The production of stretch ceilings has been on the modern market for a long time, and every year they are gaining more and more popularity. This is not at all surprising. After all, in addition to wide design possibilities, they are distinguished by durability and reliability. Today we will help you figure out which material for stretch ceilings is best for your room.
Design features of stretch ceilings
Stretch ceilings are a whole structure, which consists of a certain fabric and a fastening system. The latter is represented by a plastic or metal profile. With its help, the canvas for the stretch ceiling is placed at a certain distance from the base one.
Such designs allow you to quickly level absolutely any surface and create a new smooth one. Also, with their help, you can realize a wide variety of designsolutions. Among other advantages of stretch ceilings, the following is also distinguished:
- they allow you to hide the various communications laid from above;
- their installation will be much cheaper than installing drywall;
- installation is carried out in a short time without construction debris (even if the ceiling has several levels, the installation takes an average of two to six hours);
- before installation, it is not necessary to prepare the base ceiling at all, and this minimizes not only time, but also material costs;
- you can install the ceiling after other repairs;
- service life, depending on the type, varies from 20 to 50 years.
The main disadvantage of false ceilings is that they do not "eat" the height of the room.
Modern materials for stretch ceilings are presented in three types:
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
- fabric;
- Fiberglass.
Let's consider each type in more detail.
PVC stretch ceilings
PVC is a material for stretch ceilings, which appeared for the first time back in the sixties in France. During this time, the technology of its manufacture has been improved, respectively, and the quality of the product itself has improved. By the way, this type is also called film.
Film for stretch ceilings comes in sizes from 1300 to 3200 mm. If this value is not enough, then several pieces are welded together. The seam is neat, small andpractically invisible. Installation is carried out using heat guns that heat the room up to 60-70 degrees.
PVC stretch ceiling can be of the following types:
- depending on the texture: glossy (visible reflections, varnish texture and gloss) or matte (no reflections visible, the ceiling is perfectly even);
- depending on the type of fastening: with a plastic insert (the technological gap covers the glazing bead) or gapless fastening (there is no gap between the flow and the wall, the joint is perfect).
Advantages of PVC material
- PVC film for stretch ceilings has a very wide color palette (more than 130 shades).
- Material takes many forms.
- Large range of allowable web width.
- It is possible to choose the type of surface.
- Great value for money.
- The surface is perfectly flat and highly moisture resistant.
- This material is suitable for a stretch ceiling in any room.
- The cover covers all communications.
- The material is highly flammable.
- PVC ceilings do not absorb odors and dust, have a high level of thermal insulation.
- Such ceilings minimally reduce the height of the room.
- PVC stretch ceiling is very simple and easy to clean, no painting required.
- The material can withstand loads up to 100 kg per square meter.
- PVC ceilings, if necessary, you candismantle and install back.
- A wide variety of lighting systems can be built into the ceiling, as well as hoods, fire safety sensors and so on.
Disadvantages of PVC stretch ceilings
- This is not the best material for use in rooms with temperatures below +5 degrees.
- In the first hours after installation, an unpleasant smell emanates from such a ceiling.
- This ceiling is very delicate and easily damaged by mechanical stress.
- There is a barely visible seam when welding multiple sheets.
- If the weld is of poor quality, there is a high risk that the weld line will diverge.
- The pattern of the material is done in production, so accurate measurements are required.
- When choosing a manufacturer, it is necessary to carefully study the availability of quality and safety certificates, since cheap and low-quality fabrics not only emit an unpleasant odor for a long time, but are also unsafe for he alth.
Fabric stretch ceilings
In the manufacture of such ceilings, a special polyester mesh fabric is used, which is impregnated on both or only one side with polymers. The fabric for the stretch ceiling is released directly from the roll, that is, the installation takes place without prior cutting of the material.
The texture is very reminiscent of a regular fabric, the fibers are visible. Roll width - 4000 mm. Thanks to this size,make a ceiling without seams. But if the width is not enough, then the canvas is interconnected using a special profile.
