How to stretch a fabric ceiling. Do-it-yourself fabric stretch ceiling without punctures. The fabric can be made from

Many people choose a fabric stretch fabric for the ceiling. This material has a number of advantages over film. But there are also disadvantages, one of which is a higher price. To reduce costs, you can install the canvas yourself. This article provides detailed instructions on how to install fabric ceilings with your own hands. You will need some building skills and an assistant.

Features of fabric for stretch ceilings

For production, a polyester fabric is used, which is impregnated with polyurethane. Properties are determined by the characteristics of the material. Fabric stretch ceiling tolerates temperature fluctuations from -50º to +100ºC. The canvas can be stretched in unheated premises: verandas, gazebos, houses for temporary residence.

The maximum roll width is 5.1 m. This is enough to create a seamless ceiling in a standard sized room.

Polyester does not burn, does not electrify, does not emit harmful substances even when heated. The fabric web is much stronger than the film web. Accidental impact with a sharp object or a blown off champagne cork will not damage the surface.

The disadvantages include a meager color range - only about 20 tones. But the fabric can be dyed (up to 3-4 times), draw patterns or apply a decorative textured layer.

Polyester ceilings are more expensive than vinyl. But the canvas does not need to be heated for installation. Installation of a fabric stretch ceiling is easy to do with your own hands. This will save you a lot of money.

The following manufacturers are the most popular:

  • Clipso (France);
  • Descor (Germany);
  • Cerutti (Switzerland).

How is the fabric attached

A frame of profiles is fixed along the perimeter of the walls. For fabric, they take a plastic baguette with a clip-on fastening, which in section resembles the letter “A” with curved lower ends. The canvas is inserted between them and held according to the clothespin principle.

The baguette itself can be ceiling or wall. The first takes less height, but if the room is not too low, it is better to use the second option. As a rule, the base floor is not perfectly even, so it is easier to set the ceiling level with a wall mount.

The fabric is fixed at a small distance from the edge, so it is bought with a margin. It is enough to add 10-15 cm from the length and width of the room. The excess is cut off later.

What is required for installation

In addition to the stretch ceiling kit, the following tools must be prepared before starting work:

  • ladder;
  • perforator or impact drill;
  • screwdriver or Phillips screwdriver;
  • a hammer;
  • laser or water level;
  • hacksaw;
  • pencil and chopping cord (can be replaced with a tape measure);
  • construction or clerical knife;
  • screws and plastic dowels;
  • spatula with rounded ends.




For lighting installation you will need:

  • chandelier;
  • built-in lamps;
  • thermal rings of suitable diameter;
  • wires;
  • platforms or plywood or timber for mortgages.

Preparatory work

The surface of the draft ceiling does not need to be leveled. But if pieces of plaster, putty, etc., fall off it, they will bulge ugly on the stretch canvas. And heavy parts can even damage the fabric. Therefore, the base ceiling is prepared before installation.

If the chandelier is already hanging, it must be removed. The apartment is de-energized first. The wires are removed from the ceiling.

Remains of paint and plaster are removed from the surface of the ceiling. If there is mold, the affected areas are removed. The surface is impregnated with a composition that will not allow the fungus to reappear. This is also useful for prevention. After drying, the ceiling is covered with a primer (better - deep penetration). It hardens the surface.

The next step is laying the electrics for lighting. The wires are laid in a corrugated pipe and fixed with clamps and dowels. Putty is not used, as it may fall off later.

As a rule, a chandelier is used for lighting, sometimes in combination with built-in lamps. But the fabric will not withstand the chandelier, so a mortgage is being prepared for it. Take a piece of plywood or a wooden block a little larger than the chandelier mount. The mounting platform is mounted at such a height that the lower part is at the level of the future ceiling. If the thickness of plywood or timber is sufficient, they are fixed with dowels. Otherwise, a frame is made of a metal profile, which is attached to the ceiling. And a mortgage platform is screwed to its lower part. Recessed lights are also attached to pre-installed platforms.

Fixing baguettes

First you need to mark the place on the walls. Retreat from the draft ceiling:

  • 10-15 cm if built-in lighting is planned;
  • 3-5 cm if there is only a chandelier.

At the corners, markings are made with a pencil at the desired height.

With the help of the level achieve the same distance from the floor. So the ceiling will be completely horizontal.

