Articles

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of suspended ceilings
• What materials are used in the manufacture of suspended ceilings
• Which cornice to choose and methods of fastening suspended ceilings
• How to choose lamps for suspended ceilings
• Which suspended ceiling to choose for a specific room
• What kind of stretch ceiling is best to choose?

The design of a stretch ceiling can radically change any interior. During a major or cosmetic renovation, the installation of such a system can be completed in two or three hours. A beautiful canvas that stretches on a frame looks attractive in itself, and if you work on the design, texture and correctly illuminate the suspended ceilings (it’s better to find out which spotlights to choose to solve this problem from professionals), you can get a real work of design art .

Our compatriots in Moscow are increasingly choosing such products for finishing ceilings in houses and apartments. Such popularity leads to the emergence of a wide range of offers from domestic, European and Chinese brands. One of the reasons for the widespread use of this ceiling finishing option is its affordable price. But when considering the possibility of installing this structure, you should not focus solely on its cost. In this article we will tell you how to choose a stretch ceiling for various rooms.

Advantages and disadvantages of stretch ceilings

Stretch ceilings are a technology for finishing ceiling structures using fabric stretched on a special frame. This design dispenses with various suspensions in the central part of the ceiling. This finishing option has a number of advantages, the main of which is the beautiful appearance of the ceiling surfaces and a wide variety of interior design solutions. Reacting to the high popularity of such systems, their manufacturers offer a wide selection of materials in color, texture and composition. This situation contributes to the fact that stretch ceilings become a universal solution that can be used for any interior style.

Experts attribute ease of installation to the significant advantages of such systems. To install a stretch ceiling, you do not need to carry out labor-intensive operations to prepare the ceiling surface. Installation of the structure begins with the installation of a plastic or aluminum molding around the perimeter of the ceiling. The ceiling sheet is tucked into this baguette after heating. Despite its apparent simplicity, such an operation requires special skills, so it is better to entrust it to specialists. Installation duration is three to four hours.

Stretch ceilings have a long service life. Modern manufacturers provide five to ten years of warranty on the finished system. If you choose the right material and follow the rules of its operation, the suspended ceiling will easily last from 30 to 40 years, maintaining its attractive appearance.

Coordination of work

Tension systems use waterproof materials, so they not only decorate the interior, but can also protect your home from water leakage from the upper floor. Stretch ceiling materials can hold about 100 liters of water (we are talking about cold water) per square meter. PVC canvas has a minimum thickness, so its temperature always corresponds to the air temperature in the room. Thanks to this feature, condensation does not form on stretch ceilings and they can be used for finishing rooms with high humidity (bathroom, toilet, etc.).

The use of tension systems helps to significantly improve the noise protection and thermal insulation properties of the room. To increase sound insulation, you can use several layers of perforated film. Manufacturers' catalogs also present stretched acoustic panels for home theater and studio equipment.

Such systems also have their drawbacks. Due to improper installation without taking into account the shrinkage of the building, the material may tear into several parts or its windage may appear (the ceiling canvas will sag or, conversely, retract). Such deficiencies can occur in new buildings.

The thin fabric in such systems is in a highly stretched state. It has fairly high strength and can withstand a lot of weight, but even a slight puncture with a sharp object can cause the material to split along its length.

Another disadvantage that needs to be taken into account before choosing suspended ceilings is related to the difficulties of cleaning. Removing any dirt from the canvas is quite problematic. Cleaning products can damage the material, and it is impossible to wipe it, since it is in a suspended state.

Stretch ceiling

Ceilings with tension fabric are installed according to the following algorithm:

1. The first element that needs to be installed is a baguette. It is installed around the entire perimeter of the room with the minimum possible distance from the ceiling. It must be fastened at least every 25 cm. The most popular option is harpoon profiles, which securely hold the blade inserted into the groove with a rigid harpoon.
2. The room is heated to 70 degrees using a heat gun. The heated canvas is stretched, and its edges are inserted into the grooves of the mounted baguette. The remaining gap is subsequently closed with skirting boards. When using plastic and polyurethane skirting boards, a small gap may remain in the structure, which can be used to install hidden LED lighting.

