The first stretch ceilings appeared in the 60-ies of the XX century. However, this type of decorative finishing of ceilings was widespread only in the 80's. Rapidly gaining popularity, stretch ceilings and today remain very popular. Stretch ceiling is a thin fabric or film, which is pulled on a special frame, reinforced around the perimeter of the walls or on the base surface of the ceiling. The result is a plane with a perfectly flat surface, almost indistinguishable from the solid ceiling.
Content
Stretch ceilings, advantages
This kind of decoration ceilings is not in vain is very popular all over the world. Among other species, they are favorably distinguished by a number of advantages:
- Very few construction debris after installation.
- The surface of the stretch ceiling is always perfectly flat.
- Wide range of colors, patterns.
- In the stretch ceiling, cracks will never appear.
- PVC-linen stretch ceiling reliably protects against flooding.
- Stretch ceiling perfectly conceals electrical wiring and other communications.
- No need to buy building materials - installers bring everything with them, the installation is carried out in a matter of hours.
In general, all the advantages of stretch ceilings can be expressed in three words: light, beautiful, practical. That's why they are so popular all over the world.
Stretch ceilings: characteristics, types
To put it simply, all the suspended ceilings can be divided into two categories: seamless and welded. For the production of seamless ceilings, a fabric base is used, and for welded - a PVC film. In order to know which stretch ceiling to choose the best, you must at least get acquainted with their characteristics.
Very often the characteristics of stretch ceilings are described as advantages, most of which are given above. But something can be added: it is, firstly, fireproof (M1 class), a long service life of about 40 years and ease of maintenance.
seamless stretch ceilings
They represent a solid cloth, which is stretched over the entire rough surface of the ceiling. At manufacture the special thin mesh fabric which is processed by impregnation from polyester is used. The canvas can have a width of up to 510 centimeters.
Seamless canvas is very durable. If good neighbors from above decide you to submerge a little, this can easily hold a large mass of water, which can then be gently drained. They are good against negative temperatures, which allows you to assemble suspended ceilings in rooms that are not heated in winter. The seamless fabric does not change its properties and does not deform at temperature drops from -40 to + 50C.
welded stretch ceilings
This fabric is made of PVC film, welded from strips. The canvas is welded only in stationary conditions with the help of special equipment. The seam turns out to be very small, about 0.2 mm, and almost imperceptible. However, welded tension ceilings are mounted in such a way that the seam is located strictly perpendicular to the windows. The PVC film is immune to the action of chemicals, it does not burn. When exposed to high temperatures, it simply melts, not supporting combustion. The ceiling of the PVC film is treated with antistatic agents to repel dust. Welded ceilings are always made on a pre-order, adjusting strictly to the size of the room.
By the method of fixing the suspended ceilings are divided into:
- Harpoon. With this method of fixing a PVC edge is attached along the edges of the web. In the cut, the fringing shape resembles a hook or harpoon, hence the name.
- Ceilings with wedge-type fasteners. This method somewhat resembles a embroidery frame - the wedge is wedged with a wooden or plastic wedge.
- Ceilings with cam attachment. In this case, the ceiling is clamped by several cams, which are elements of the fastening system. This method of fastening is good because it can be used to pull the web at a distance of less than one centimeter from the overlap.
- The cloth of their polyester fabric is attached with a flexible cord.
Important point: when installing luminaires, the maximum permissible power is limited to 60 watts. For ordinary incandescent lamps, it is even less - 40 watts.
How to choose a stretch ceiling
Below we will consider a few recommendations, which ceiling and for which room to choose.
bathroom
The choice of stretch ceiling for the bathroom is associated with some limitations. The reason for this - the constant high humidity and sudden temperature changes. Even the most powerful ventilation is not capable of completely eliminating these shortcomings. This makes you choose only those materials that are resistant to moisture, fungi and mold. The PVC film meets these requirements completely. It easily withstands high temperature changes, absolutely does not deteriorate even from prolonged contact with water. So, for a bathroom, welded ceilings made of polyvinylchloride film are the best. As for the choice of color or texture, then the choice is extremely individual, and completely depends on the rest of the interior.
kitchen
All of the above advantages of PVC ceilings make them quite suitable for use in the kitchen. In addition, the film absolutely does not absorb extraneous odors, is resistant to dirt, it does not smoke smoke and soot. The surface of the ceiling is very easy to clean with a damp sponge and a usual cleaning agent. Professional installers easily mount a stretch ceiling in such a way as to hide behind it all communications and pipes, as the design of stretch ceilings can be adjusted to almost any requirement. But in the kitchen you can install a fabric seamless ceiling. Yet these products are not made from pure fabric - it is impregnated with polyester, so that the seamless ceilings are also to some extent waterproof. But to clear the dirt of the fabric ceiling is much more difficult. Therefore, if you are wondering which stretch ceiling to choose for the kitchen, it is preferable to still stay on the PVC linen.
living room, bedroom
Here, the restrictions in the choice will be only in terms of money and personal taste. In materials, texture, fastening method, there are no restrictions. Therefore, how to choose the right stretch ceiling in the bedroom and living room, decide, based on personal preferences, the possibilities of the wallet and the interior.
Regarding the drawings and colors - in the bedroom, for example, the ceiling "starry sky" will look great, and in the living room - a drawing of the sky with floating clouds. You can order a multi-level ceiling, where the levels will be of different colors. For a nursery matte canvas is the best. Although in the nursery to install stretch ceilings is not entirely correct because of the indefatigable activity of growing up children. But if you install, then the choice is still better to stop on a matte surface, which does not lose its original appearance so quickly.
Well, we hope that after reading this material, you will not have any more questions like: what is stretch ceilings, how to choose a material, stretch ceiling, etc. As far as color, design, texture is concerned, it is not possible to advise something concrete within the framework of the article, it is necessary to solve such issues individually with the help of specialists.