Then the chopping thread is pulled along the wall along two marks and released. A straight line remains on the surface. The operation is repeated for the remaining walls. Holes are drilled along the line every 10-15 cm. After that, the profile is attached.

To get around the corners of the room, the baguette is sawn with a hacksaw at an angle of 45 degrees. The profile joints must fit closely to each other. Sometimes baguettes are already produced with holes for screws. If they don't, you'll have to drill. Then the parts of the frame are attached to the walls with screws with plastic dowels.

Canvas stretch

The installation technology is simple, but it is much more convenient to work with an assistant. Installation of a fabric ceiling starts from the middle of the walls of the room. The material is carefully tucked into the baguette with a spatula, then the tool is removed.

In the same way, the canvas is inserted in the corners. Gradually stretched the entire ceiling. This installation technology avoids distortions.

At the next stage, excess fabric is trimmed from the edges. Small remnants of the canvas are refueled in a baguette. Stretch ceiling is ready.

At the last stage, lighting fixtures are installed. To protect the material from overheating, thermal rings are used, which are glued directly to the fabric. Then cut a hole for the wire. The lamp is fixed and connected.

Homemade version of the fabric ceiling

Specialized material may be too expensive or not suitable for other reasons. In this case, a step-by-step guide to installing a homemade fabric ceiling will be useful.

To work, you will need the following materials and tools:

  • the cloth;
  • planed timber (preferably 30x30 mm)
  • drill and dowels;
  • sealant;
  • staples and a construction stapler for driving them;
  • masking tape;
  • ceiling plinth and polyurethane adhesive;
  • Chipboard or boards.

The fabric must be strong enough. You can pre-paint it (with acrylic) or apply a pattern through a stencil.

The factory roll width is about 2.8 m. If this is not enough for the entire ceiling, it is divided into zones. You can run wires between them. In addition, it will be more convenient to stretch the canvas not over the entire surface at once, but in parts.

Installation of fabric stretch ceilings begins with the preparation of the base. This step is the same as in the previous case.

At the second step, a beam is attached around the perimeter and from the walls to the chandelier. Holes are pre-drilled in it every 40-50 cm. Then the part that will be adjacent to the ceiling surface is covered with sealant. This is done to protect against fungus and possible woodworms. The beam is attached to the ceiling with dowels. Near the walls, it is placed in one row, and towards the center - in two (with a distance of several centimeters).

“The mind is incomprehensible! Just finished renovation! And she - "I want a new ceiling, something fabulous!" Alex was outraged. “There are a lot of ways to decorate the ceiling on the Internet. Even draping the ceiling with fabric will add zest, ”I reassured my friend. “It takes a lot of money!” He didn't let up. "Don't worry, we'll make a fabulous fabric ceiling with our own hands!" He said he would have to help. Well, let's get started!

fabric ceiling

Choice of color and material

Both silk and synthetics, veil, and even velvet or satin are excellent for decorating the ceiling. The choice of material dictates the result to us. Organza will make the room airy, and luxurious velvet will help create a cozy atmosphere.
What color to choose? Pink will slightly reduce the height, add a youthful style. Orange will fill the cheerful mood of summer. Lilac relaxes and helps relieve tension and stress after a hard day. Delicate beige adds airiness.
It's time to go to the fabric store. To make a fabric ceiling, we decided to use organza in several colors of calm lilac and soft beige. So these colors were called by a nice girl-consultant. We, men, do not really understand where it is gently lilac, and where it is calm beige. They understood one thing for sure: they would add coziness and fabulousness to the interior of the bedroom.

Fabric ceiling in the bedroom

Training

How to calculate the amount? With a stretch ceiling, everything is simple - you can measure the floor of the room, because the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ceiling and floor is the same. In our case, 12 m2. But what about drapery? We decided that the fold step would be equal to half the step between the folds. So in theory we need twice as much fabric as the area of ​​the ceiling. So they did. According to the drawing, we will alternate lilac with beige in the same way. Therefore, we bought 14 meters of lilac and 10 beige fabrics.

Fabric stretch ceiling

Note. You need to calculate the strips with a slight overlap. The width of our lane is 1.2m. those. overlap approximately 20 cm.