Before making a ceiling option in the apartment, where the tension fabric is combined with a multi-level plasterboard structure, the frame of the latter will need to be reinforced with bevels. This need is due to the fact that the canvas stretches strongly after cooling and can lead to damage to the integrity of the frame.

Which suspended ceiling to choose: types of materials

Fabric stretch ceiling

One of the most popular questions among consumers considering stretch ceilings: what are the best materials to choose for the canvas? For such systems, polyester impregnated with polyurethane or fabric materials are used. After stretching, the polyester canvas looks like a perfectly flat surface after plastering. Fabric ceilings cost almost 3 times more. You can choose such products for the most exclusive interiors.

In the catalogs of different brands you can find stretch ceilings, the panels of which are treated with antibacterial and dirt-repellent compounds. Let's consider the characteristics of fabric ceilings.

Advantages:

• No components harmful to health. The fabric of tension systems does not have an unpleasant chemical smell.
• The air exchange in the room is not disturbed.
• High mechanical strength (almost 20 times higher than PVC sheets). Your ceilings will remain intact even if a cork from a champagne bottle hits them.
• High noise-absorbing characteristics (much higher than that of PVC ceilings).
• Fire resistance. You can choose panels impregnated with fire-resistant compounds.
• Wide possibilities are provided by the range of use at temperatures from – 40 to + 80 ° C (such ceilings can be installed in an unheated country house or even in an outdoor gazebo).
• For such ceilings, you can choose a lamp of any power, since the fabric fabric does not melt or fade.
• Simple and safe installation of fabric hanging fabric is carried out without the use of heat guns.
• The fabric easily withstands several dyes, and it can be decorated with artistic painting.

Flaws:

• Fabric ceilings are more expensive than systems with PVC sheets.
• Fabric sheets are not as practical as PVC (after wet cleaning, stains remain on them).
• Such ceilings are easily saturated with foreign odors (this feature is worth taking into account if you need to choose a canvas for the kitchen).
• Fabrics do not retain water, so they will not save you from flooding.
• The low elasticity of the fabric does not make it possible to use it for complex structures.
• Not suitable for reuse (after dismantling, it will not be possible to install the canvas again).
• For a wide ceiling (over 500 cm), you can only choose a fabric from separate pieces of fabric that are joined mechanically (they cannot be glued or welded).
• Dim photo printing.
• Even after antibacterial treatment, fabrics should not be used in rooms with high humidity.

Ceilings made of glossy polyvinyl chloride film

Stretch glossy ceilings look especially beautiful in interiors, which are worth choosing to visually enlarge the premises. They are distinguished by a lacquered surface with a light reflection coefficient of up to 70%. With such a canvas, the ceilings seem higher and the room looks spacious.

Recommended articles on this topic:

• Children's room design
• Bedroom interior
• How to make an apartment cozy

Glossy canvases are presented in the widest range in manufacturers' catalogs. Buyers can choose products of almost any shade. Such systems go well with different interior styles. To figure out which stretch ceiling to choose (glossy or matte), consider the advantages and disadvantages of glossy fabric.

Advantages:

• The mirror surface allows you to realize the most unusual shades in interiors.
• The glossy canvas does not accumulate static voltage, so dust does not collect on it.
• Good compatibility with different materials and textures.
• Beautiful drawing.
• Such materials can be chosen for ceilings in rooms with high humidity.
• An elastic glossy ceiling can hold up to 100 liters of water per square meter of canvas, so this design will serve as protection against flooding from above.
• After dismantling, the glossy sheet installed using harpoon technology can be reused.
• The material is indifferent to odors.

Flaws:

• Requires careful maintenance; due to improper cleaning, glossy ceilings become covered with stains.
• Under the influence of high temperature from lamps or ultraviolet rays, yellow spots may appear. This fabric cannot be used if the room temperature is below + 5°C.
• Glossy materials are easy to puncture, after which the ceiling will need to be reupholstered.

Ceilings made of matte polyvinyl chloride film

Matte canvases for suspended ceilings scatter light rays. They have reflective values ​​of less than 5%. They produce matte PVC ceilings with a smooth or embossed surface. Such materials look good in modern interiors and are affordable.

