If you want to hide the defects of your main ceiling and at the same time make a "highlight" in your own interior, a two-level stretch ceiling is what you need. This original and unique decorative design can be installed on its own. The main thing is to strictly adhere to several stages:
Two-level stretch ceiling with your own hands
1. Preparatory. To begin with, it will be necessary to develop a sketch that serves as a reference point for the work, a good plastic and flexible PVC film makes it possible to implement any design intent.
Design of stretch ceiling
The sketch must be functional and expedient. So, in a room, whose interior is laconic, the complex form of ceiling construction will be completely superfluous. The dimensions, boundaries and location of each ceiling level must be clearly defined. What level will be the main one? What will be performing? And, of course, you can not do without measuring the diagonal and perimeter of the room, determining its area, and, in addition, the location of lighting equipment.
Surface preparation
The next steps are the direct preparation of the ceiling surface for work: the old finish and the exfoliated areas of the former plaster are removed from it. Also, the slab is cleaned from the cement chips. If your ceiling has too serious defects, then read the article - how to fix cracks on the ceiling.
Surface preparation
Assembly of
It begins with the definition of the interface of the levels. To apply it to the surface of the main ceiling is a thick enough marker. Then, along the marked line, an aluminum profile is fastened with a perforator and dowels.
Fastening the metal profile to the wall and ceiling
At the same time, if the profile is fixed along a curve, it is notched with a metal scissor with an interval of 3-4 cm. The strip of plastic covers the end surface between the upper and lower levels. At the same time, its thickness should be about 10 cm: the smaller one will deprive the whole structure of rigidity, and the greater one - flexibility and elasticity, which will complicate the construction of curved sections of the frame. The width of it will affect the planned height of the second level. In addition, such a strip, when fastened to an aluminum profile, requires additional reinforcement.
To make the shape in the form of a bend, the metal profile is cut with metal scissors or
wire cutters. Otherwise, if the material is stretched, the unstrung portion of the strip is wound into the second level space.
Screws for fixing the ceiling
Solving this problem helps to install along a strip of wooden bars, not exceeding the height of the width of the strip. The number of bars is determined by:
- Configuration - the more complex the shape of the protruding ceiling level, the more bars you will need,
- The length of the dividing line - its value is directly proportional to the number of installed bars, the optimal distance between them is 50 cm.
The strip is fixed to the barswith the help of self-tapping screws. And that the self-tapping hats do not stand out under the ceiling cloth, leaving dark dots, it is recommended to cover them with epoxy mastic and clean it. There is another option of simplifying the assembly: the use of not a whole plastic strip, but its pieces, with the obligatory fixation of their wooden plates or screws. In this case, the plate should not exceed the width of the strip, but the joints must overlap somewhere 5 cm in both directions.
In this article we will not dwell on the construction of a skeleton for a two-level ceiling, for we have already written everything about the construction of the frame and the ceiling plastering with plasterboard - you can see it on our website, but below, please note what the frame isand how the plating of the framework with gypsum cardboard occurs.
Frame of a two-level ceiling
We cover the ceiling with plasterboard
Installation of baguettes - brackets fixing the ceiling panel
Installation of baguettes fixing the ceiling board
This process goes from the walls and onwards and is carried out in several ways:
- At the main level, starting from the walls, in the lowest cornerretreat about 4 cm from the ceiling and put a mark. Further, through the water level, this mark is transferred to other walls;
- If you need to install an internal lighting under a stretched ceiling, the ceiling is lowered even further, because you need to take into account the height of the used lighting fixtures;
- At the second level, originating from the wall, the layout of the baguette depends on the height of this level.
The material for the baguette is an aluminum or plastic profile. With a large stretch ceiling area, it is better to use aluminum brackets: they are more stiff and reliable. The optimum interval between the screws is about 10 cm, in the corners it is reduced to 5 cm.
The mounting brackets are installed along all sides of the room. At each level of the stretch ceiling you need your own baguette, and the location of the second level baguettes should be such that the plastic construction is completely covered with the material of the additional ceiling surface.
Suspension ceiling mounting scheme
Ceiling mounting for
tensioning fastening process Here everything depends primarily on the material used:
- Polyvinyl chloride liner is taken 10% less than the room size. However, given that this material needs to be heated to 700 ° C by means of a heat gun, its self-assembly is highly undesirable;
- When choosing a polyvinyl chloride fabric on a fabric basis, you need to take care of the allowances - 15 cm on each side. However, heating in this case is not required, and the excess is cut off after the tension is completed, which can be carried out by hand. To do it is simple. First attention is given to the first level.
When installing a two-level ceiling, work is carried out first with the first level and is carried out from any angle. A construction spatula is used, and with its help the ceiling cloth is filled in a baguette. A similar action takes place in the opposite corner. After that, the material is attached to the center of each side of the wall. And in each case between the pair of fixed places the cloth stretches in the center. Gradually, the tension process continues, and the interval between the fastening points of the web decreases. At the end of the canvas is fixed in the baguette by means of special plates, and the second level of the surface of the ceiling is stretched in a similar way.
Tensioning with air-borne air
Installation of lighting elements. Two options are possible here:
- The elements are removed inwards, and then they have to be installed before the tension occurs,
- The elements are output outside, and then you have to gently cut the ceiling and stick plastic inserts in the places where the luminaire is supposed to be attached.
Scheme for installing a fluorescent lighting fixture
Independently installing a two-level tension ceilings must be borne in mind that in this case, the manufacturers of the ceiling cancellation takes all responsibility. The very same installation will have to be done very carefully, taking into account the smallest details, otherwise it may be necessary to completely remove the structure and carry out the work anew.
