One of the stages of renovation work is the design of ceilings. Among the variety of finishing materials, many people prefer to equip a suspended ceiling due to its obvious advantages.
What are suspended structures
Suspended ceilings - finishing structures fixed to interfloor ceilings. Therefore, all ceilings, except for plastered, pasted over or painted, can be considered suspension systems that are suspended from the ceiling slab on metal or wooden frames. If the frame is fixed to the base ceiling not on suspensions, then such models are called hemmed.
Suspension devices are divided into 2 groups according to the material of the coating and the structure of the frame:
Modular:
cassette (Armstrong) suspended ceilings;
rack;
lattice (cellular), among which Grilyato ceilings are considered the most original in design today.
Solid:
plasterboard ceilings;
and tension.
In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you need to study in advance the characteristics, advantages of each type.
As well as disadvantages, compatibility with the desired style and decoration of the room. Estimate the upcoming costs of the arrangement and understand the difference between suspended ceilings and tension structures.
Features of each type, pros and cons
False ceilings are used:
For better illumination - they transmit daylight well and allow you to mount additional light sources.
In the form of sound insulation, fire protection and ventilation of the room.
And also for decorative purposes - hanging devices allow you to hide communication channels and beautifully stylize the ceiling.
All suspended coverings differ from each other in design, advantages and disadvantages:
Armstrong cassette ceilings have a T-shaped frame made of metal profiles, into which square or rectangular modules (cassettes, plates) are inserted. The advantage of cassette designs is their ability to exactly repeat the contours of the room - small niches, protrusions, depressions. Their weak side is their large weight and a decrease in the height of the room by 8-20 cm after installation.
Rack ceilings - modules in the form of long metal or plastic rails connected by curved edges. Due to the not too presentable appearance, slat coverings in living quarters are rarely mounted, although designers are willingly using moisture-resistant products to decorate ceilings in a bathroom with installation between luminaire slats. The advantages of rack modules are simple installation even on curved surfaces, the lightness of plastic structures, a diverse range of colors and low cost. The disadvantage is an overly office appearance and a decrease in space in height by 4-20 cm.
Grilyato lattice structures are a type of cassette products - densely laid aluminum profiles, closed on the back side of the background forged, which form a lattice, which is clearly visible in the photo. In most cases, such systems are used in airports, offices, bars, shopping malls, etc. d. However, different cell shapes, a wide range of colors, high safety standards, energy savings due to excellent reflection and diffusion of light, as well as ease of installation have made lattice suspended ceilings very popular among private developers. The disadvantage of such models is still the same - a decrease in the height of the room by 8-20 cm.
Plasterboard coverings allow you to equip multi-tiered structures with a slight loss of ceiling height - about 7-8 cm. The main drawback is the installation time. Any suspended structure is mounted, for example, on an area of 18 m2 for about 8 hours, while a simple plasterboard in shape - about 3-4 days, and a complex one - up to several weeks. This is due to the subsequent after installation putty, primer, drying, grouting, painting of drywall sheets. Naturally, because of this, the cost of installation work is higher, therefore, it is better to choose tension structures among continuous systems. In addition, drywall and moisture are incompatible. It is impossible to equip such structures in the bathroom and in the kitchen.
Stretch ceilings are currently vigorously displacing all types of suspended structures from the market due to the fact that they:
durable: service life is more than 20 years;
quickly assembled, literally in 1 day, with a minimum amount of debris and dust;
resistant to steam, moisture, condensation and mechanical shock;
are able to acquire non-standard shapes - wave, dune, cone and others, which makes it possible to embody any design ideas in the interior;
they are distinguished by a large selection of colors and textures - glossy ceilings visually increase the height, make the room festive, and matte ceilings fill them with coziness, warmth and tranquility;
and also waterproof and safe - tensioning structures hold 100 liters of water per 1 m², and after draining it, they regain their original shape, so no negligent neighbors are afraid of them.
Summarizing the above, it is worth noting that suspended ceilings:
Align curved floor slabs.
Mask cracks, voids, chips, ventilation, exposed wiring, pipes and other communications.
They help to equip local lighting and highlight functional areas with illumination.
They correspond to fashionable style trends: the evolution of ceiling design is luminous structures - a hybrid of lighting devices and a ceiling, which can be admired in the photo.