Advantages:

• Good compatibility with different interior styles and the ability to be used for rooms for different purposes.
• Deep colors are applied using photo printing.
• Harmonious combination with different finishing materials and decors.
• High light absorption and glare reduction improves indoor comfort.
• Practicality and easy care (the canvas can be cleaned with a damp cloth).
• Reusable.

Flaws:

• Embossed ceilings quickly become dirty, so it is not advisable to install such systems in the kitchen (the ceilings will be difficult to clean from grease).
• A stretched fabric can easily be pierced with a sharp object, after which it may require complete replacement.
• Use in unheated rooms is not allowed.

Most of the characteristics of fabric and film stretch ceilings are similar. At the same time, they also have certain differences that need to be taken into account in order to choose the right type of canvas.

1. In appearance, PVC ceilings can be glossy, satin or matte, while fabric sheets are always matte.
2. In terms of resistance to mechanical damage and piercing by sharp objects, fabric sheets are superior to film materials.
3. The frost resistance of PVC sheets leaves much to be desired (at sub-zero temperatures they become brittle and can crack). Fabric materials can withstand temperatures down to -35 °C, so they can be used for finishing unheated rooms.
4. PVC sheets withstand high humidity better, which is why such stretch ceilings are often installed in bathrooms.
5. The environmental friendliness of all types of suspended ceilings that can be chosen on the domestic market is at a high level. But, given the porous structure of the fabric, it can be noted that fabric ceilings do not interfere with natural air circulation, so experts recommend choosing such a fabric for a child’s room.

Stretch ceilings: what materials are best to make

When starting to choose a tension structure, you first need to figure out which material you like best, and then imagine it in the room you want to renovate.
A lot depends on the operating conditions. Therefore, for ease of choice, we suggest looking at the table of canvas characteristics. Knowing the characteristics of the material, you will know which fabric is ideal for your case. As you know, the choice is, in principle, varied, but according to the type of fabric, materials can be divided into two types: polyvinyl chloride film and fabric of synthetic origin. Now about what each of the canvases is, taking into account climatic operating conditions:

Important! When purchasing a tension fabric, ask for a certificate of conformity. In addition, upon sale you must be provided with a fire certificate confirming the fire safety of the material. High-quality canvases do not burn, but only melt or lose their shape, therefore they are safe from a fire safety point of view. Low-quality fabric is more flammable, so it is better to buy something that is more expensive than to take risks by purchasing hazardous materials.

Which suspended ceiling to choose for the hall and other rooms in the apartment

Stretch ceiling in the hallway and corridor

To choose a suspended ceiling for the hallway, you need to take into account that this part of the apartment usually has a small area. Here you need to try to visually expand the space and make sure that the ceiling does not put pressure on the rest of the interior elements.

• Texture of the material. Without any doubt, it is better to choose glossy ceilings for the hallway. By reflecting light from the lamps, such a canvas will make the corridor light and voluminous.
• Color and light. The color of the ceilings in the hallway should be bright (even dark colors can be used for a glossy canvas). You can add spotlights to the suspended ceiling design.
• Idea. A glossy ceiling, reflecting the room, will create the effect as if there is additional space above. Upon entering, you may get the feeling that the apartment is two-story.

Stretch ceiling in the living room or hall

• Texture of the material. To choose the texture of the suspended ceiling, you need to determine how the living room in the apartment will be used. If in this room the family will mainly spend time watching TV shows and communicating at home, then it is better to opt for a matte or satin canvas with a neat decor. If you like to receive guests, then you can choose a bright glossy ceiling with an original design.
• Color and light. Choosing white gloss for the ceiling in the living room is not the best option. Reflecting furniture, floors and walls, the canvas will somewhat lose its whiteness. A light suspended ceiling with some shade will look more attractive. At the same time, more saturated tones will add depth to the ceiling surface. The option with a glossy canvas also has its disadvantages. It will produce glare while watching TV, which will have a negative impact on people in the living room.
  Stretch ceilings with bright fabric are best suited for living rooms. To prevent such a structure from putting pressure, experts recommend installing it on a separate part of the ceiling surface, enhancing the effect with the design of the floor covering. It is also worth consulting with a designer on how to choose a chandelier for a stretch ceiling in order to harmoniously fit it into such an interior. The bright fragment will be dominant, so you need to choose the right colors of other objects and decorative elements. They must be in harmony with each other. You can complement this interior with calm shades of white, black and gray.

