Photos courtesy Ceilume
The grid’s appearance can be less enduring. Painted coatings are prone to fade or yellow. Steel T-bar can rust, despite a thin galvanized coating, especially if it has been scratched through to the underlying steel or is located in a humid or chemically aggressive environment. Grid may also get stained or discolored by indoor air contamination, ordinary dust and grime, sprayed particles, splashed liquids, airborne grease, smoke, and handling with dirty hands. Grid that no longer matches the color adjacent ceiling panels can draw attention to the deteriorated appearance of a ceiling. The appearance will be particularly jarring if dirty grid is juxtaposed against new panels.
Cleaning the grid
In many cases, simple cleaning may be all that is required. Prior to cleaning the grid, adjacent ceiling panels, wall finishes, and anything beneath the ceiling may have to be protected, depending on the messiness of the cleaning procedure and how damage-resistant the adjacent materials are.
Lightly attached dust or dirt may be wiped or vacuumed off. Soiling that is stuck to the surface requires washing. Common household or janitorial cleaning products will usually do the job; always test in an inconspicuous location on grid before applying any cleanser broadly.
If ceiling panels are in-situ then, consideration must also be given to how the proposed cleaning technique will affect panels. Some types of ceiling panels can be damaged by liquid cleaning products and even gentle brushing or vacuuming can cause erosion of fibers. It may be necessary to remove or mask such panels to protect them—both are labor-intensive processes that can also dislodge fibers and dust.
Grid refinishing
For grids that cannot be cleaned adequately, refinishing may be an option. Grids can be refinished either by painting or by covering with a refinishing strip. Before repainting, the grid must be cleaned thoroughly to remove contaminants. Any rust must be removed and priming may be required. Some paint manufacturers recommend sanding existing gloss and semi-gloss coatings before repainting. Adjacent ceiling panels, especially fragile or porous panels would have to be masked or removed.
Grid covers may be a more cost-effective choice when labor is included in the calculation. Available options include adhered strips and plastic covers that slide over the bottom flanges of standard T-bars and perimeter angles. Adhesive types require grid to be thoroughly cleaned, and they must be pressed firmly into place to assure adhesion. Slide-on covers require less labor; they can be applied without removing adjacent panels and are easy to install without special training or tools. Grid covers are available in white and colors that match or are compatible with popular panel colors and faux finishes.
Panel discussion
Ceiling panels comprise the majority of a ceiling’s surface and present most of its aesthetic failures. Their surface may be discolored or soiled by many of the same processes affecting the appearance of grid. In addition, panels with textures, fissures, perforations, or crevices have more surface area that can harbor contaminants. Porous types of panels can emit odors, absorb stains, and support mold and mildew if exposed to moisture. Painted metal panels are subject to the same types of failures as metal grid is. Black or gray streaks are often seen surrounding HVAC diffusers, when particulates in the ventilation stream collect in the immediate area due to the Coandă effect (i.e. the tendency of a fluid jet to stay attached to adjacent surfaces).
Liquid staining agents can come from either below or above the ceiling. Splashed liquids from below are essentially surface stains that may be cleanable, depending on the absorbency of the ceiling material. Liquids from above—usually water from leaks or condensation—can enter absorbent materials and cause stains that go through the entire thickness of the ceiling product. Leaks often carry dirt or other contaminants picked up on their journey to and through the ceiling panels.
