Advantages and - one of the most popularand hotly debated topics on all sorts of online forums dedicated to construction and repair. A user who wants to get acquainted with this issue and soberly assess the feasibility of installing such a structure is bombarded with a whole stream of information, often contradictory and controversial. In such an abundance of opinions and arguments, it can be difficult to understand and get an objective idea of the attractive aspects of stretch ceilings and their disadvantages.
The variety of types of stretch ceilings allows you to renovate a room in any style.
Types of stretch ceilings
To make a reasonable judgment about the qualities of the tensionceiling, you should first take a closer look at it. The idea of lining the ceiling with a stretched canvas appeared in France, so the stretch ceiling is often called French. Currently, 2 types of such structures are used:
- with a cloth of cloth;
- with a cloth made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) film.
Installation of a stretch ceiling using the wedge method.The most affordable in terms of cost is a vinyl stretch ceiling, but it can only be called cheap in comparison with a fabric stretch ceiling. In relation to other types of finishing (suspended structures, plaster), even a PVC ceiling is more expensive, and the difference in price will be quite noticeable. A fabric ceiling has another name - seamless. Indeed, such a ceiling never has and cannot have seams, since its canvas is mounted only in one piece. The maximum size of the room in which a stretch ceiling of this type can be installed is limited by the width of a standard roll and is 5 m. The maximum width of PVC film today is only 3.5 m, and such canvases appeared quite recently. Therefore, in most cases, vinyl stretch ceilings have a welded seam. There is no need to worry about the strength of this seam: it is made using high-frequency electric welding and, as tests show, is stronger than the PVC film itself in its pure form. However, on some types of film (depending on the texture) it becomes noticeable.
Installing a stretch ceiling using a harpoon:1 — wall, 2 — mounting baguette, 3 — stretch ceiling fabric, 4 — harpoon. It is a common belief that fabric stretch ceilings are made only from natural materials. This is not true. Polyester thread is used to produce such fabric, and the finished fabric is impregnated with polyurethane. Stretch ceilings, both fabric and vinyl, are fixed to a frame made of aluminum or plastic strips, which are called baguettes. Baguettes are attached to the walls under the main ceiling along the entire perimeter of the room. When using standard-sized strips, the height of the room will decrease by 30-40 mm. But there are special varieties — the so-called mini-baguettes. Due to their compact size, they allow you to reduce the gap between the main ceiling and the stretch ceiling to 15 mm. Installation of a fabric ceiling is quite simple and does not require the use of special technical devices. The vinyl ceiling after being fixed to the frame must be heated with a heat gun to a temperature of 80°. After cooling, the film will stretch, forming a smooth and perfectly flat surface. Many people mistakenly believe that the process of heating the vinyl film temporarily turns the room into a sauna and leads to catastrophic consequences for wooden furniture, windows and doors. There is no need to be afraid of such effects. Only the ceiling sheet is heated, and since the thinnest vinyl film (0.15-0.25 mm) does not produce noticeable infrared radiation, temperature changes can only be felt at a distance of several centimeters from it. However, using a heat gun can lead to undesirable effects on houseplants, so it is better to take them out of the room during installation. Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of this type of ceiling. Return to contents</a>
Advantages of stretch ceilings
Stages of installation of a suspended ceiling.The main advantage of stretch ceilings, regardless of the type of fabric, is their leveling effect. They form a perfectly flat surface, and this result is achieved with much less effort than with plastering or installing suspended structures. In addition, stretch ceilings have the following positive qualities:
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Other benefits
A stretch ceiling allows you to make the installation of pipes, wiring or ventilation boxes in the gap between it and the main ceiling invisible.
When the room is flooded from above, tensionthe ceiling can withstand up to 100 liters of water. It is also possible to install built-in spotlights. A very effective solution is a translucent canvas combined with lamps installed above it. The lighting is soft and seems to flow from nowhere. The following properties can also be attributed to the obvious advantages:
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Drawbacks of stretch ceilings
Despite such a large numberpositive qualities, stretch ceilings also have disadvantages. Firstly, the cost. Installation of a stretch ceiling costs about $30 per 1 sq.m., so this type of finishing is significantly more expensive than other options. Self-installation without loss of quality is impossible, so you won’t be able to save money.
Materials used in manufacturingmulti-level ceiling, comply with fire safety standards. Secondly, sensitivity to temperature. Close proximity to lamps can end very badly for a stretch ceiling. In this regard, their power should not exceed 60 W for incandescent lamps and 35 W for halogen lamps, provided that a heat-insulating ring is used. Lamps with a higher power should be located at a distance of 150 mm from the canvas. Stretch ceilings are also not adapted to the cold. They are afraid not only of negative temperatures, but also of a sudden cold snap within 5 °. Such a situation is possible if, for example, the air conditioner was mistakenly set to cooling instead of heating mode or the room urgently needed to be ventilated during the cold season.
For removal.The ceiling sheet cracks, and its restoration in this case is impossible. An increase in temperature is also undesirable, since it can cause the stretch ceiling to sag. The probability of such a phenomenon is higher, the larger the area of the sheet, so it is not recommended to install structures of this type in rooms with an area of more than 20 square meters. Thirdly, sensitivity to pressure drops. The difference in pressure between the main room and the space above the stretch ceiling can lead to its collapse. This phenomenon is especially often observed when opening doors or windows. Fourthly, the sheet is afraid of sharp objects. The strength of the stretch ceiling sheet is beyond doubt; during tests, it easily withstands the weight of an adult, who can also jump on it. But even light contact with a sharp object ends in a rupture of the material, after which it will only remain to be thrown away. Fifthly, the difficulty of cleaning. Stretch ceilings do not require any care, but if dirt somehow ends up on the sheet, it can be difficult to remove. To do this, you have to use only soft rags or sponges, which cannot be pressed hard against the ceiling due to the specifics of its design.