  To choose the right combination of shades, you should be guided by the rule of three colors. In addition, the color of the ceiling needs to be supported by decorative elements or other items in the living room. This will make the interior more harmonious and expressive. A good color option is when the main components of the interior are white, and the furniture elements and ceiling space create other color accents. Thus, white will act as a background for other shades.

  Red tones in the living room interior should be minimized. A lot of red color has a stimulating effect on the nervous system. A true classic is white. At the same time, you can experiment by mixing different tones and forming contrasts from several shades.

• Ceiling lighting. The answer to the question of how to choose lamps for suspended ceilings depends on the style of the interior in the living room. In a spacious room, you can illuminate the entire ceiling plane using an LED strip. This will make the living room visually taller. An interesting solution for lighting a room involves organizing the illumination of the window opening, which will add coziness to the atmosphere.

What kind of suspended ceilings are best to make in an apartment?

All three canvases look great, but the most budget option would be a matte film of snow-white color. The ceiling will turn out beautiful and affordable. By ordering fabric or film in satin or varnish, you will receive even more luxurious ceilings. There are also original canvas models - for example, textures such as “Shine”, “Marble”, “Suede”, etc.

What kind of suspended ceiling is best to make in the kitchen?

The kitchen ceiling should be washed well. In this sense, gloss is more preferable; it will retain less dust and is easier to clean.

What kind of suspended ceilings are best to make in the hall?

In the living room, glossy film is usually used.
Firstly, it is elegant, and secondly, the film mirror ceiling perfectly reflects light, which means that even a dark room will become visually taller and more spacious. Satin-type film also looks great, it glares less and looks very decent. What kind of stretch ceilings are best to make in the bedroom. The bedroom is a place of calm and tranquility, therefore the ceiling in it should be soft - ideally, if it is matte. But if you make the ceiling shiny. It’s better to choose not gloss, but a calmer satin texture.

Ceilings in the bathroom

You can use a varnish surface here; it goes well with shiny tiles on the walls. The light reflected in the gloss will add additional volume to small bathrooms and toilets.

What color is the best stretch ceiling to choose?

To choose the color of the stretch ceiling, you need to take into account the parameters of the room.

1. Ceiling height.

Cool shades make the room visually taller, while warm shades, on the contrary, make it appear smaller. Bright colors compress space.

2. Lighting.

Soft light will make the room brighter. If you need to choose a suspended ceiling for a sunny room, you should pay attention to cool colors.

3. Purpose.

White tones fit well into any interior, provided there are contrasting shades in the design of walls or furniture elements. For a children's room, office and kitchen, it is better to choose canvases in warm colors. Cool tones look good in the bathroom and pool. In the bedroom and in recreation areas, stretch ceilings with soft pastel shades are needed. For a club, restaurant or disco, you should choose canvases in bright colors.

4. Options.

For small rooms, experts recommend white stretch ceilings or pastel shades. A spacious room provides a wider field for experimentation; it is permissible to freely use the colors and textures of the ceilings. To diversify the interior, you can choose a canvas with a pattern or a rich pattern.

For child psychologists, neutral tones of primary colors are more suitable - green, white, blue, pink, yellow. In such rooms, the image of the depths of the sea or the blue sky looks very good on the ceiling.

In the interior of the dining room you need to use shades that increase appetite (red, green, yellow, orange). These colors need to fit harmoniously into the interior. It should be noted that if you choose a multi-colored stretch ceiling, it will distract small children from eating.

The largest room in the apartment can become the embodiment of a variety of design ideas. Here you only need to correctly choose the shade of the stretch ceiling in relation to the walls, curtains, furniture elements and other components of the interior.

In rooms where there is no natural light, you should use glossy ceilings with chocolate or cream-colored canvas. Here you need to be guided by the rule that dark shades should not occupy more than ½ of the area of ​​the room, otherwise it will be too gloomy.