And also easy to attach, which allows you to do it yourself. This does not apply to tension structures of a complex design, which can only be equipped by professionals with the appropriate equipment.
A common disadvantage is suspension systems below the base ceiling.
The difference between suspended ceilings and stretch canvases
The main attraction of tension and hinged systems is that you don't need to spend a lot of time and effort to install them - the new ceiling will simply cover the old one with all its flaws.
And the differences between them will be better demonstrated by the table.
|
Indicators |
Dropped ceilings |
Tension canvases |
|
Mounting |
installation time 1-4 days, self-installation is possible |
installation time up to 1 day, depending on the complexity, requires the involvement of professionals |
|
Reducing the height of rooms |
up to 20 cm, plasterboard - up to 8 cm |
up to 5 cm |
|
Ease of care |
difficult care |
Not demanding in care |
|
Sound insulating properties |
average |
average |
|
Fire safety |
do not support combustion |
do not support combustion |
|
Moisture resistance |
they swell and collapse under the influence of moisture; in case of flooding, walls, floors and furniture will be damaged |
are not afraid of moisture, withstand a large mass of water, protecting the room environment from flooding |
|
Lifetime |
5-10 years |
more than 20 years |
|
Resistance to damage |
sufficiently resistant to damage |
are not afraid of blows, but can be damaged by sharp objects |
|
Maintainability |
repair possible |
repair is impossible |
|
Operating temperature |
any |
the film coating is afraid of low temperatures, and the fabric coating can be used at any temperature extremes |
|
Design |
can only be matte |
possible mirror, satin and matte textures |
|
Embedding backlighting |
no problem |
no problem, but you cannot use powerful lamps so that the PVC sheet does not melt |
|
Price |
$ 20-35 / m², depending on the levels and method of finishing |
10-100 $ / m² depending on the material, the complexity of the structure and additional elements |
Suspended and stretch coverings: what to choose
By and large, all false ceilings are good. Therefore, when choosing, you need to proceed from specific conditions and take into account at least key points, such as:
Ceiling height. In old buildings with a room height of up to 2.5 m, you have to fight for every centimeter of space. Therefore, tension structures are preferred here, which lower the ceiling plane by only 3-5 cm, which are necessary for attaching decorative moldings and a frame. Moreover, if you choose the right design, texture and color, then the ceiling will appear higher and visually enlarge the entire room.
Purpose of premises. The functions assigned to the room are of considerable importance. For example, in a bathroom or kitchen, where there is high humidity, tensioning systems or plastic rack modules will certainly be good. But again, the height of these rooms should be taken into account, since the rack structures lower the ceilings more. At the same time, stretch film canvases are not suitable for unheated summer cottages, balconies, loggias or periodically heated guest houses. Here, of course, modular products and fabric coverings are preferred.
Styling. This point is more related to the appearance of the ceiling, it should be in harmony with the interior. Glossy coatings will be appropriate in Art Deco, hi-tech, minimalism. But not a single type of suspended or stretch ceiling will suit the style of a chalet, country, rustic, where filing systems made of natural wood are needed. In provence, classics, hygge and scandi matte stretch or drywall products are acceptable. But for the avant-garde, there is more choice, tension and suspended structures, matte and glossy, preferably of atypical shapes, with tiers and niches will perfectly fit here.
Budget. With limited resources, it is advisable to opt for inexpensive plastic hinged structures that are easy to install on your own, or pay attention to a tension covering that is simple in shape - due to its characteristics, it will eventually cost less, since it will last longer.
Before making a purchase, you must carefully read the manufacturer's instructions, which clearly indicates how to assemble this or that structure and how it is attached.
When installing a tensile structure with your own hands, it is useful to know that:
you will have to rent a heat gun to stretch the PVC film;
the fabric cloth should be fixed to the profile very carefully, otherwise it can "go" like an arrow on a stocking;
stretch covers do not allow the use of incandescent lamps over 50 W in lamps, otherwise, due to overheating, the canvas may deform.
Of course, a suspended ceiling is more expensive than a suspended one, although you can always find an acceptable option that combines affordable cost, good quality materials and work, as well as excellent service. Therefore, you need to focus on the price as the last thing, remembering the saying about the miser who pays twice.
