Stretched ceiling can decorate any interior from classics to High-tech in office as well as in the flat. Stretched ceilings appeared recently, but they rapidly develop. They are produced all over the world. The popularity of these windows is caused not only by the easiness of mounting and care. The choice of these ceilings strongly depends on their durability and aesthetic look during the decade. Their only disadvantage is their price, though in the course of time they become cheaper and cheaper.
The construction of stretched ceilings is a complex of a flat and a profile, in which it is fastened.
Stretched ceiling flat
Usually a flat is a pellicle of well-known Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). It is welded from separate flats to necessary size. The width of PVC flats is no more then 1,5 meter, that’s why it usually has to be welded. Joints are quite durable and don’t part even under the load. And they are almost invisible. Sometimes the flat is made of fabric (polyester, impregnated with polyurethane). They are produced by Clipso (Switzerland). As a rule, fabric flat allows to make a sutureless stretched ceiling, only if the width of the room doesn’t exceed 4-5meters. If the room is larger, the polyester ceiling is also sewed together from few pieces.
Every piece, despite of use of artificial materials, is ecologically clean, doesn’t absorb smells. Besides, stretched ceiling is fire safe, it is water resistant and doesn’t fade from sun beams. Its advantage is of course its durability – it can sustain a load up to 100kg/m². But it is sensitive to different cleaners, especially abrasives. You also shouldn’t use any sharp objects. But even if you accidentally damage the ceiling’s flat, fitters will make a patch to cover the cut.
Stretched ceilings profile
The profile for stretched ceiling is made of PVC and differs only by the ways of flat fastening. Fastening profile (fillet) is put on the wall perimeter and depending on the difficulty of ceiling construction, there is a necessity to mount additional fasting elements. Nowadays there are few ways of stretched ceiling fastening: harpoon and wedge.
Harpoon way of fastening is the most popular. In this case the flat of the ceiling is made 7% less by the width and length then the size of the main ceiling. Measurements should consider all the corners, ledges and other unusual bends of the premise. The precision of all measurements is very important; otherwise it would be very difficult to fasten the stretched ceiling or it will visibly hung, especially if the flat is large. On the edges of pellicle the skirting from durable PVC (harpoon) is welded. During the mounting, it is driven into fastening profile, stretching the flat. In the cut harpoon looks like a hook, with a help of which it hitches to the fillet.
To mount the stretched ceiling with wedge method, the flat is made larger then necessary, about 10cm are left. During the mounting, the pellicle is fixed in the fillet with a help of thrust profile (wedge). The remains of flat are removed.
A special fillet is used for cam method. When the flat comes through it, the cams separate, the return is blocked by their pressing. Such way of fastening allows to fasten the ceiling with minimal height looses. The distance to the main ceiling can be 8mm.
The advantage of harpoon method is that the ceiling can be fully dismantled if necessary. In other cases because of the peculiarities of mounting it can be dismantled only partially.
Stretched ceiling design
The peculiarities of stretched ceilings allow to create almost any design from the simplest one to multi-level.
The variety of colors and materials give you the freedom of choice. You can mount flat white stretched ceiling that will resemble usual whitewash ceiling.
If the height of the ceiling is small, then varnished pellicle with reflecting surface will help to heighten it visually, creating the feeling of deepness. The ceiling painted in cold colors will also allow to extend the space. For example, blue colors are appropriate for the bathroom, besides, they have sedative effect.
To decorate the room in classic style, you can mount the stretched ceiling that will resemble velvet, marble or wood. If you like High-Tech style, there are metal-colored pellicles.
If you wish, any pattern can be drawn on the PVC pellicle from sky with clouds to photo of beloved. The pattern is drawn by the producer. If the polyester is used for the drawing, the pattern is put after the ceiling mounting with a help of special paints. The most interesting and popular patterns are “Cloudy sky” and “Starry sky”.
