Suspended cassette ceilings from aluminum panels

There is an erroneous opinion that some types of suspended ceilings, for example, cassette, are intended for installation only in office or industrial premises. Those who think so are just a little behind the times. In fact, the cassette ceiling looks very organic in the apartment, and not only in the corridor, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, but also in the living room. Unpretentious care, simple installation and a growing variety of textures and colors of panels make cassette ceilings incredibly attractive. Why not apply this new and innovative solution at home?

What are cassette ceilings?

A cassette ceiling is a structure consisting of guide profiles and decorative modules, or so-called cassettes. In some cases, it additionally includes supporting profiles. Such a ceiling is sometimes confused with

false ceiling "Armstrong", although in fact their differences are quite fundamental.

Guides made of steel or aluminum are fastened in two ways:

1. Directly to the ceiling using special suspensions.
2. With the help of mini-suspensions to the bearing profiles, previously firmly fixed to the base of the ceiling.

The most common options for ceilings with square or rectangular cassettes (30 X 30 and 30 X 60 cm). The height of the suspension system - the distance from the base plate to the ceiling surface - is at least 8 cm.

Aluminum is an ideal material for the production of suspended structures. The main advantages are light weight, corrosion resistance (in air, the material is covered with a strong film that prevents oxidation). Aluminum compounds do not emit substances harmful to humans.

The ceiling made of aluminum panels can be decorated in various ways. On the front surface of the cassettes may be present:

• powder layer;
• lamination;
• polymer layers of paints (matte and with a metallic sheen);
• galvanic layer (mirror - with gold and chrome shades).

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of aluminum suspension systems:

• Long service life - provided by anodized or laminated layer on the surface of the panels (additional protection is created to maintain aesthetic appeal for a long time time).
• Environmental friendliness - the material does not emit harmful substances.
• Moisture resistance - allows you to install cassette suspended ceilings in rooms with high humidity (kitchen, bathroom) and makes it easy to care for the surface.

• Lightness - for the installation of a suspended structure, the installation of a solid frame is not required.
• Sound insulation - to increase sound absorption, an acoustic pad made of a special material is glued to the back of the metal modules.
• The ability to lay wires and communications without violating the design and general appearance of the premises.
• Ease of installation and dismantling of the system, ease of replacement of individual modules.
• A wide selection of design solutions, a rich color palette for coloring modules.

If the ceiling surface has a mirror effect, then the space of a small bathroom or kitchen is significantly increased visually.

As the only design flaw, a decrease in the height of the room by 8–20 cm can be mentioned.

Cassette ceiling made of aluminum: types of fixtures and features

The fastening of metal panels on frame rails can be implemented in a visible and hidden manner.

• Open cassette suspended ceilings include a frame of special guides, the cross section of which resembles an inverted letter T. During installation, cells corresponding to the size of the metal modules are formed. Then the cassettes are laid on top of the cells and held thanks to the horizontal protrusions on the guide elements. Parts of the rails that remain uncovered also have a decorative coating.
• At the closed ceiling, the modules are fixed to the frame using special grooves on the bearing guides. This option involves the complete closure of the guide panels and creating the appearance of a solid surface.

The system provides a solid attachment of the modules to the rails. The cassette ceiling is easily mounted in any area, from small bathrooms to spacious halls.

What is required to install a closed cassette suspended ceiling?

For the correct installation work to install the structure in the kitchen, bathroom, corridor or living room, you will need the following components and tools:

• Set of aluminum cassettes. If they have a standard size of 30 X 30 cm, then per 1 square. m of the ceiling will need 11, 1 pieces.
• L-profiles, or so-called wall corners, having a standard length of 3 m and a thickness of 0.4 mm. The number of parts is calculated taking into account the length of the perimeter of the cassette ceiling.
• Guides (stringers) 4 m long, made of galvanized steel. These are important parts that guarantee structural rigidity and have special grooves for installing metal cassettes.
• Mini-suspensions - accessories designed to suspend load-bearing rails to a spring suspension / ceiling / ceiling profile. Create a space between the ceiling and the suspended structure for the layout of communications. Equipped with at least one piece per square meter.
• Spring suspensions - are screwed directly to the ceiling and are used if it is necessary to create a large space between the ceiling base and the suspended structure. Quantity - from 1 pc. per square meter.

• Level, chop cord.
• Knife / scissors for metal cutting profile.
• Screwdriver, hammer drill.
• Self-tapping screws, dowels.

The most detailed step-by-step guide for installing a cassette ceiling

You can easily install cassette ceilings with your own hands, if you use competent and detailed instructions. So, let's begin.

• Decide on the level of the cassette ceiling and put notes on the wall around the perimeter of the room. It is most convenient to use a chop cord for these purposes.
• Measure and cut with the special scissors for metal the L-profile of the required length. Attach it to the wall, focusing on the markings, mark the points of attachment on the surface with a pencil, the distance between which should be 80 cm. Fix the profile on the wall with dowels and screws with a large hat, making holes with a perforator.

To join two profiles in the corner of the room, one of them is cut along a measured diagonal line.

• Mounting rails. Mark the location of the rails on the ceiling: the step between them should correspond to the size of the cassette modules, usually 30 cm.
• Fix the spring hangers to the ceiling at a distance of no more than 1 m from each other. Hang rails on suspensions.

Important! The maximum distance between the base and the cassette ceiling, at which mini-suspensions can be used, is 10 cm. If necessary, lower the suspension structure below using spring suspensions. The stringer is placed 5 mm above the L-profile (this margin is required for the inserted cartridge).

• Level all the guides by adjusting the spring suspensions.
• Proceed to place the cassettes. If the cassette ceiling provides for the use of modules of different textures or colors, which should make up the picture, focus on the center of the room. Define the middle of the central guide - from this place you will begin the installation of modular elements. If the tapes are the same, start from the corner of the room.

Be sure to draw an arrangement of modules of different colors according to the design.

• Simply insert the cassettes with both sides into the guides. If necessary, you can freely move them.

• If the whole cassette does not fit near the wall, it must be cut to the required size. Cut off the edges with the same scissors, bend them, make an incision with a mounting knife and bend the cartridge along this line, separating the desired part. Remove the neighboring element, install the cut-off piece of the metal cassette, clamp it with the help of the clips on the wall corner, then return the removed module to its place.

Install fixtures during the installation of a suspended ceiling, it is simple: in the desired panel, make a hole using a core drill, fix the cassette on the guides, insert the lighting fixture. Some manufacturers, such as Caveen, produce luminaires that are the size of a single panel and are installed in the same way as a conventional cassette.

• Lastly, whole cassettes of the penultimate row are mounted, before which the extreme panels are pressed against the L-profile by clamps. Carefully insert the last cassette and snap it into place, tapping lightly on the corners.

In the next video you can see the steps of installing a cassette ceiling of another model, involving the use of load-bearing profiles. All the difference lies in the fact that the guides (stringers) are held with suspensions not on the base of the ceiling, but on these profiles.