How we supply it: False ceilings are arranged through a partner ceiling contractor who measures, quotes, frames, finishes and bills the work and pays us a referral commission. Fix the light, fan and AC positions first; the contractor frames around them once plastering has dried.
In one line: A false ceiling is a secondary ceiling hung below the structural slab on a metal or timber frame, used to hide wiring and ducts, fit lights and improve the look and acoustics of a room.
Gypsum board or POP?
| Point | Gypsum board | POP |
|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Factory boards on a GI frame | Powder mixed on site, shaped over mesh |
| Speed and mess | Fast, little dust | Slow, wet and dusty |
| Flatness | Very flat | Depends on the craftsman |
| Curves and mouldings | Limited | Free-form |
| Damp areas | Moisture-resistant boards available | Poor |
| Repairs | Cut out and replace a section | Patch on site |
What a false ceiling is
A false ceiling is a secondary ceiling hung below the structural slab on a metal or timber frame, used to hide wiring and ducts, fit lights and improve the look and acoustics of a room.
Gypsum boards and POP come from the same mineral. POP (plaster of Paris) is gypsum heated into a powder that sets again when mixed with water; boards are that set gypsum, factory-pressed between paper faces.
Ceiling types
| Type | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard gypsum board, 12.5 mm | Living rooms, bedrooms | Flat finish, takes paint |
| Moisture-resistant gypsum board | Kitchens, bathrooms | Resists humidity |
| Fire-rated gypsum board | Near kitchens, escape routes | Slows fire spread |
| POP | Mouldings, curves | Site-made |
| Grid ceiling (600 × 600 mm tiles) | Offices, utility areas | Tiles lift out for access |
| PVC panels | Bathrooms, balconies | Water-resistant, budget |
Drop height and planning
- A drop of about 100–200 mm (4–8 inches) is common for cove lights and wiring; deeper only for AC ducts
- Keep the finished ceiling height at or above what your approved plan requires
- Fans hang from the slab hook, with the down-rod passing through the ceiling
- Mark light, fan, AC and smoke-detector positions before framing
- Plan access panels below junction boxes and AC drains
Checks on a gypsum ceiling
- Board type and thickness should be printed on the boards: standard, moisture-resistant or fire-rated.
- Frame members should be galvanised, hung from the slab with proper anchors at regular spacing.
- Joints should be taped and finished flush; check flatness with a tube light held low.
- Access panels should be in place at junction boxes and AC drains.
- Fan down-rods must pass through to the slab hook, not rest on the frame.
Storing boards and timing the work
- Store boards flat on battens indoors; they absorb moisture and sag.
- Frame the ceiling after plastering has dried, before final painting.
- Keep boards off freshly cured, damp floors.
False ceiling mistakes
- Fans hung from the ceiling frame.
- Standard boards in bathrooms and above the kitchen hob.
- No access panel, so one loose wire means cutting the ceiling.
- A deep drop that makes the room feel low.
- POP applied under a damp slab, which then cracks and stains.