Stretch ceiling: which is better for the kitchen?

When planning a repair in an apartment, many people think: is it possible to use stretch ceiling in the kitchen? Will the temperature difference caused by the operation of the gas stove burners not damage this type of coating? To answer this question, you should understand what materials and structures are used for suspended ceilings, what are their strengths and weaknesses.

The advantages of suspended ceilings in the kitchen

The material for modern tension structures is most often a vinyl film. By its properties, it is almost ideally suited to the microclimate in the kitchen. This is due to the following characteristics of the PVC film, which is used for the manufacture of ceilings of this type:

• Excellent moisture resistance. The kitchen is a room with high humidity, therefore, by installing stretch ceilings in the kitchen, you can further protect the ceiling base from the penetration of unwanted moisture.
• High fire safety parameters. Vinyl film not only does not burn, but also can not change its structure to a temperature of 70 ° C. This allows you to safely make the ceiling of this kind in the kitchen, because it is almost impossible to achieve this temperature in the room. However, for calm and ease of care for covering the ceiling over a gas stove, it is better to install a hood.
• Ease of care. Stretch ceilings in the kitchen from PVC film are most often performed in a glossy version. Caring for them is very simple: grease, soot and any stains can be eliminated without problems by wiping the surface with a flannel fabric. With severe contamination, you can use ordinary non-abrasive detergents, the main thing is to do everything carefully and without pressure, so as not to damage the coating.

To restore the luster of a dull ceiling, it is best to use a 10% solution of ammonia.

Advantages of the tensile structure

In addition to the outstanding qualities of the manufacturing material, the construction of suspended ceilings has favorable differences from other options for ceiling coating.

• A stretched canvas allows you to get some additional insurance against the frequent misfortune of apartment buildings - flooding by neighbors from above. In such houses, rooms of the same type are located on the same vertical axis, and the risk of leakage is greatest in bathrooms and kitchens, above which there are rooms with water sources.

A square meter of PVC film can withstand up to 100 liters of water. And after its evacuation, the ceiling will restore its original shape within a few days.

• It is possible to install stretch ceilings without preliminary preparation of the surface. There is no need for time-consuming leveling of the ceiling, and the service life of this design is 20-30 years.

• A variety of color schemes and models allows you to choose the best option for a particular kitchen, which will better fit into the overall interior of the apartment. Which final option to use depends on the personal preferences of the owner. If desired, you can even do photo printing on such a coating.
• Under the construction of the stretch ceiling, you can hide the wires and communications, it also improves the sound insulation of the room.

Common disadvantages

At the same time, tension structures have their drawbacks:

• The materials used in the manufacture of suspended ceilings are quite durable, but be afraid of the effects of sharp objects that can easily be cut in the film, after which the whole structure will need replacement. However, if no one is going to juggle knives in the kitchen or swing billiard cues, then nothing will happen to the coating.

• When installed, the design will take at least a few centimeters from the total height of the kitchen. With the modest dimensions of the apartments, this can become some kind of problem, which can be solved with the help of the design of a stretch ceiling. The visual impression of the interior of the kitchen will depend on what kind of variety and what color is chosen. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to consult with an experienced designer.

• Run do-it-yourself ceiling installation not everyone will decide. The cost of the heat gun used to stretch the film is several times higher than the cost of materials - cloths and fasteners - so professionals will have to be hired.

• Another inconvenience associated with the tensile structure is that it is necessary to determine in advance which lighting fixtures will be placed in the room. According to this scheme, even during the installation of the ceiling, it is better to place special embedded parts.

With a taut and fully mounted coating, it is unlikely that an additional chandelier can be placed on the ceiling.

• The slab covered with PVC film is poorly ventilated. Because of this, it can subsequently develop fungus or mold on it. To avoid this negative point, even before the start of installation, it is necessary to do surface treatment from microorganisms. The room of the kitchen should be regularly ventilated, and it is better to use ventilation grilles in the design. On the PVC film itself, the formation of fungus and mold is impossible, and all dirt is easily removed during the care process.
• In large kitchens, it is difficult to make the ceiling cover in a single array. PVC film has a maximum width of 5 meters, and connecting seams on a well-lit surface of the ceiling will be clearly visible. To avoid this, it is better to make a two-level design or use different colors of the film.

Stretch ceilings for the kitchen from PVC film

Stretch ceilings based on PVC film are the most common. They are durable, moisture resistant, easy to care for and inexpensive.

Also, their advantages include a huge selection of colors of the film material. What specific color to choose depends on the tastes of the owner and the nature of the room. Light colors will expand the kitchen visually, dark glossy shades will achieve a mirror effect.

Such material is well suited for multi-level designs, allowing you to give personality to any kitchen. The type of film from which the stretch ceiling is made determines whether it will be matte or glossy.

Features matte ceiling

Matte ceilings are not recommended for use in small rooms, as they will visually reduce the already small space of the kitchen. In addition, the matte coatings are a little rough, because of this dust and soot can settle on them from the gas stove, which will require more careful maintenance and reduce the life of such a coating.

White matte ceilings are well suited for large and high kitchens made in a classic style.

Glossy stretch ceiling

For the vast majority of apartments, it is better to choose a glossy canvas in the kitchen. It will visually increase the space, will not require special care and organically fit into the overall design of the kitchen.

If bright colors are chosen for a glossy ceiling, it is better that they overlap with the colors of the kitchen furniture and decoration.

Fabric ceiling

In addition to the film, a special fabric can be used to make the stretch ceiling. Cloth ceilings attract with their environmental friendliness, they also allow the room to breathe.

The main disadvantage of such a coating is the difficulty of washing it in the care process. It is unlikely that they should be used in the kitchen, where soot and fat from a gas stove will quickly render it unusable. Polymer-impregnated fabric ceilings have higher performance, but are quite expensive and do not have a wide variety of colors. In addition, they are not used in multi-level structures, where the material must be given a complex shape.

To finish the kitchen in the apartment, it is quite possible to use the ceiling tension structures. The main thing is to correctly determine which material and color will suit a particular room, and not to forget about the rules for caring for a ceiling coating.