In a message dated 12/13/2003 7:35:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Listen... HC you old artichoke... this is an Owner/Builder Design/Build project that our mutual friend is embarked upon in Mississippi and I beg that you understand that if the thirty-seven previously submitted design mock-ups of various sizes of sand, pebbles, stones, rocks and boulders thrown upwards by Pyrate's hand in an antique M. Stewart recommended histo presto range of angles and velocities, with spittle and without spittle, with Little Mary running off to the neighbors back yard, with the dog howling, and wild stallions trampling the asparagus patch, while mama was cutting a platinum blues CD, feral boars digging up her fall tulip bulbs, young naked boys with water washer wands trampling the morning laundry, and the delta flood and brimstone sporting skeeters all humbly and politely approached, poached and delivered on a platter to the architectural firm of Pee Pee, Poodlegum and Dixie did NOT meet with approval to proceed pending compliance with all government and NGO regulations met signed sealed and with whities well knotted then I imagine it is a cold day in the Western Hemisphere and that a tiny bit of quibbling over "scattershot" appearance is to be taken once more in stride as ARTISTIC expression. Give the boy some room, cover your ears and stand clear for the black powder acoustician do do his work! I get your drift. He's the owner, and as my late neighbor from Jersey City used to say, "If I want to shit on my floor, I'll shit on my floor!" [Although this use of the word does crudely refer to fecal matter, it is a direct quote, so I'm going to assume it's permissable among the newly-prudish.] Only in this case, it's the Pyrate ceiling, and I guess if he (and Frau Pyrate) want to shit on their ceiling, they'll shit on their ceiling. In my capacity as an architect, however, I would advise against this acoustical treatment, and furthermore recommend that if it's going to be employed, that the treatment should be performed on a bench rather than overhead. But as you have pointed out, this is a means and methods issue (so to speak), and is ultimately the Contractor's choice and ultimately must be acceptable to the Owner. Ralph