Advantages of fabric ceiling
- Higher strength than PVC.
- This material is resistant to temperatures below five degrees Celsius.
- Fabric ceiling withstands more severe mechanical stress than PVC structures.
- The fabric material for the stretch ceiling is highly soundproof.
Flaws
- Fabric ceilings have a poor color palette.
- Painting with paints is possible only after installation.
- Original designs can only be achieved through photo printing.
- Such ceilings are not able to fully retain moisture in the event of flooding.
- Cleaning dirt from a fabric ceiling is not easy and time consuming.
- Fabric ceilings cannot be installed a second time.
- Such ceilings are characterized by high cost.
Fiberglass ceilings
Fiberglass is a new material. For a stretch ceiling, it began to be used quite recently. Therefore, a guarantee for such structures gives a small one - about five years. For other types, the warranty period is about ten years. Also, not all companies are still installing fiberglass ceilings.
stretchThe canvas is produced similarly to the fabric type, that is, without heating. Painting and drawing is carried out after installation. The material has high water permeability and sound insulation, it is very durable and more environmentally friendly than PVC stretch ceiling.
Types of stretch ceiling by design
Regardless of what material the stretch ceilings are made of, they can be presented in the following design:
- Starry sky: fiber optics and Swarovski crystals are installed in the ceiling. Thanks to this, the effect of the starry sky is achieved.
- Illuminated ceiling: An LED strip is laid behind the ceiling. Helps create additional lighting.
- Two-level ceiling: a combination of glossy and matte canvases at different levels. It will help to zone the room.
- Z-D Stretch Ceiling: Various 3D shapes, arcs, waves, arches or flowers are created on the ceiling.
- Ceiling Photo Print: Any image can be printed on a matte or gloss finish.
Guide to choosing a stretch ceiling
- First, you need to consider all existing types of materials for stretch ceilings and get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Determine the design of the ceiling and the color scheme of the material.
- Determine the maximum budget allocated for repairs in general and for ceiling installation separately.
- Choose reliable professionals who will install the ceiling.
Choosing a color scheme
White ceiling is versatile. But sometimes you want to create an unusual interior design that will not only please with color, but also perform some function (for example, visually enlarge the room). Moreover, the material for the stretch ceiling is characterized by a wide color palette. Here are some tips to help you choose the right one:
- If you are the owner of low base ceilings, then you should not experiment with color. It is better to opt for light shades: white, beige, pastel, blue. They visually increase the space and fill it with air.
- For high ceilings, feel free to choose the dark colors of the stretch material.
- Light shades will suit any interior style.
- Bright and contrasting colors of stretch ceilings should not be chosen for living rooms. Such colors cause only anxiety, and not an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility.
- It is good to choose turquoise tones for the bathroom and children's room.
- A photo printing on a stretch ceiling will bring a unique flavor to the interior.
- The bedroom will look great ceiling in the style of "Starry Sky". This will help create an atmosphere of relaxation.
Criteria for selection by room
For the bathroom, you should choose PVC material with a glossy texture. This is due to the fact that usuallythe bathroom does not have a large area, but it is characterized by high humidity and temperature changes. Also, a glossy PVC stretch ceiling will be an excellent solution for the kitchen.
In the living room, any kind of stretch ceiling looks equally good. Therefore, it all depends on your aesthetic preferences. But remember that a glossy stretch ceiling has the ability to visually enlarge the room, and a matte look will look very good if a lot of daylight enters the room.
Matte PVC or fabric ceilings are usually chosen for the bedroom. They are the best conducive to an atmosphere of comfort, tranquility and relaxation.
As you can see, each type of stretch ceiling has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is impossible to single out the best material for stretch ceilings. It all depends on the room where the ceiling will be installed, personal preferences of the customer, his design solution and financial capabilities.