If the interior of the room should stimulate mental activity, then for the ceiling it is better to choose a matte or satin canvas in green or blue. Too bright colors and a glossy surface will have a distracting effect.

Stretch ceiling in the corridor and hallway

The entrance hall and corridor are the face of the house, therefore the interior of these rooms should be treated no less carefully than the living rooms. With the help of thoughtful lighting and shape, you can adjust the size of a long corridor or low ceiling in the hallway.

By combining a stretch fabric with a suspended plasterboard ceiling or welding fabrics of different colors so that a bright free-form curve is formed in the middle of the ceiling, you will visually expand a narrow corridor, and the insufficient height will be masked by satin or glossy texture. Lighting hidden behind side cornices made of stucco or plasterboard will also raise the ceiling.

How to choose the right stretch ceiling for a specific interior style

Matte stretch ceilings are considered a classic option that adds a feeling of comfort to any interior. They are not conspicuous and act only as a background for the interior decoration of the room. You just need to carefully consider which chandelier to choose for a stretch ceiling with a matte texture. The determining factor will be the design of the room. Matte stretch ceilings fit well into a classic interior, country or ethnic style.

The glossy texture of the stretch ceiling looks elegant and festive. Such canvases are suitable for interior design in the style of minimalism or hi-tech. This option can be used to decorate the living room. The gloss reflects the decor and interior space of the room. Interior items, depending on the texture of the canvas, may be reflected with high clarity or will be blurry. An interesting effect will be achieved with the texture of suspended ceilings, which creates multiple reflections. Such a ceiling will bring a looking-glass atmosphere to the room.

For which interiors should you choose a satin stretch ceiling? This option will be a good solution if the glossy canvas in your room looks too pompous, and the matte one looks too ordinary. Silky satin fabric with a delicate shimmer in texture resembles expensive fabric. This ceiling is in harmony with oriental interiors, which use draperies and silk pillows. This option also looks good in rooms with a classic finish.

Stretch ceilings: select the company and country of manufacture

The success of the most extraordinary interior design solutions is ensured by their competent implementation. In order to get the expected effect from installing a stretch ceiling, you need to responsibly choose its manufacturer. Next, we will consider the features of products of Russian and foreign companies.

• Germany. German manufacturers use modern technological facilities to produce products that meet the highest standards. The leader in the stretch ceilings segment is the Pongs brand. The width of the film of this brand is 325 cm, which makes it possible to install seamless stretch ceilings for almost all types of residential premises. This material withstands temperature changes well. In the catalog of the German company you can also choose canvases made from Descor fabric. Their width up to 5 meters makes it possible to solve the problem of creating seamless ceiling coverings in large office and residential premises. Descor fabrics are easily cleaned from dirt using standard detergents.
• France. The most popular brand from this country is Clipso. The company produces suspended ceilings, distinguished by knitted weaving. Such canvases are suitable for applying designs using photo printing or acrylic. The service life of the French brand's products exceeds 10 years.
• China. It is believed that the only advantage of products from the Middle Kingdom is their affordable price. Consumers always have particular doubts about the environmental parameters of Chinese products. But in practice, manufacturers from China often make high-level products. This category includes suspended ceilings produced under the MSD brand. The films of this company are certified for the European market. In the brand’s catalog you can find canvas sizes ranging from 1.5 to 5 meters wide that are quite rare for suspended ceilings.
• Russia. It should be noted that the enterprises producing suspended ceilings in the Russian Federation are rather poorly developed. Russian companies either use fabrics from China, Germany or France, or place orders with Chinese enterprises to produce products under their own brand. The latter method allows you to quickly pass inspection for compliance with domestic regulatory requirements.

In Russia there is one artificial leather factory in Kazan, which can successfully produce large volumes of ceiling fabrics. The width of the material from this company is up to 1.42 meters. At the same time, Russian products do not have a wide selection of shades and patterns. In the assortment you can find matte and glossy stretch ceilings of good quality.

Which cornice and mounting method to choose for a stretch ceiling

Anyone who has decided to choose a suspended ceiling for the interior is interested in questions about the technology for installing such systems. The peculiarities of performing such work can be individual, as, however, the quality of the materials themselves also differs. Due to their performance characteristics, fabrics for suspended ceilings or PVC films are well suited for the interiors of different rooms. They are equally reliable and durable, but may differ in the installation method. Fastening elements are hidden during installation not only under the ceiling panel, but also under the decorative trim.

