Stretch ceiling - what is it? Structures, components, assembling

Stretch ceilings are gaining popularity among the population, but not so much as to get ahead of the painted tiles. Such constructions can be found not only in apartments, but also in municipal and entertainment establishments. Many people do not strongly trust this element of the interior. First of all, they refer to the high cost of material and work. It is also believed that the heated cloth coating is not sufficiently reliable. Today we will pay attention to such an element of the interior as a stretch ceiling. What are the positive and negative aspects of this design? All this and not only - later in our article.

The device of ceilings

Stretch ceiling - what is it? This is a construction, which is a special fabric material, stretched on the erected frame. Before stretching the film, it is heated to a plastic state, and then filled into the frame. When cooling, the film stretches and forms a smooth surface.

Constructive elements of stretch ceilings are:

1. Polyvinylchloride fabric. This element can take a variety of colors and texture, thereby forming a flat or volumetric surface on the ceiling.
2. Baguettes. This is a special fastening material, presented in the form of strips, and it performs the functions of fixing the tissue.
3. Inserts and stubs. This is an additional material, with which the baguettes are connected together.
4. Lighting. Most stretch ceilings require the installation of lighting fixtures.

Pros of stretch ceilings

Among the advantages of such coatings are the following:

• The ceiling has a perfectly flat surface and a pleasant appearance.
• During installation, there is not a lot of debris and dust, compared to other finishing works.
• The installation process does not take much time. As a rule, stretch ceilings in the room are installed in one day.
• In the manufacture of PVC fabric, only high-quality and environmental materials are used, so that they can be installed in residential premises.
• PVC-fabric does not pass moisture and does not rot.
• In the free space between the ceiling and the fabric, it is possible to conduct electrical wires and install lighting fixtures, so the two-level stretch ceilings for the hall are popular.
• Stretch ceilings conceal cracks and fractures of bearing plates.
• If it is necessary to repair electricity, the fabric is easily dismantled and returned to its original position.

One of the advantages of stretch ceilings is that they do not react to shrinkage of the house and to other changes occurring in the construction of the building.

disadvantages

Stretch ceilings in the room also have negative sides:

• When exposed to a cloth temperature above 65 ° C, it will become soft and will start to sag.
• With prolonged exposure to heat on the canvas, it loses its performance. This should be taken into account when choosing lighting equipment.
• PVC is a fragile material, therefore it is exposed to mechanical influences.

The proposed palette of stretch ceilings

Modern manufacturers of stretch ceilings produce PVC fabric of different colors and surface textures. Such cloths are produced quite wide, so that the installation can be made in large rooms. For today there are materials with such types of surfaces:

1. Glossy. It is characterized by a special gloss, which is achieved thanks to the varnish. The main advantage of this material is the reflection of interior items. Therefore, they are used in small rooms to visually increase the space.
2. Matte. Unlike the previous type, this surface does not reflect objects at all. The front part is similar to a concrete slab, which is painted with water-based paint. This canvas is considered a classic, so it is used in various government institutions. It is also a good background for photo printing.
3. Satin. Such canvases are something middle between the two previous species. That is, the surface is capable of reflecting and diffusing light, but it can not do this with interior objects.
4. Perforated. As it can be suitable for any type of fabric. The only thing that needs to be done is to drill a lot of holes in it. Perforated fabric creates a starry sky effect.
5. Art print on the stretch ceiling. What is an art print? This is a modern type of stretch ceilings, aimed at introducing something new into the interior. To produce such a cloth, huge printers are used, which can work with different sizes. They apply the appropriate pattern.

Recently, washing ceilings have become popular, from which it is easy to remove dust and dirt.

Ways of fastening

To stretch the ceiling lasted for a long time, it is necessary to ensure reliable fastening of PVC fabric to the baguettes. It is this procedure that affects the tension of the fabric and the formation of a perfectly flat surface. Therefore, only quality baguettes should be used, among which the following types are distinguished:

1. Harpoons. The most popular method of fixing. A harpoon is a special lath welded at the factory to the edge of the canvas. The mounting is V-shaped, which makes the installation process easy and fast.
2. Cam-shaped. Such fasteners are used in small rooms. It can withstand a PVC linen of 16 m ² .
3. Wedge. The ceiling is fixed by means of a wedge and a decorative strip. The advantage of this device is a convenient and quick installation and dismantling.
4. Staggering. To fix the PVC-fabric use thin boards that resemble a glazing bead.

Firms stretch ceilings

The popular manufacturer of ceilings is Barrisol, despite the fact that the choice of products is significantly limited. The French company originates in 1976, and today it has proved itself well in the world market. Delivery of products to Russia takes place in 20 days. A significant disadvantage is the high cost, but for quality it is necessary to pay.

Another manufacturer is the French company Extenzo. Its main advantage is a huge choice of stretch ceilings of different designs. The catalog contains more than 120 variants, differing in style and colors. After the experts have measured, the design of the stretch ceiling is made for 25 days. It all depends on the complexity of the order.

German firms stretch ceilings occupy a leading position in the world market. Newmat is known for its original design and high quality. She has been producing coatings for 20 years already. The film is made of environmental materials, so it will not do any harm. For all its products, the company makes a guarantee in 10 years, which can not but rejoice.

Cost

On the suspended ceiling, the price (per m2) depends on the manufacturer chosen and the quality of the PVC fabric. Original paintings will cost much more than the products of Chinese manufacturers. What is the price ceiling per m2 on the ceiling? The material costs from 300 to 1200 rubles. It should be borne in mind that you will also have to pay a separate amount for their installation. Some construction companies make installation free of charge when ordering a stretch ceiling.

Conclusion

In this article we learned what a stretch ceiling exists, what a harpoon method of fastening is, and also revealed the positive and negative sides of the material. This ceiling coating becomes popular every day, and it can be seen not only in apartments, but also in many office buildings. There are many manufacturers of stretch ceilings. They provide a wide selection of paintings, which differ from each other in style and color. It is best to purchase original models, since the lifetime of Chinese ceilings is significantly lower.