A suspended ceiling, or dropped ceiling, ordinarily takes the shape of a grid of metallic supports with rectangular or square tiles placed between them, which is suspended below the roof structure or next floor to provide an area for air supply, cabling and pipes, and to produce an attractive appearance devoid of noticeable clutter.

The suspended ceiling was conceived in 1958 by an American called Donald Brown and has altered very little since. Suspended ceilings are hardly ever seen in the home, but are regularly found in business office and industrial settings where property construction approaches are distinct and additional utilities for example HVAC, PA systems and fire detection are utilised.

Suspended ceiling panels usually are not devoid of down sides, however, and can grow to be aesthetically displeasing after several years of installation. Often, the panels can get discoloured due to tobacco smoke or water loss. Panels can sag downwards, or repeated taking out and reinstallation for repair may end up in the sides and corners of the panels getting ruined. Once the layout of a building requires changes, suspended ceilings may be changed to match the new design but this really is frequently performed amateurishly by general building contractors and may end up in a poor appearance. In wet conditions for example swimming pools, mold could become a concern if allowed to remain unattended.
Stretch ceilings can be a new advancement which may be a superior option to suspended ceilings in many cases.

A stretch ceiling is a PVC sheet which is anchored at all sides to the walls and placed under tension so that it will become smooth. A stretch ceiling has several of the advantages of a suspended ceiling, in terms of covering up aesthetically displeasing roof beams or old plaster, but provides a more appealing finish and tidier installation around pillars and other irregular features. The ceiling could also be arched or curved to make the most of the space available, and could be offered in a wide variety of shades and even illuminated from above by coloured lighting. They are also immune to mold and mildew because water simply flows off them, making them appropriate for use in wet conditions.
Stretch ceilings are an appealing modern day alternative to old fashioned suspended ceilings and therefore are growing in popularity.