Now it's time to visit the hardware store. What do we need. For the frame of our construction, along the perimeter of the walls, a bar 4x5 cm with a total length of 50 meters (perimeter 48 meters) and a piece of plywood 35x35 cm 1.5 cm thick. Plywood is needed for the center. In the nearest carpentry workshop, we will cut a circle with a diameter of 35 cm.

In the nearest carpentry workshop, we will cut a circle

Instruments:

  1. Construction stapler;
  2. Perforator for walls and ceilings. We rented. Since I have a small household drill, but such a floor slab cannot be overcome;
  3. Last (wallpaper spatula) part-time template;
  4. Construction knife and scissors;
  5. Level. Laser is the best.

It is worth noting that it is better to make a fabric ceiling with an assistant.

Execution of work

Let's transgress. First, fix the bars on the walls around the perimeter of the room. If the ceiling height allows, you can experiment with the height. You can give additional airiness to the room. But, when the ceiling height of a standard panel is 2.6 m, there is no other option but to fix the frame at the very top. The first circle of plywood was fixed in the center. As expected, the brick walls of the partitions surrendered without a fight, but the stove took a lot of strength and sweat.

First, fix the bars on the walls around the perimeter of the room

The next step is to start marking and cutting the strips into pieces of 3 and 4 meters. It's simple. You need to draw a circle into 14 parts. There were 4 lilac three-meter stripes, 2 beige ones. And four meter stripes, four of each color.
Finally, we transgress to the fastening of our bands. We stretch along the perimeter of the walls without folds, we wrap the ends of the strip inward. Be sure to overlap about 10 centimeters, otherwise you will see lumbago. Then we start the fabric on our section of the circle, we do the assembly. The whole thing is carefully fastened with staples. The drawing is as follows: lilac stripes in the corners. Inside is beige. There is one beige stripe on a three-meter wall, and two on a four-meter wall.

How are stretch ceilings installed?

Managed to fix a few bands. And then it dawned on me. If you fix the LED strip around the perimeter of the frame, you can get an original backlight. And now, we are already going to the construction hypermarket. The LED strip was connected in the junction box to one of the switch keys. I had to abandon the adjustment of the light in the main lamp.
Honestly, it is not difficult to fix the fabric on the bar - one pulls, the other fastens. But with the circle I had to “sweat”. Marks were drawn on the template with a marker so that the waves of the drapery were the same. In less than two hours, all the elements were fixed. Draping the ceiling with fabric was a success!

If you fix the LED strip around the perimeter of the frame, you can get an original backlight

We fix the lamp on a plywood circle. Everything seems to be. But, something is missing. Exactly! The fastening brackets around the perimeter are not hidden in any way. Another trip to the supermarket for a polypropylene cornice. The skirting board was bought with a coating, so as not to waste time on pre-painting.

Advice. Prepare the material in advance for decorating the junction of the ceiling and wall. And you need to paint too. Otherwise, there is a big risk of staining the fabric.

Glued fillets only to the wall. That, in fact, is all. The fabric on the ceiling looks beautiful and truly fabulous, especially with backlighting.

Fabric stretch ceiling with backlight

All work required:

  • day of work;
  • two enthusiasts;
  • minimal tool;
  • a bit of fantasy.

Try it and you will understand that sometimes original ideas do not require much time and effort!


We solve the controversial issue: first stretch ceiling or wallpaper High-quality repair of the ceiling in the apartment with your own hands

Textile stretch ceiling or seamless, is a fabric of polyester knitted weaving thread, evenly impregnated with a mixture based on polyurethane, then dried and calendered. The ceiling canvas is produced in rolls of 5 meters wide and is convenient because this size of the canvas allows installation without seams and joints, which is why stretch fabric ceilings have become popular. Do-it-yourself installation of stretch fabric ceilings does not require individual adjustment to the configuration of the room, you just need to purchase the required footage and, without additional processing of the fabric, fix it in the mounting profile.

Installation of seamless stretch ceilings

Advantages and disadvantages

The installation of fabric stretch ceilings is notable for its convenience, since seamless ceilings are not afraid of temperature drops and, in terms of their strength characteristics, are close to traditional finishes.

Textured fabric without the need for pre-priming.

Textile stretch ceilings have a number of advantages:

  • Smooth surface;
  • resistance to temperature extremes (-40 0 С +80 0 С);
  • quick and easy installation process;
  • long service life;
  • high functionality;
  • high fire safety;
  • moisture resistance.

