Mounting tension ceilings without heating

Choosing the most suitable way of finishing the ceiling, many prefer stretch fabrics, but here there are several options for technology: "hot" or "cold" way. If we are talking about PVC panels, the installation involves heating the room with a special temperature gun up to + 70C, which can negatively affect the interior decoration of the walls. For this reason, the "cold" installation of fabric fabrics is increasingly practiced without heating the room. In this article, we'll talk specifically about this and tell you how the installation of stretch ceilings without heating takes place.

Characteristics of tension ceilings without heating

Not so long ago the only way to decorate the ceiling was its plaster and whitewash, then there were ceiling slabs and, finally,ceilings. Depending on the elements of which the suspended structures consist, cassette and stretch ceilings are distinguished. Stretch, in turn, can consist of several elements or be seamless. For their manufacture, a polyvinyl chloride film or a special fabric treated with protective agents is used.

For the installation of PVC canvases, the room needs to be warmed up properly, since the film has a tendency to expand when heated, and in this condition it can be tensioned and stretched smoothly. The fabric, on the other hand, tapers when heated, so you do not need to heat the room. Fabric cloth is filled in a pre-established profile around the perimeter of the room in natural temperature conditions. At the same time, installation does not require the use of professional equipment for stretch ceilings, as in the case of PVC.Not surprisingly, stretch ceilings without heating are very popular with those who prefer to repair themselves.

Advantages and disadvantages of stretch ceilings

Fabric stretch ceilings have their own characteristics in addition to the installation technology. In comparison with polyvinyl chloride, they have a lot of advantages, the main one of which is considered to be seamlessness. So, in order to obtain a coating of the required size, it is necessary to weld several sections of PVC film, and the cloth web is stretched with a single piece. Naturally, the material for this use a special one. This polyester fabric, which is produced in rolls up to 5 m wide, is why it is possible to make patterns of various configurations. A qualitatively stretched white fabric fabric forms an ideally smooth and smooth surface completely hiding the technical part of the suspension system.

Note: After installing the PVC ceiling in the room there remains an unpleasant synthetic smell from the heated film, which is long and difficult to weather. Tissue paintings do not smell at all.

Also, manufacturers emphasize that the fabric does not prevent natural ventilation in the room, allowing the walls and ceiling to "breathe".The structure is a fine mesh, impregnated with a protective polymeric composition, through which air passes unhindered. For this reason, you can carefully hide the ventilation hole under the ceiling without harm to the microclimate of the room.

Seamless stretch ceilings without heating are not afraid of temperature changes, and therefore they can often be found in dry saunas, in kitchens and other areas with high temperatures. In extreme conditions, PVC film immediately deforms, while the fabric web retains its original shape.

Another nice moment for fans to work with their own hands - seamless ceilings from the fabric can be painted, and not once. To do this, use acrylic enamel, boundless color palette which allows you to realize any design fantasy. One canvas can safely withstand 8-10 colors, respectively, you can change the room walls, furniture, floors, but leave the ceiling the same, only changing its color. PVC film can not boast of this.

So, what are the main advantages of the "cold" stretch ceilings:

1. Hide all the shortcomings of the rough surface.
2. Resistant to temperature changes( can be installed in the kitchen, unheated balcony).
3. No room heating required( simple and quicker installation than PVC ceilings).
4. Possibility of coloring in different colors up to 10 times.
5. Durability( with a high-quality installation, the service life is more than 10 years).
6. Resistance to mechanical influences, unlike PVC film, which can be easily punctured or cut.
7. Fabric ceilings do not sag with time and do not deform, so they can be installed even in new homes that have not yet shrunk.
8. No dust accumulates on the fabric ceilings.
9. Safe for human health, animals and the environment.
10. Fabric material is not capable of reacting with any chemical agents.
11. The pathogen does not develop pathogenic fungal microorganisms and mold.
12. Possible installation under the cloth of various communications, including lighting and alarm.
13. High fire resistance( the blade does not burn and does not support combustion).

Unfortunately, there are fabric ceilings and their shortcomings. First of all, it is quite a high cost. The price of stretch ceilings without heating is much higher than that of PVC products, however this amount is more than offset by durability, aesthetics and functionality. It is also worth noting that for the installation of a "cold" ceiling, you should allocate more free space between the canvas and the base surface, so for low rooms it is better not to use this option.

Despite the resistance to temperature changes, fabric ceilings are afraid of high humidity, and unlike PVC coatings are not able to protect the room in case of leaks from neighbors from the top. As a result of prolonged contact with moisture, the fabric ceiling can change its color. If the water has nowhere to evaporate, and it lingers under the ceiling for more than 2 days, the canvas begins to leak.

Another drawback in the complexity of care - if the PVC film can be wiped with a damp sponge, then removing the stain from the fabric surface will not be easy. For this reason, it is better to install such ceilings in the living room or bedroom, and not in the kitchen, where the likelihood of contamination is high.

