An acoustic plasterboard ceiling is a traditional solution in which perforated plasterboard panels are installed in a suspended rail system to reduce reverberation in the room. It is a well-known method, but it requires professional installation, filling, painting and typically 1-2 days of work per room. Today, lighter alternatives in PET felt are available, which are installed directly onto the existing ceiling with adhesive and can be fitted as a DIY project in an afternoon.
Acoustic ceiling in plasterboard or a lighter alternative?
Arku Acoustic Panels
What is an acoustic plasterboard ceiling?
An acoustic plasterboard ceiling consists of perforated or grooved plasterboard panels installed in a suspended track system and absorbs sound through the holes in the panel and an underlying layer of acoustic felt or mineral wool. The surface is filled and painted so that the ceiling resembles a regular plasterboard ceiling, with the difference that it absorbs sound instead of reflecting it.
The solution provides a smooth, monolithic look without visible joints, and it is widely used in commercial construction, institutions and offices, where the architect wants a ceiling that visually resembles a traditional plasterboard ceiling. In private homes, it is typically chosen when the homeowner wants a completely flat, painted ceiling, or when it is part of a larger construction project where the ceiling needs to be built from scratch anyway.
What is required to install plasterboard ceilings?
Installing an acoustic plasterboard ceiling requires a suspended track system, professional installation, filling and painting, and typically takes 1-2 working days per room.
The process begins with the installation of a steel track system, which is suspended from the existing ceiling using hangers. This requires a drill, screws and a spirit level, and requires that the underlying structure can support the weight. The plasterboard panels are cut to size and installed in the tracks, and mineral wool or acoustic felt is placed behind the panels. Once the panels are in place, the joints are filled, sanded smooth and painted with at least two coats. It is the filling and sanding that takes time and creates dust, and this is typically the part of the process that makes DIY unrealistic for most people.
The total price of an acoustic plasterboard ceiling with professional installation typically ranges from 700 to 1.400 kr per m² incl. materials. The ceiling height is reduced by at least 50 to 100 mm due to the track system, which is worth considering if the room already has a low ceiling height.
Why consider an alternative to plasterboard?
PET felt acoustic panels solve the same acoustic problem as plasterboard ceilings, but are installed directly onto the existing ceiling with adhesive and can be fitted by most people themselves. The difference lies in time, price and process.
Time is the first difference. A plasterboard ceiling typically takes 1-2 days per room with a tradesperson, when accounting for track installation, board installation, filling, sanding and painting. ARKU PET felt panels are installed by one person in an afternoon. Installation time is 28 min per m², and there is no filling, no sanding and no waiting for paint to dry.
Price is the second difference and typically the decisive one. A plasterboard ceiling with professional installation costs 700 to 1.400 kr per m². ARKU DIY panels cost 390 kr per m² incl. VAT plus adhesive. For an open-plan kitchen and living area with 10 m² of coverage, the difference is approx. 4.200 kr for ARKU versus 7.000 to 14.000 kr for plasterboard. The savings are primarily due to eliminating the installation cost, which typically accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the total price for plasterboard solutions. See more calculation examples in our price guide.
Process is the third difference. Plasterboard requires tracks, screws, a saw, filler, a sander and paint. PET felt requires a caulking gun, adhesive and a utility knife. The panels weigh 2 kg per m² compared to 8 to 12 kg for a plasterboard system incl. tracks, and they require no acclimatisation. There is no dust, no clean-up and no drying time.
Acoustically, both solutions perform well. Directly installed PET felt provides NRC 0,40. With a 200 mm cavity, this increases to NRC 0,85. Perforated plasterboard with mineral wool and a cavity typically provides NRC 0,60 to 0,85 depending on the degree of perforation and construction. For most private rooms and smaller commercial premises, the acoustic difference is not what determines the choice. Price and process do.
For a broader comparison of material types, you can read our guide to choosing acoustic panels for ceilings.
Can you install acoustic panels on an existing plasterboard ceiling?
Yes, lightweight acoustic panels in PET felt can be glued directly onto an existing plasterboard ceiling without removing it or building a new structure. Plasterboard ceilings have a smooth surface that provides good adhesion for adhesive, and the panels’ thickness of 12 mm and weight of 2 kg per m² mean that they neither burden the existing ceiling nor noticeably reduce the ceiling height.
This is one of the most sought-after applications among homeowners who already have a plasterboard ceiling and want better acoustics without tearing anything down. The process is the same as for installation on concrete or wood. The ceiling is cleaned, the panels are cut to size as needed, adhesive is applied with a caulking gun, and the panel is pressed up against the ceiling.
We have written a separate guide on installation on an existing ceiling, which explains which ceiling types are suitable and what you should check before getting started. You can find the full step-by-step process in ARKU's installation guide.
When is plasterboard still the right choice?
An acoustic plasterboard ceiling is still the right choice in some situations. If you want a completely smooth, painted ceiling without visible joints, plasterboard is the only solution that provides that look. If the project is a new build where the ceiling needs to be built from scratch anyway, plasterboard can be naturally integrated into the construction process. If there are requirements from the architect or client adviser for a specific suspended system, or if the room has installations such as ventilation and sprinklers that require access behind the ceiling, a suspended plasterboard system is the right construction.
It is not about plasterboard being a poor solution. It is about there now being simpler options for most private homes and smaller commercial projects where a smooth look is not a requirement.
If you want to see and feel the difference yourself, you can order a sample box for 50 kr. It contains a material sample, allowing you to assess the surface and thickness before you decide.