Well-executed in its appearance resembles high-quality plastered, which is its main advantage.

Attention! It is necessary to use lamps with a power of no more than 50 W to avoid heating and deformation of the ceiling. This does not apply to energy-saving and LED lamps.

The disadvantage of fabric ceilings is that they are easily damaged by a sharp object, but if we consider the fact that everything must be treated with care, then the disadvantage exhausts its significance.

Types of fastening seamless ceilings

Installation of stretch ceilings takes place without additional heating of the room, since the material of the ceiling does not expand when heated - they are installed quite simply and quickly.

To do this, you need to mount a baguette, which can be of two types:

  • U-shaped profile;
  • clip-on.

U-shaped - wedge, used with a glazing bead or wedge and a decorative insert. Such a system does not require accurate measurements, is fast in execution and relatively cheap, but when using it, lighting fixtures may be displaced, since the canvas does not have clearly defined boundaries, deformation of the canvas, which will not be subject to reinstallation.

Also, the wedge method gives a short warranty period, as a result of which it has become unpopular.

The clip method is most widely used in fastening textile ceilings.. Using clip fasteners, not without the help of a friend, of course, you can do it yourself, without a specialist, since this method is quite simple and does not take much time, and will also significantly reduce costs.

The clip fastening is made of durable plastic and designed in such a way that it does not require additional decorations. This method is the main and most common in the fastening of fabric ceilings, it is also easy and fast.

Using the clip method, the results will be much better than with the wedge (bead) method, and your ceiling will last much longer.

You can see the differences between these two types of fasteners in the pictures below.

When installing fabric stretch ceilings with your own hands, you can also watch the video. Relying on the advice of experienced professionals, you can achieve the perfection of the premises and gain skills in carrying out repairs.

Installation steps

In order for the installation of a textile stretch ceiling to go without surprises, you must follow the sequence:

  • determine the horizontal level of the future ceiling (using a laser or water level);
  • measure the corners of the room for an even joining of the profile;
  • install a baguette;
  • start fastening;
  • decor;
  • installation of lighting fixtures.

Installation of the profile is one of the most important stages in the installation of a stretch ceiling, which is responsible for the durability of the structure.

After fixing the baguette, we stretch the canvas, also sequentially, to get a good result, as can be seen in the diagram:

When fixing textiles, the sequence is also necessary:

  • consistent fixing of the corners of the ceiling;
  • fixing the ceiling in the center of the wall;
  • fastening in the center of each intermediate section;
  • decorating with a decorative overlay.

The result of successive actions will be a smooth ceiling, correctly fixed in a mounting baguette.

To help those who first decided to carry out repairs on their own, there is a video on the page. The do-it-yourself installation process is simple, but requires accuracy and careful preparation.

Before starting the installation of a fabric ceiling, it is necessary to finish all the dusty work, prepare the base well, because the service life of the coating and its appearance will depend on this, as well as determine the level of lighting fixtures and purchase them in advance.

After the installation is completed, it remains only to hide the ceiling mount with decor and mount the lighting fixture. Installation of chandeliers and other lighting fixtures is carried out by fastening a plastic ring in the center of the ceiling so that its center coincides with the attachment point of the lighting fixture, and the size of the ring is such that the decor of the chandelier overlaps it.

After gluing the ring, you need to make a hole in the center and attach the chandelier. Your ceiling is ready! Our congratulations!

Stretch ceilings first appeared in Europe in the second half of the twentieth century.

Since the late 90s, this technology has been used in the countries of the former USSR. Since then, every year they have been winning the preferences of consumers and are a worthy alternative to decorating the ceiling space.

Why Choose These Ceilings?

Such consumer confidence in stretch ceilings is fully justified - after all, the latter have numerous advantages.