So, we can conclude that the fabric ceiling is inferior to polyvinyl chloride only in that it does not save from leaks and requires more complex maintenance. In the rest, and first of all in the installation, this coating is considered the best.

Cost of works

The cost of installing a tension seamless ceiling is determined by the amount of work, as well as the geometry of the room. So, working with non-standard configuration ceilings is much more difficult, and the master can rightly call a higher price for his services. On average, the installation of stretch ceilings without heating for a room of about 15 m² takes up to 6 hours, but the duration and cost of work also depend on the quality of the walls in the room. So, if they are strong enough, it means they are able to hold the profile well, and no amplification is required. If, under the layer of plaster, styrofoam with gypsum plasterboard is hidden, installation may take much longer.

Factors affecting the cost of work:

1. Materials used - the most expensive are the paintings of German and French manufacturers, the cheapest - Russian and Chinese. The design of the canvas and its protective properties also determine the cost. So, ordinary white products are cheaper than those on which the picture is printed.
2. Room configuration - the complexity of the installation depends on the number of angles and complexity of the shape of the ceiling.
3. Various complicating moments - columns, pipes, irregularities and decorative curvatures, stucco, etc.
4. Lighting - what kind of lighting will be installed in the room, you should think about before installing the stretch ceiling. It can be one chandelier on the hook in the middle of the room, multi-level lighting by LEDs or a series of halogen spotlights across the entire area or around the perimeter.

"Clean" installation of a standard stretch ceiling without heating usually costs from 800 to 1500 rubles / m².However, it should be understood that this amount may vary depending on the above factors.

Installation technology

The main feature of stretch ceilings is the technology of their installation, which differs from the installation of other types of suspended structures of cassette or rack type. In the case of PVC, a construction temperature gun is used to heat the stretch ceiling. More detailed information on the process of installing such structures is described in the articles "Stretch ceiling in the bathroom: photos, installation features" and "Stretch ceiling in the kitchen: photos, installation features".

In this chapter, we will discuss the installation technique in a "cold" way, but first let's list the necessary tools and materials:

• perforator or impact drill with a set of drills;
• screwdriver( you can limit yourself and a conventional screwdriver, but then the work takes much more time and effort);
• rounded spatula and special blades for the installation of fabric tension fabrics( sold in specialty shops, can be ordered together with the canvas);
• construction level( better laser);
• stepladder;
• painting line.

In addition to the fabric itself, you will need decorative baguettes for seamless ceilings and fasteners( dowels, screws and screws).By the way, the dimensions of the fabric should slightly exceed the dimensions of the main ceiling.

Step-by-step installation of the cold stretch ceiling:

1. First of all, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base surfaces for installation, not only the ceiling, but also the walls. To do this, remove the old plaster layer, coat the plaster with chips and crevices on the draft ceiling. After drying, cover the surface with an antiseptic solution, and then with a waterproof primer of deep penetration. So you strengthen the ceiling plate and reduce the risk of leaks in case of a flood in the apartment above. Covering the ceiling with a primer and antiseptic, grab 20-30 cm of the top of the walls.
2. Measure in the room, first by measuring the perimeter of the room with a tape measure. Then take the thread or lace and stretch it diagonally from one corner to the opposite, fix the measurements.
3. Route communications and wiring, securing them to the draft ceiling. Specialists recommend to hide electrical wires and cables in corrugated pipes and only then attach them to the surface. At the same stage, if necessary, secure the fire alarm sensors. If you plan to install LED lighting, attach to the ceiling transformers to lower the voltage in the network.
4. Make a marking for the frame frame and secure it with dowels. The step of installing fasteners depends on the strength of the material from which the walls are made. If it is concrete or red brick, dowels can be installed every 25-30 cm, if less durable material like wood or gas blocks, the distance between fasteners should be reduced to 15-20 cm. Do not save on fasteners. In a sense, it's better to "go too far", then not to be afraid that the suspended structure can collapse on the head.
5. After installing the frame, you can begin to tighten the fabric. Before this, sweep and wash the floor in the room so that you can unfold the fabric on it. Remove from the unpacked cloth stickers, polyethylene and pick it by the edges to the frame frame with a "crocodile"( construction clothespin).
6. At the edges, leave small allowances of the fabric( remember that it should be slightly larger than the rough surface of the ceiling) and use a rounded spatula and blades to insert the edges into the baguette. It is most convenient to do this together, filling the canvas simultaneously on opposite sides of the ceiling. Then it is possible to achieve a smooth and equal tension faster and more successfully.
7. When the fabric is tucked into the baguette, it remains only to cut the protruding allowances with a clerical knife, push the edges inwards and cover these places with decorative ceiling skirting boards.

Summarizes all the above information about the video of installing suspended ceilings without heating: