The best restaurant ceiling tiles should satisfy industry standards. as well as excel in durability and resistance to humidity and fire.
Keep in mind that sanitation should always be your top priority. It’s always ideal to choose commercial kitchen ceiling tiles that fit food prep and handling guidelines, as well as your local health codes for restaurant kitchens. This includes a smooth, hygienic surface that is resistant to mold, bacteria, and mildew. These are unfortunately common dwellers of commercial kitchens.
And to brighten up the space, a highly reflective ceiling tile is also preferable.
I dug deep into the world of commercial kitchen ceiling tiles and discovered the best ones from brands such as uDecor, Genesis, and Armstrong. But before we get into each product, let us define commercial kitchen tiles. What makes them a better solution for commercial use than a regular residence ceiling?
What Are Commercial Kitchen Ceiling Tiles?
Commercial kitchen ceiling tiles are generally square or rectangular. They are often constructed of fiberglass or mineral fiber. These tiles are then installed in a suspended metal grid to form a ceiling tile range that can be tailored to fit the size and shape of your kitchen.
The best ceiling tile for commercial kitchen lets you customize the space by providing acoustic comfort. It also requires minimal maintenance and allows easy access to electrical wiring. As well as ducting, and plumbing.
Benefits of Commercial Kitchen Ceiling Tiles:
Acoustic Comfort
If you’ve ever worked in a fast-paced food service facility, then you know how quickly the space can get noisy. You can’t stop the collision of pots and pans and the orders screamed across the room. Because of this common problem, food prep ceiling panels are ideal for a commercial restaurant ceiling.
Many commercial kitchen ceiling tiles offer acoustic comfort and high sound absorption. Which is critical to the proper functioning of the kitchen.
Fire Blocking
Along with the delicious meal you prepare, fire protection should be at the top of your priority list. Most commercial kitchen ceiling tiles have fire-retardant properties. They keep the flames from extending to the roof and minimize their contribution to the fire load in a kitchen in case of fire.
Although most PVC ceiling tiles are rated A(1), a few are actually rated C(3) while claiming the A(1) rating. It’s always best to ask the manufacturer for specs along with an ASTM E84 report.
Humidity Resistant
Commercial kitchens are naturally heated spaces. And since warm air is moister than cold air, you can expect that there’s already a lot of moisture in the air. The best ceiling tiles for commercial kitchen should be able to cope with sag and humidity.
Convenient Access
Most restaurant kitchen ceiling tiles are lightweight. Which means they can be raised from their grid. And this provides you simple access to components like wiring, lighting, plumbing, HVAC, and other systems.
When you need to do quick maintenance on components concealed in between drop and structural ceiling, you can easily remove tiles. This allows you to do the fix faster.
Easy To Clean
Proper sanitation and safety are very important in restaurants. Drop ceiling tiles made of food-grade materials are simple to clean and maintain. You’ll be able to get rid of dirt and dust that has accumulated just by dusting the tiles with a soft brush or using a vacuum. Also, you can use a cleaning solution if you want a more extensive cleaning.
Easy To Replace
Ceiling tiles in commercial kitchen are simple to replace. You won’t need to redo the entire ceiling if a tile is broken or has discolored. Drop ceiling tiles are installed in a metal grid, which means that when you need to replace a tile, you can simply remove the broken piece and install a new one.
Smooth vs. Porous Surface
The main difference between smooth and porous surfaces is their capacity to contain water, air, or other fluids.
Ceiling tiles with a porous surface have pores to absorb moisture. Although most acoustic ceiling tiles available are porous fiberboard, they are susceptible to damp stains and sagging. And this can turn them into a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and mildew.
The perforations in ceiling tiles have a simple but great purpose, though. It is to absorb sound waves and lower noise levels in a space.
Smooth surface ceiling tiles, on the other hand, are easier to clean and maintain. Their sleek, smooth surface also lends a refined look to any kitchen.
The Best Ceiling Tile for Commercial Kitchen
You’ll find many ceiling tiles on the market but not all can take on the demands of various food facilities. That being said, I’ve put together some of the best ceiling tiles for restaurants.
uDecor Duraclean Smooth White Ceiling Tile
Crafted from UV Stabilized 1/8″ thick vinyl plastic, the uDecor Duraclean Smooth White Ceiling Tile is a durable tile that could be a perfect option for commercial kitchens. It’s mold and mildew resistant and it’s completely washable.
You may place them in the grid or immediately beneath existing acoustic tiles. Then, you can apply normal insulation right on top of them. And since the tiles are flat, you can cut them easily. Which makes them ideal for usage in spaces with missing tiles around the border.
