Despite the variety of modern ceiling finishes, suspended ceilings are very popular. How to choose the most suitable option among the abundance of finishing materials and not miscalculate is a question that worries many. It is no secret that suspended structures are distinguished by a balance of price and quality. However, you should not put only these 2 factors at the head of your decision.
Briefly about the types of suspended ceilings
Suspended (suspended) structures are a rigid metal or wooden frame, fixed with hangers to the base ceiling. The structure of the frame is the same for all types of suspended ceilings. The differences are in appearance, which depends on the materials of the cladding and the modification of the hinged system.
There are 2 types of suspended structures:
Modular systems, which in turn are:
rack;
cassette;
as well as lattice.
Solid - the most popular, which include:
plasterboard ceilings;
and tension.
Modular coatings, due to their excessive office structure, are mainly formed in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. But this is not the rule. If the interior of the house is designed in a modern style, then aluminum false ceilings with skillfully made lighting will look gorgeous in the dining room, living room, bedroom, etc. d.
But, judging by consumer reviews, of greater interest are solid suspension systems. Especially stretch ceilings due to their undeniable advantages. The pluses include:
elasticity of canvases;
luxurious design and a varied color palette, allowing you to choose them for any, even the most fancy interior. For example, black stretch coverings look fantastically beautiful both in the ultra-fashionable style of kitsch, pop art, loft, scandi, and in old gothic. This is evidenced by numerous photos of interiors;
practicality, ease of cleaning film canvases and excellent heat resistance of fabric;
a high level of water resistance, which is important for residents of high-rise buildings - tension structures (with the exception of fabric ones) are able to withstand more than 100 liters of water per 1 m², and after it is drained, take the original shape;
simple and quick installation, eliminating the need to take out the overall furniture;
in addition, tensioning systems lower the height of the room much less compared to modular structures and plasterboard.
Naturally, stretch ceilings also have disadvantages, namely:
the presence of seams when arranging large areas;
the possibility of damage with sharp objects, which is why it is recommended to install fabric canvases in the nursery;
the conditional disadvantages include the low level of environmental friendliness, since there is no final verdict of experts on this topic yet;
a large number of fakes on the market, therefore, before choosing suspended ceilings, you need to carefully read the quality certificate attached to each type of product and, despite the cost, purchase products from proven popular brands.
There are more advantages to tensioning systems than disadvantages, but all these measurements are purely individual.
Sometimes even one disadvantage, for example, high cost, can outweigh all the advantages.
Tips for choosing tensile structures
A large assortment of stretch coatings, on the one hand, pleases, but on the other, it makes the choice very difficult. Therefore, the designers identified 3 key factors that you need to focus on when buying.
Features of the room
The first step is to decide whether the desired tensile structure is suitable for installation in the planned room. Vinyl films and polymer fabrics are considered popular canvases. What to prefer, the owner decides, taking into account:
The microclimate in the room and the indicators affecting it:
|
Indicators |
Polymer fabric |
PVC film |
|
Humidity |
stretching is possible under the influence of steam and moisture, which will negatively affect the appearance, therefore it is more suitable for decorating ceilings in living rooms and corridors |
moisture resistant material, therefore suitable for use in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet |
|
Heat |
withstands any temperature fluctuations |
at temperatures above 70 ° C softens and deforms |
|
Low temperature |
not afraid of low temperatures, which is why it is often used in unheated rooms |
at temperatures below 5 ° C, it loses its elasticity, as a result of which the canvas can warp and crack |
|
Illumination |
does not lose color for 10 years or more |
does not fade at high luminous flux power for 10 years, and at normal - for 30 years |
|
Draft |
the effect of cotton and waves only happens as a result of illiterate editing |
waves on the canvas and the effect of cotton are possible when arranging large areas |
Note: film and fabric canvases do not support combustion, as evidenced by a fire certificate.
In its absence, you should choose a canvas more expensive, since cheap products burn well and therefore are dangerous.
Width of the equipped room. According to the width and quality of the material, all canvases are divided into economy and premium.
Typical film widths:
domestic production - about 1.4 m - matte suspended ceilings or lacquered ceilings produced in the economy segment under the C-light and Eline brands (photos of real interiors can be seen below);
Chinese - economy class canvases up to 3.5 m and premium products in the range of 3.5–6.0 m;
German-made - the products of the PongsTextilGmbH concern, 2.7 m wide, are distinguished by the embossed brand marking and the presence of a repair kit with the plant's stamp, as well as narrow Renolit films up to 2.0 m wide;
French - glossy up to 1.5 m and matte up to 2.0 m, with serial numbers and holograms CTN, Extenzo, AlcorDraka on the canvases;
Belgian - matte, lacquered and satin textures in more than 120 colors of the world famous brand Polyplast in widths from 3.6 to 5.6 m.