Man fixing the ceiling in the hall

Among them it is worth noting:

  • speed of installation and cleanliness of work - a minimum of dust and dirt during installation, plus there is no need to move furniture to install the structure;
  • structural reliability - the ceiling does not crack and does not deform over time;
  • stretch ceilings “eat up” a small height of the room - about 5 cm versus 10-15 cm of suspended ceilings, which is especially important in rooms from the time of Soviet development;
  • moisture resistance - the materials from which such ceilings are made are not afraid of moisture. This is the only type of ceiling for which flooding from above by neighbors or a leaky roof is not at all scary. Water is drained or pumped out of the ceiling space without problems, and your repair is saved;
  • durability - the material does not fade in the sun, and the ceiling will retain its original appearance for a long time. The warranty period for stretch ceilings starts from 10 years;
  • fire safety - the material from which stretch ceilings are made is not combustible;
  • versatility - this ceiling looks wonderful in rooms of various types with various types of lamps. You can always choose an acceptable option for a glamorous living room and for a strict executive office, for a high-tech house and for a classic-style apartment. It will perfectly show itself both in ordinary residential and office premises, and in rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, etc.);
  • aesthetic appeal;
  • variety of textures and colors;
  • these ceilings do not absorb odors and do not smell themselves;
  • these ceilings are environmentally friendly, even if they are made of artificial materials - they do not emit harmful substances during operation;
  • ease of maintenance - because the ceiling does not accumulate static electricity, it does not attract dust and is very easy to clean.

Of course, when weighing all the pros and cons of installing stretch ceilings, one should also remember that they also have disadvantages. This is:

  • rather high price in comparison with other types of ceilings;
  • these ceilings are afraid of damage by sharp objects and abrasive cleaners;
  • installation of some types of stretch ceilings is quite complicated and requires special skills and the availability of special expensive equipment;
  • some types of stretch ceilings are not suitable for unheated rooms.

Meticulous note. Disadvantages regarding installation and fear of frost apply only to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) ceilings. Also quite often you can meet "authoritative" arguments that stretch ceilings begin to sag some time after installation ( read more here-). If the material for such ceilings is chosen correctly, and the installation technology is strictly observed, then the risk of such a problem is reduced to almost zero.

The main advantages of this type of ceilings

There are two types of stretch ceilings - PVC ceilings and. And if the installation of PVC ceilings for non-professionals is extremely difficult, then do-it-yourself fabric stretch ceilings are a reality. Fabric ceilings occupy about a third of the stretch ceiling market, in comparison with PVC counterparts, they have the following advantages:

  1. fabric stretch ceiling can be installed in almost any room without connecting the strips - the width of the material reaches 5 m;
  2. frost resistance - you can install a fabric ceiling in an unheated room;
  3. ease of installation - this type of ceiling can be mounted independently, for installation you need a standard set of tools that every master has.

Read more: Ultra-thin LED luminaires for stretch ceilings: nuances of use

Of the disadvantages of fabric ceilings, it should be noted:

  1. higher price compared to PVC ceilings;
  2. a small variety of textures and colors - fabric ceilings have only a matte rough surface and a limited range of colors. You can put an image on them, but this will raise their price even more.

The choice of material for work

Fabric installation. It's better to do it together

For the manufacture of fabric stretch ceilings, it is recommended to use two types of materials. The first is special knitted fabrics made of synthetic materials, as a rule, these materials are offered by companies that sell and install stretch ceilings. The second type is coarse undyed calico, you can buy it in a fabric store, on the market, etc.

Special fabrics will cost you much more, but ceiling installation will give you a minimum of hassle. In almost all installation options, you will get a seamless ceiling, on which, if you wish, a drawing of any complexity will be applied in advance by the manufacturer. Calico canvas will cost you much less, but you will have to tinker a lot with its preparation - pre-sew the strips to fit the room, process the connecting seams. After installing the ceiling, the calico will need to be primed and painted with special interior paints that are suitable for application to fabrics. In addition, rooms with high humidity are not suitable for such ceilings, because. their wet processing will not only be difficult, but can also damage the appearance of the ceilings.

Before we look at what tools are needed for the job and how to install such a ceiling, we would like to recommend that you read these materials:

  1. About comparing this ceiling with PVC stretch ceilings (the advantages and disadvantages of both types are considered);
  2. (also discussed in sufficient detail).

We hope that these articles will help you make the right choice in finishing the ceiling surface.

Read more: The height of the stretch ceiling with built-in lights - we remove space eaters

What materials and tools are needed for installation?

So, to make a fabric ceiling, you need the following tools:

  • construction stapler;
  • drill or puncher - depending on the material from which the walls are made;
  • set of drills;
  • special wallpaper spatula (fins);
  • construction knife;
  • scissors;
  • laser or water level.

