USG
Ceiling tiles, Donn grid, and acoustical products from one of the oldest names in building materials.
About USG
USG (United States Gypsum) has been making building products since 1901. You probably know them for Sheetrock — they make most of the drywall in America. Their ceiling division is the other half of the business, producing acoustical ceiling tiles and the Donn brand suspension grid systems.
USG is now part of Knauf, a German building materials company that acquired them in 2019. The product lines and brand names remain the same. USG tiles and Donn grid are still manufactured in the US and available through the same distribution channels.
USG Products We Install
Acoustical Ceiling Tiles
- Radar — USG's most popular commercial tile. Mineral fiber, NRC 0.55, CAC 35. The standard spec for general office and commercial spaces. Competes directly with Armstrong Cortega.
- Mars — Budget-friendly mineral fiber tile. NRC 0.55, clean look. Common in retail and light commercial.
- Halcyon — Premium fiberglass tile. NRC 0.90, smooth face. For spaces that need high acoustic absorption — conference rooms, libraries, healthcare. USG's answer to Armstrong Ultima.
- Frost — Smooth-face mineral fiber. A step up from Radar in appearance but at a moderate price point.
- Glacier — High-NRC tile for open-plan offices. Good articulation class (AC) rating for speech privacy.
Donn Grid Systems
The Donn brand is the other major grid system alongside Armstrong Prelude. We install both regularly. Donn DX/DXL is their standard 15/16" grid. Donn Fineline is the 9/16" narrow-face option. The grid is solid, connects well, and holds level.
Some projects spec Donn grid specifically because of seismic requirements. USG's seismic grid solutions are well-engineered for California's earthquake zones — and that matters to us.
Specialty Products
- Logix integrated ceiling — A system that combines tiles, grid, lighting, and HVAC into one coordinated ceiling. Reduces installation time and improves ceiling aesthetics.
- Ensemble acoustical panels — Large-format acoustical panels for monolithic ceiling looks.
Why We Work with USG
USG products are everywhere. They're stocked by every major ceiling distributor in our market, which means we can get material fast — often same-day or next-day for standard products. That's important when a project needs material now, not in two weeks.
The Donn grid system is particularly strong in seismic applications. California requires seismic ceiling bracing, and USG's engineering documentation for their seismic grid installations is thorough. It makes permitting and inspection smoother.
Price-wise, USG tiles are competitive with Armstrong. On some products they're a few cents per square foot cheaper, which adds up on large projects. The acoustic performance is comparable across the product lines.
Learn More
Visit USG's website to explore their ceiling product catalog. Or contact us to get a quote on a USG ceiling project.