Typical width of fabric materials:
German-made - economy segment canvases from Descor up to 5.1 m wide;
French - unique matte seamless Clipso stretch ceilings 2.1–5.1 m wide, distinguished by their lightness (weight 240 g / m²) and amazing beauty, which can be judged from the photo;
Swiss production - Cerutti polyester fabric rolls up to 5.0 m wide with protection from dust, splashes, dirt and soot, which makes them indispensable for arranging tension structures in the kitchen.
Design solutions. The choice of canvas depends on the planned decoration of the room.
Films are mainly used:
with frequent changes in interior design (photo with examples of design);
in multi-tiered coatings;
when creating structures that are complex in shape and intricate patterns;
with the installation of many lamps - "starry sky";
in combination with metallic or glossy household items.
Fabric products are more suitable:
for decorating classic, rustic and antique interiors;
and when it is necessary to avoid overhead seams.
Operating conditions. When installing false ceilings throughout the house or apartment, you need to take into account the specifics of the premises:
|
Room type |
Peculiarities |
Textile |
PVC film |
|
Kitchen |
increased moisture, dirt, soot, fatty and nicotine deposits |
long exposure to moisture is undesirable, which is why the fabric for the kitchen is unsuitable |
easy to care for, so any texture, installation method and configuration will do |
|
Bedroom |
relaxation area with a relaxing calm atmosphere |
any canvas of suitable design, as shown in the photo below |
|
Living room, dining room |
possible glare from the TV |
any canvas of a suitable design, if glare is inappropriate, then you should not use glossy coatings |
|
Children's room |
increased likelihood of damage to the ceiling |
canvas with photo printing on children's themes. In case of damage to the ceiling, you will have to change the entire seamless coating |
film with photo printing of your favorite characters, soldered from several strips, in order to facilitate and reduce the cost of replacement in the event of a puncture |
|
The corridor |
small space |
any canvas that matches the design - the black ceiling looks impressive in the corridor against the background of snow-white walls, making the hallway bright and cozy |
|
Bathroom and toilet |
small, usually wet area |
materials of any color and texture |
Summary:
PVC films can be easily washed, resist impacts, but are afraid of cuts and punctures, perfectly protect against leaks, and in satin and glossy versions reflect glare from the monitor and TV turned on;
fabric coverings are stronger than PVC, so they are resistant not only to impacts, but also to punctures and small cuts. More difficult to care for, but much more environmentally friendly. Weakly protect against flooding, in addition, in the future, fabric replacement will be required due to the appearance of stains. More expensive than film products, but they look nobler and do not glare.
Assessment of seams and texture
Film suspended ceilings, satin, matte or glossy, which you can admire in the photo, are welded and intact. They are welded in 2 cases:
if you need to combine several colors in one design;
or when one strip is not enough to cover the required area.
Due to the advanced soldering method, the welding coatings are no less durable than seamless fabric. Of course, the seam lines are slightly noticeable on plain canvases, but on multicolored canvases they look more like an element of decor.
Fabrics are mostly seamless. However, butting seams, if present, are very noticeable on the fabric, which is why they are made symmetrical either in the center with subsequent decoration, or they are masked with lamps.
Summary:
film canvases are distinguished by a wide variety of color nuances and textures, which provides room for design imagination;
fabric coverings make it possible to do without seams, although competent adhesion of the canvases does not weaken the hinged structure, but, on the contrary, makes it more durable in this area.
Fastening system
There are several ways of fastening, which can be represented in the form of a table:
|
Fastener type |
The type of coating for which the fastener is intended |
Advantages |
disadvantages |
|
Clip |
fabric cloth |
easy assembly / disassembly, adjustment of the strip tension and the ability to reuse the fasteners |
high price |
|
Wedge |
films, fabric |
free adjustment of the blade tension, reasonable price |
possible sagging of the tensioning material during operation |
|
Gapless |
films |
no gap between the ceiling and the wall, the ability to join the canvas with other materials and the repeated use of fasteners |
high price |
|
Harpoon |
films |
easy installation and dismantling, low price |
clear selection of the insert by color and careful alignment of the walls |
Summary:
saving on fasteners is fraught with fragility of the tensioning structure, its sagging and, as a result, loss of appearance;
expensive fasteners better hold the cladding material, eliminate the cotton effect, and when replacing the tension cover, they can be reused.
In addition to 3 main factors, designers are advised to choose energy-saving lamps and pay attention to additional elements, in particular, cornices - aluminum, wood or plastic. Their competent choice will help to create a truly beautiful ceiling composition, as shown in the photo gallery.
