mm Tegular (microlook) sit on either 24mm or 15mm exposed grid and either sit flush on the grid (square edge) or drop down below the grid (tegular) to create a channel feature running down between the tiles. [CATS] Mineral Fibre Ceiling Tiles are also available in a semi concealed or concealed edge detail which effectively hides the grid that is suspending them to give the impression of a seamless ceiling. These however are more expensive in cost and generally on extended delivery period and subject to minimum order quantities.
Metal Ceiling Tiles are available in either a plain or a perforated finish and are painted white in colour. Again they are available in a variety of edge details – square edge, 24mm tegular and 15mm tegular (Microlook) which sit on exposed grid. Alternatively Metal Ceiling Tiles can be suspended on a concealed grid system which is commonly known as spring tee or clip in. Here the metal tiles push up into a sprung metal grid system which are then effectively clipped into place. Not only does this make the ceiling relatively secure (you need a special tool to remove the tiles – tile extractor), it also has the effect of hiding the grid, thus making it an aesthetically pleasing finish.
Armstrong Products Online

When looking for suspended ceiling supplies you will find that there are a variety of merchants online. Some are clearly more trustworthy than others and some offer great prices, great service, after sales care and customer support; some do not! When looking to purchase online take into account the reputation of the company you wish to buy from. Look at their online testimonials and seek out reviews. Depending on the size and the cost of your purchase also checkout the security on the website, and see if others have had experience by simply inputting the name into Google followed by the words ‘complaint’ ‘issue’ or ‘problem’. Typically you will soon find out whether this is a site where you are happy to offer your credit or debit card details and ensure yourself that you are buying your suspended ceiling products from a trustworthy source.

Philip Lidgerton is author of this article on armstrong ceilings.Find more information here about general building supplies.