From the materials you will need:

  1. coarse calico - in an amount equal to the manufacture of a canvas of the size of the room plus 20 cm on each side;
  2. wooden bars (glazing beads) 40x50 or 50x50 mm in size - in an amount equal to the perimeter of the room;
  3. anchors - by the number of wooden bars. The size of the anchors and their type depend on the thickness and strength of the material from which the walls are made;
  4. mounting glue (shoe glue is best);
  5. tracing paper;
  6. glue for tracing paper;
  7. PVA glue;
  8. primer for coarse calico;
  9. paint for coloring calico - most often they use acrylic or water-based paint;
  10. - in an amount equal to the perimeter of the room to close the ceiling attachment point.

Meticulous note. We deliberately do not mention in the article a sewing machine and a set of tools necessary for the manufacture of a ceiling cloth. In the end, you don’t have to master the associated professions of a cutter, seamstress and ironer - specialized workshops can quickly, efficiently and at an affordable price do this job for you.

Stage 1. We mark the ceilings

This stage is the most important of the entire scale of work, because the quality and correct installation of the ceiling structure ultimately depends on the correct marking. To do this, make the first mark at a height of 4-5 cm from the ceiling (depending on what size bars you use) and project it onto all the walls of the room. As a result of the markup, a horizontal line should be drawn on all walls of the room.

Advice. In order for the ceiling not to repeat the irregularities and slopes of the ceiling and walls in the room, you should project the first mark of the ceiling height onto all the walls of the room using a level.

Stage 2. We install glazing beads around the perimeter of the room

To install the glazing beads, it is necessary to drill holes in the wall for the anchor. To do this, number all the fasteners in the order of installation (mark the numbers with a marker). Then, in each glazing bead, drill a hole for attaching the anchor, attach all the bars in order to the line marked on the wall and transfer the marks to the wall through the drilled holes. Drill holes in the walls for anchors. When using this technique, all the holes on the bars and walls will match. Install the selected type of anchors and fix the bars on them.

Helpful information. In some sources, you can find the option of attaching glazing beads to a special wall profile for stretch ceilings. In this case, the glazing beads are fastened not end-to-end, but after 7-10 cm. The method described in this article significantly reduces the cost of fastening technology and is widely used in the post-Soviet countries.

Stage 3. We fix the panel

At this stage, you will definitely need an assistant to fix the panel without distortions, and just supporting it will also not hurt at all. For installation, a construction stapler and mounting glue are used. Spread the glazing bead with glue, attach a panel to it and press it with a flipper in the corner of the junction of the bar with the wall. Pull the panel by the free part, holding the fins - the panel will stretch, then shoot it with a stapler. First, attach the canvas to the longest wall of the room - starting from the middle, move to the edges. After that, go to the opposite wall, making sure that no wrinkles form on the fabric. Then attach the canvas to the narrow part of the room according to the same principle - from the middle to the edges. Cut off the excess edges of the attached panel.

Read more: Ceiling insulation in a wooden house

Stage 4. Line of tracing paper

Tracing paper is needed in order to hide the connecting seams of the calico fabric. If they are not processed, when painting, the paint in these places is not applied evenly, but hangs in small bubbles, which, of course, deprives the room of aesthetic appeal. Therefore, this stage of work is very responsible and requires special care.

First, we prepare a special glue. The recipe is simple - cook the paste (preferably from flour) and add PVA glue to it in an amount of 30% by weight of the paste. Then dilute the mass with water until the density of kefir and filter. We apply glue both on the canvas and on the tracing paper, glue it with an overlap of 3-5 cm. So that the edges of the tracing paper and overlaps are not visible, bend them so that they do not stick together with each other and with the fabric. When the glue dries, carefully tear off the folded edges of the tracing paper so that the tracing paper becomes thinner at the point of separation, and subsequently the seams become invisible. If necessary, the seams can be carefully processed with very fine sandpaper and PVA.

Stage 5. We bring beauty and gloss

After the PVA has dried, we prime the entire surface of the ceiling. After about 2 hours, you can already glue the baguette. Then we paint the ceiling with paint in 2-3 layers.

For those who better perceive information in video format, we have prepared a video that shows in detail the installation of Descor fabric stretch ceiling. We are sure that it will be useful for you.


We wish you a pleasant renovation!

