Stretch ceilings were first introduced to Europeanscountries back in the 20th century. This technique allows you to implement any design ideas. They are practical and lightweight, you can easily hide ceiling flaws, electrical wiring, and ventilation systems under them. By installing two-level stretch ceilings with your own hands, you can significantly save money and be confident in the reliability of the structure.
Due to the simplicity of installation of two-level stretch ceilings, you can easily implement any design solution.
Types of tension structures
The suspended ceiling can be made ofPVC fabrics and films. The second option is installed most often. It is a thin base made of polyvinyl chloride. Such a surface can be either glossy or matte. At the same time, the thinness of the base does not indicate its fragility. PVC coating is very durable. You can choose any shade for yourself. Such a film is not afraid of moisture, in case of flooding by residents from the upper floors, furniture and surrounding objects will remain in their original form. Fabric options are made of matter that is saturated with polyurethane components. Structures of this type can be installed in rooms where there is no heating. But there cannot be a glossy base on such ceilings, and the number of colors is limited.
Construction of a two-level ceiling.Two-level stretch ceilings stand out from the general background of such devices. They help to divide the room into zones without using additional partitions. The design of such ceilings allows you to mount lamps and chandeliers in their base. There is practically no dust during the installation process. But installation work involves heating the room to maximum temperatures, so items that can be damaged should be removed. Return to contents</a>
Tools and adaptations for work
It is quite possible to install stretch ceilings yourself, and the installation proceeds without complications. In order for the work to be fruitful, you should prepare the necessary equipment:
Tools for installing a two-level stretch ceiling.
- film;
- baguette;
- decorative sleeve;
- plywood for the construction of several levels of space;
- wood bar;
- fixers on a metal base, U-shaped for fixtures;
- thermo rings for installation of lighting devices for the point plan;
- glue;
- dowels, plastic screws.
And also a set of tools:
- level laser or water;
- heat gun;
- Drill with a set of drills for concrete bases;
- a hammer;
- Screwdriver;
- Hacksaw for metal and wooden surfaces;
- putty knife;
- a clip for suspending a film;
- painting thread coloring;
- roulette;
- pencil.
The heat gun is available at the organizations,manufacturing such ceilings. It can be rented for a while. Before carrying out the main work, the room should be cleared of furniture or removed so that it does not interfere with the process. It is also necessary to correctly calculate the amount of material. Drawing up a diagram of a two-level ceiling will help with this. Do not forget about electrical wiring.
Methods for removing putty:a - using paste; b - using a spatula. Before installing the stretch ceiling, it is important to check its base for integrity. The previous coating must be completely removed. Particular attention must be paid to hollow areas, they must be removed. The absence of various defects allows you to apply the finishing putty. Significant damage to the ceiling covering, the presence of visible differences in height requires new plastering of the base. If such irregularities reach 10 mm, you need to treat the surface with putty. As soon as the plaster dries, you should prepare for the next stage of work. Return to the table of contents</a>
Installation work
An essential circumstance is the protection of the electrical wiring by laying it in a special polyethylene pipe. It is attached to the base with clamps.
Layout diagram for a two-level ceiling.To do it right, you need to take a water or laser level. Make a mark for the ceiling of the first row: the permissible elevation indicator will be no less than 3 cm from its source. Using a bright upholstery thread, you should stretch the outline along the marks. Take a thread that is pulled tightly, focusing on these very marks, then release it from your hands. Traces in the form of a smooth strip are visible on the wall. The lower ceiling should be made at a level of 10-12 cm. Two-level stretch ceilings, having a wave configuration or rounding elements, are marked with a pencil on the base of the ceiling. These markings will help in the future to carry out installation work on assembling the frame of the second layer. To secure the plywood frame, a wooden beam is screwed to the ceiling base. They are cut into small pieces 10 cm long, then screwed or doweled to the ceiling area along the outline of the designation of volumetric elements. The permissible distance is 10-15 cm. A plywood strip measuring 10-12 cm is screwed to them. A mandatory condition will be its passage along the designated line, while all the convolutions must be preserved. To fix the baguette, holes are drilled on the first tier at a distance of 10-15 cm with a drill or hammer drill, into which dowels will be screwed. To fix it to the wall, use a screwdriver and fasteners, the baguette is fixed to the base. When installing this small part of the space, you should know that the connection points of adjacent profiles do not have to be located in the corner zone. At the time when they are connected, the distance between the holes is equal to 2-4 cm.
Scheme of a two-level suspended ceiling withlamp. The baguettes of one and the other plane must be on a common horizontal. The bar on the base of the second level should be 10-15 cm lower than the ceiling. As soon as these components are fixed in the right places, you should begin installing spotlights. They are fixed to the ceiling plane with special metal profiles in the shape of the letter "P". In order to avoid difficulties when carrying out work of this kind, you need to take a drill, screws and dowels. The finished lamps are connected to wires in a special corrugated pipe. It is important to know that lighting devices with an allowable power of 50 W are made on such devices. Return to contents</a>
Practical recommendations
So, the film should be attached starting fromfirst row. It is unwound, clamped at the corner points in the area of the baguette strip. Then a heat gun is taken, which heats the space to +60 degrees. Under the influence of high temperatures, the film softens and is easily stretched onto the finished frame. A harpoon is located along the edge of the film. Using a spatula, it is moved into the groove of the baguette strip. First, you should fix the corner zones, then install the middle part. As soon as the main installation work is completed, heating is no longer required. At the time of completion of the installation of the first row, the second level begins to be mounted. An elastic profile is fixed in the gaps located in the space of the canvas and the wall. It will help to mask the visible differences in the walls. A plastic plug is installed at the joints of the tiers of the film. The lamps are put in place at the moment when the installation of the ceilings is completed. As soon as the surface of the ceiling cools down, it is stretched, then openings for the lighting fixtures are cut out. To do this job correctly, you need to determine the location of each of them under the film by touch, the thermal ring is carefully coated with glue. As soon as it dries, you should make a small opening for the lamp with a knife and fix the lamps in the desired position. In this simple way, you can install two-level stretch ceilings yourself. To install a more complex device, you can seek help from specialists. Basically, the process of decorating the ceiling space in this way seems to be a rather complicated task, requiring attention, accuracy, organization and coordination in the work of several people. However, joint actions carried out according to a clear plan will help in fast and high-quality installation.</ ul>
