Tin Ceiling Questions

[Debbelle]

This is a tin ceiling in a building that's over 100 years old. The whole ceiling is about 30 ft. x 100 ft. I think it's tin. It is painted. It has a lot of designs on it. That's why I've posted so many pictures. I would like to try to find out information about it.  I'm attaching some pictures here. Also, does it have any value if it were to be taken down. The building may be demolished.

[Debbelle]

Here are 2 more pictures to show the rest of the designs.

[mart]

Without a doubt,, if you can get it,,take it down !!  These tiles are used for everything !!  Bed headboards, art, wall coverings, those chippy ones are used in shabby chic decorating !! Those are gorgeous !! $9. to $15. each for small ones More for the large ones !!

[Rauville]

I don't know where the market has gone, but I use to think the retail value was about $4 / sq. foot for the reusable panels.
Be careful not to wear your better clothes if you decide to take it down.

[greenacres]

I don't know where you are located, but my husband does historic restoration. He says there a company in New Jersey by the name of "ERCO". They know all about fhose tiles. We hired them to restore a building from 1700's. The building had changed many times through the centuries.

[Debbelle]

Thank you. I'm in Ohio. But, I will check them out.

[greenacres]

The company is amazing. When they work on high ceilings, they where stilts. I'm sure they have a web page.

[cogar]

Be careful not to wear your better clothes if you decide to take it down.

Right, and a dust mask will help cause there's usually 100 years of dust collected on top of them.

[mart]

I don't know where the market has gone, but I use to think the retail value was about $4 / sq. foot for the reusable panels.
Be careful not to wear your better clothes if you decide to take it down.

Craft and home décor industry has raised the value a bit !!

[KC]

I know in many areas the demolition company generally knows the monetary value of these and tries to recover it.  Can't believe the owners wouldn't get a salvage company to get all they needed first.

But yes....they are highly sought after!!!  You won't retire on the $$ value...but they are highly sought after!

[jacon4]

Well, hate to throw a wet towel on this but, they still make tin ceiling panels today and, the problem you are probably going to discover is, that paint is most likely lead based which means it will cost more to strip and make useable than buying new tin panels.

http://www.americantinceilings.com/

[mart]

Many in the home décor and craft industry do not want them stripped,,they want them as-is and throw a clear sealer on them !! The lead based paint would not worry me as long as no infants are allowed to chew on it !! I have probably eaten half a ton  of it !!  That's about all we had and since my family was in the building business we were exposed to a lot of it !!  Our cribs were painted with it as well as everything else !! None of us had lead poisoning !! And My granddad and my dad tore down houses in some of the Dallas historic districts !! They didn`t restore many houses back then !!  And they both lived a long life !!  I just think so much of this stuff is hyped up that it scares people without them ever thinking about it logically or using common sense !! If its so bad now,, why wasn`t it bad back then ?? If it was,, I should have croaked years ago !!

[KC]

Yepper...what Mart said.  Beat me to it.  Clear coat!!

[cogar]

Scared of living ....... and afraid of dying. 

[jacon4]

LOL, well yeah, I have been in the construction industry all my life, ALOT different now than in days gone by however, when it comes to a house for instance, if you have plans of ever selling it, one just can not ignore the realities of today. Just saying......