Types of fastenings for suspended ceilings:

1. harpoon;
2. clip;
3. glazing bead

The first two types of installation are created for specific types of fabric. Harpoon technology is used for PVC film, since such material is installed with high tension. This installation option cannot be chosen for tensioning fabrics. In this case, the clip method of fastening is used. With its help, you can securely fix the stretch ceiling fabric and quickly align it in a plane. In turn, the clip method cannot be chosen for tensioning PVC film.

The third technology for installing suspended ceilings is the cheapest. It involves the use of special beads (wedges), which can be used to stretch both PVC and fabric ceilings. This fastening method can only be selected for very thin fabrics. If this condition is not met, then over time the beads may fall out or move.

When installing a stretch ceiling, you need to remember other interior elements. For example, you need to choose an option for attaching curtain rods. Structurally, cornices can be wall or ceiling. The second option looks more presentable, but the thin fabric cannot be used for fastening heavy structures. The problem of installing cornices can be solved in two ways: there are open and hidden installation methods.

• Open installation.

Before attaching the canvas, you need to fix a wooden block, the height of which corresponds to the guide profiles. Before installation, the timber is treated with an antiseptic composition. After tensioning the canvas, the cornice is attached through the film. Holes for self-tapping screws must be burned to prevent further tearing of the fabric.

• Hidden installation.

If you choose hidden installation, then the cornice must be installed above the level of the suspended ceiling. Even before taking measurements of the ceiling, you need to install a beam or corner near the cornice for attaching the guide molding. The option in which the curtains seem to fall out of the stretch ceiling has an original look and looks good with any type of fabric.

Professional advice on which stretch ceiling is best to choose

To accurately select suspended ceilings, we recommend using the expert recommendations below.

1. Choose quality materials. It is better to buy a beautiful, expensive stretch ceiling just for the living room, bedroom or other room than to cover all the ceilings in the apartment with low-grade fabric. It is worth choosing materials for the children's room with special care. Please note that high cost is not always a sign of reliability and excellent properties. Check the quality certificates of the product manufacturer. Reliable brands always provide all the necessary documentation for their product. It is better to choose an original domestic stretch ceiling than a dubious European-style fake. The cost per square meter of canvas decreases with increasing area of ​​the stretch ceiling.
2. If you choose a company with low prices as a supplier of a stretch ceiling, then there is a risk of overpaying for the finished system. In practice, low prices only work for advertising, and the cost announced by the surveyor can be increased several times. Moreover, after the measurement, it can be difficult for customers to refuse the services of an intrusive company.
3. To choose a supplier, it is worth reading reviews about companies, especially if they declare attractive prices. Many companies post photos of completed projects on their portals.
4. Do you want to choose suspended ceilings for the entire apartment? Be sure to take into account the characteristics of each individual room. For the bathroom and kitchen, you should choose a washable ceiling with a sheet of PVC film. In the living room with spacious windows, satin ceilings look good, and for the bedroom you should order a matte canvas in a delicate color. Bright colors are good for a child's room. If you want to choose an original system with a designer canvas, check the possibility of replacing the LED strip so as not to encounter an insoluble problem in the future.
5. Excessive enthusiasm for design ideas can have the opposite effect. What seemed original yesterday may become boring tomorrow. You can get a very beautiful result for many years using only two contrasting shades (you just need to think about their compatibility with other interior elements). The opinion about the universality of the composition of white and black colors is often erroneous. To prevent the ceiling from becoming boring to you very quickly, we recommend choosing a matte monochrome canvas.
6. PVC sheets will have a plastic smell for the first few days. After periodic airing, this smell will disappear. If this is unacceptable for you, then you should choose a fabric stretch ceiling.
7. The quality of installation of a stretch ceiling is determined by the professionalism of specialists. To avoid misunderstandings, discuss all the features in detail with a consultant and surveyor of the performing company. Make sure they understand your requirements accurately and that you are not mistaken about the total cost of the service.

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