Besides original patterns, stretched ceilings, as well as hung ones, can be multi-level (with a help of special fastening profiles). But this is not the last possibility – elastic material allows to create complicated forms. With a help of stretched ceiling, you can create any curvilinear surface. For example, in the form of arch or with smooth connections between the levels
If the surface of the ceiling is large (swimming pool, restaurant) the ceiling can be divided in several parts. Few flats are connected with a help of special fastening profiles, so that the joints are not visible.
Stretched ceiling mounting
Before the mounting, fillet is fastened on the walls. It is put on the glue and then additionally fastened with a help of dowels or screws. The distance between the screws should be about 8cm, and if it is the edge of the profile, there should be a small indent in 1cm. So the fastening profile would sustain the load of stretched ceiling. Professional fitters should define the lowest corner and fasten the fillet on its level. Any horizontal derivations shouldn’t exceed 2mm.
After fastening the fillet, the premise is prepared for the mounting. The temperature is heightened to 40°C with a help of thermal gun, so everything that may not endure this temperature (plants, paintings, furniture) should be moved out or covered with pellicle. We would like to pay your attention to the fact that the stretched ceiling mounting is usually done in the end of repairing works, so that there will be a possibility to maintain such temperature regime.
When you are mounting stretched PVC ceiling, its flat should be heated to 60°C. In this temperature the pellicle becomes more elastic, and it is easier to stretch it. Irrespective of the way of fastening, the stretched ceiling is first of all fixed in one of the corners. Then the opposite corner is fastened, and the second diagonal in the same way. The next step is to put flat in the fastening profile (fillet) with 8cm interval along the wall perimeter. Only then free ends are put in the fillet with a help of special palette-knife, then the final stretching takes place. If the stretched ceiling is mounted in wedge or cam way, the remains of pellicle are cut off. The folds are evened with a help of building drier. After a certain time, when the standard 20-25 °C temperature sets up in the room, the pellicle is stretched. Though in large rooms (over 5m long or wide), sagging on 2-4cm is acceptable.
The process of fabric stretched ceiling mounting is the same, except for the fact that there is no necessity to heat the premise.
The visible advantage of stretched ceiling is that the mounting takes les time and there is no rubbish or dust after the mounting.
Lamps in stretched ceiling
There are some details in the mounting of stretched ceilings. They are connected with the use of additional sources of light. It should be mentioned that there is a limitation of lamps power. Usual filament lamps should be of 50 WT, halogen – no more then 35 WT, otherwise the ceiling flat will stretch and sag because of the heat. There are several ways of light mounting, but all of them acquire ceiling lowering on few centimeters.
Lamps can be mounted between the main and stretched ceiling. In this case translucent pellicle is used. The lamps are fastened on the distance of minimum 2mm from the flat. There is an affect of diffused light.
If the lamps are mounted in the ceiling, cuts in the flat should be covered with special ring for heat isolation. If you mount chandelier or other lamps that are lower then the ceiling, the cut should be also covered with strengthening ring. First of all, it will prevent further tearing of the flat in this place. Second, it is used as additional fastening to prevent sagging.
All the necessary wires should be places beforehand.
Stretched ceilings are not only very beautiful, but also practical. All the wires and pipes under the ceiling can be hidden with a help of stretched ceiling. The material is durable (the guarantee period is 10 years) and it is easy to take care of it. Besides, this ceiling will prevent the flooding by neighbors, because it doesn’t let the water through and can sustain a large load. And collected water will be easily removed by fitters.
The prices of stretched ceilings, compared to hung ceilings are quite high. But if you compare the money spend on the repair during the same ten years, you’ll see that the choice of stretched ceiling is right. This ceiling doesn’t loose its look during the entire exploitation period. Even the house settlement won’t case visible changes, while other ceilings will have cracks.
In Europe stretched ceilings are very popular for several decades. Even medical institutions use them, because there are ceilings with bactericidal properties.
Stretched ceilings are becoming more and more popular, so may be one day one of them will become an element of your flat’s interior.