How to Get a Commercial Ceiling Quote: What We Need From You
The more information you give us upfront, the faster and more accurate your quote will be. Here's what helps.
The Basics
To put together a meaningful quote, we need to understand three things: what you want, how much of it, and when you need it. Everything else helps us refine the number.
1. Drawings or Plans
If you have architectural drawings, send them. Reflected ceiling plans (RCPs) are the most useful — they show ceiling layout, heights, tile types, and locations of lights, diffusers, and other penetrations. Floor plans with room dimensions work too if no RCPs exist.
No drawings? That's okay for smaller projects. Give us the address and approximate square footage, and we'll schedule a site visit to measure.
2. Specifications
If there's an architect or engineer on the project, there are usually specs. The relevant Division 09 sections tell us exactly what products are required — tile type, grid profile, color, NRC and CAC ratings, fire class, and any special requirements like seismic bracing or clean room ratings.
If there's no spec, tell us what you're going for. "Standard office ceiling" is enough to get us started. "Match the existing ceiling in the hallway" also works — we can identify the existing product and price a match.
3. Scope of Work
Help us understand exactly what you need done:
- New construction or replacement of existing ceiling?
- Do we need to demolish the old ceiling first?
- Grid and tile, or tile only (existing grid stays)?
- Any wall panels, baffles, or specialty items in addition to ceiling?
- Are we responsible for light fixture installation, or just cutting holes?
4. Timeline
When does the project start? When does it need to be done? Tight timelines aren't a problem if we know about them early. They become a problem when we find out a week before the start date. Some specialty products have 4–8 week lead times, so earlier is better for material ordering.
5. Site Access
For existing buildings, let us know about access restrictions:
- Work hours — can we work during business hours, or nights/weekends only?
- Security requirements — badges, background checks, escort requirements
- Elevator access for material delivery
- Loading dock or staging area availability
- Any occupied areas adjacent to the work zone
These factors affect labor costs. A ceiling that takes 3 days during normal hours might take 5 nights if we can only work 6 PM to midnight.
6. Prevailing Wage
Is this a prevailing wage project (public works, school bond, government)? Federal (Davis-Bacon) or state (DIR)? This affects labor pricing and we need to know upfront.
What You'll Get Back
We provide a detailed written quote with:
- Line-item pricing for materials and labor
- Product specifications for everything we're installing
- Estimated installation duration
- Material lead times
- Clear inclusions and exclusions
Turnaround is typically 3–5 business days after we have everything we need. Faster if it's a straightforward project.
Request a Quote
Email us your plans and project details, or fill out the form on our contact page. We'll review everything and get back to you with a number.