Genesis Smooth Pro White Ceiling Tiles
Waterproof, humidity-resistant, and easy to clean, the Genesis Smooth Pro White Ceiling Tiles can tackle the shortcomings of typical acoustical ceiling panels. These 2 x 4 ceiling panels are crafted from durable PVC. And they come in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns to match your kitchen’s aesthetics.
It’s ideal for use in current grid systems and is a sensible and elegant alternative for both residential and commercial kitchens. Its smooth surface also makes it a great installation into any area or design plan.
What I like about this ceiling tile is that it won’t water stain, bend, swell, or decay. Plus, it boasts outstanding fire and heat resistance.
uDecor Duraclean White Ceiling Tile
The uDecor Duraclean White Ceiling Tile is 100 percent waterproof, which makes it a great option for commercial kitchens. I think one of the best attributes of a good commercial ceiling tile is the smoothness of the surface. And this 2 x 2 tile lends a refined charm to any kitchen setting due to its sleek, smooth surface.
Because of the high amount of light reflection provided by its gentle white tone, this tile would be great for ambient lighting. It’s also very easy to clean since it is made entirely of PVC vinyl. This means that you can clean the tiles repeatedly without causing any damage to them.
Armstrong Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
Acoustic ceiling tiles are specially designed to minimize the noise in a space. The Armstrong Acoustic Ceiling Tiles is an easy-to-install 2 x 2 ceiling tiles with noise-reducing properties as it’s made of mineral fiber.
This commercial kitchen ceiling has an ASTM E84 Class A rating, which means it has the lowest rate of fire spread and produces the least amount of smoke. The non-directional texture and tegular edge make the tile easy to cut, minimizing time during installation.
Armstrong HUMIGUARD Plus Acoustic Ceilings
Busy commercial kitchens get heated more than your home kitchen. Add to it the continuous washing, cooking, and steaming, and a low-quality tile ceiling may not be able to take it.
The Armstrong HUMIGUARD Plus Acoustic Ceilings is yet another noise-reducing ceiling tile with the HumiGuard feature. This tile remains flat, even under high humidity and when heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) cycles.
Due to their capacity to withstand sagging even in humid settings, it is sure to be cost-effective. This is because you won’t need to replace it for a long time. Its non-directional texture and tegular edge make the tile easy to cut. This will minimize your time spent on installation.
And much like the previous Armstrong acoustic sealing, this commercial kitchen ceiling tile also has an ASTM E84 Class A rating. Which means it has the lowest rate of fire spread and produces the least amount of smoke.
Best Ceiling Tile for Commercial Kitchen FAQs
What are commercial ceiling tiles made of?
Many commercial kitchen ceiling tiles are made of durable PVC. This material is sturdy enough to withstand constant cleaning and humidity in the air. Metals are also common, but they tend to enhance noise in the kitchen.
Can you have a drop ceiling in a commercial kitchen?
Including a drop ceiling into the design of your commercial kitchen ceiling guarantees sanitation and noise control. It also offers simple access to system components.
How do restaurants clean ceiling tiles? How do you keep ceiling tiles clean?
To remove loose debris from your restaurant’s permanent ceiling tiles, you can use a static duster. After that, you can vacuum hard-to-reach food preparation areas. And using a wet sweeper soaked in your dishwashing solution, you can clean the ceiling tiles directly. You must avoid getting the sweeper overly wet so that it doesn’t leak and make a bigger mess.
What type of edges are most ceiling tiles manufactured with?
Square lay-in, square or angled tegular, and concealed or semi-concealed edges are examples of ceiling tile types.
Can you wash ceiling tiles?
With certain ceiling tiles, you could. It depends on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Generally, you can dampen a towel or sponge in water that contains mild soap for more thorough cleaning of the ceiling. After soaking the towel, you can ring it and wipe off the ceiling tiles or panels lightly. Then, you can use a separate towel or sponge that has been slightly soaked in clean water to wipe the soapy film behind.
Is PVC ceiling good for kitchen?
PVC ceilings, like gypsum ones, are waterproof and more practical, and lasting in high moisture places like a commercial kitchen. Ceilings made of PVC are often used in restaurant kitchens because they are long-lasting. And they are easy to clean and maintain.
How long do ceiling tiles last?
Many restaurant owners are unaware that ceiling tiles must be updated every 10 years. If you don’t spot any damage and discoloration, they could become fragile. Older ceiling tiles have a tendency to distort and even shatter. Aside from that, the damage they sustain will negate their utility and cosmetic charm in your space.
I hope you find this guide helpful in finding the ideal ceiling tile for your business. Make sure to check out the recent prices and discounts for the products listed above so you can start customizing your kitchen and making preparing delicious meals more convenient. Good luck!