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Source: stretch-ceiling33.rf

What you need to know about stretch ceilings

There are only two types of them: polyvinyl chloride. PVC is cheaper and often produces a glossy finish. They have a huge variety of colors and do not let water through. But there are also significant disadvantages: the material can be torn by hooking it with a sharp object, and self-installation is practically excluded. It requires the use of special equipment, namely a thermal gas gun, which will heat your room up to 65 ° C and give the film elasticity for further installation.

In addition, several seams are almost always visible on such ceilings, since the standard width of a film roll is 1.5 meters, and when making a canvas for a room, these segments are soldered by a special machine. Of course, there are exceptions - these are expensive European companies that produce PVC film up to 5 meters wide, but their cost is so huge that they are a rare visitor to our markets.

A completely different matter is the ceilings, which have a fabric base. They are made, as you may have guessed, from cotton fabric 5.1 meters wide. Such a canvas covers a room 5 meters wide, which is the construction standard, because wider rooms are a rarity. There are no apartments with such a wide room at all, except that you demolished several partitions. Apartment buildings are built using standard floor slabs 6 meters long, and then they are not located across the room, but along. In general, do not worry that you will not have enough width of 5 meters.

The installation of such a surface does not require any heat guns and pre-cutting, soldering the fabric or gluing harpoons, as is the case with PVC. The installation is "clean" and does not take more than a few hours if you have an assistant. Therefore, you can do all the work yourself and not involve expensive specialists.

The fabric is impregnated with a special polyurethane solution during manufacture, which gives the fabric great mechanical strength and resistance to water. Thus, by installing the canvas even in a damp room, you do not risk spoiling the material. In addition, such impregnation contributes to the fact that it absolutely does not absorb odors and does not support combustion.

After finishing all the work, you will get a perfectly smooth, classic matte surface that is perfect for any interior. A variety of colors will allow you to choose a ceiling for any design of the room and furniture. Of course, it is not as large as in the case of PVC, which even has the possibility of photo printing. But if you are not chasing a bright and colorful appearance of the room, then you can do without such a function.

With all the above advantages, unfortunately, there are several significant disadvantages. Firstly, this material does not retain moisture. Yes, it is impregnated with polyurethane and does not deform when water gets on it, and it can even be washed. That's only if you are flooded by neighbors, such a ceiling will not become an obstacle to water, but let it pass through itself. Here, of course, he is given a head start by PVC, which is a continuous barrier and only forms a kind of bag with water that can be drained through the chandelier hole.

The second disadvantage is the price, which is often an order of magnitude higher than that of vinyl films. But this is more than covered by the fact that you will install it yourself and save on the masters. The third disadvantage is that your main ceiling will not breathe in any case, although at first glance the texture of the canvas suggests this and allows water to pass through.

In general, if you are not confused by the nuances with color and texture, as well as small disadvantages with moisture retention, then this is a completely and completely excellent finishing option.

Preparatory work

Before starting the installation, it is necessary to carry out a set of works that is aimed at preventing, as well as take the time to manufacture lighting and cornices, if necessary. This is done in this sequence.

  1. We calculate the required amount of materials and make purchases.
  2. We remove a chandelier or other lighting fixtures from the ceiling. To do this, it is necessary to disconnect the apartment from the power supply by disassembling the machines, open the junction box located opposite the chandelier, and disconnect the wires leading to it and to the switch.
  3. Next, you need to cover the surface with an antifungal compound. If there are fungal lesions, they should be treated with copper sulphate or store-bought compounds from mold and fungi, which, according to our observations, are still not as effective as vitriol.
  4. After the applied layer has dried, it is necessary to apply a deep penetration primer. It is not mandatory to do this, but it is still recommended. This will create an additional protective layer, which will further prevent the formation of mold and cracking of the old surface, whether it be lime or water-based emulsion.

  1. Let's move on to lighting planning. It would be best to mount the main lighting with a chandelier and additional lighting from spotlights. It is modern and when using LED lamps it will save electricity, while filling the room with excellent bright light. It is best to make the connection based on the following scheme, this option is optimal for most rooms:

Remember that it is best to lay the wires in a corrugated pipe and fix them with special fasteners or metal wire through a shock dowel. And nothing else. When using putty or other fixing mortar, you run the risk of ruining the ceiling when separating your mortar from the main ceiling.

  1. Using impact dowels, nail the adjustable lamp posts.
  2. Nail the support for the eaves. This can be a wooden beam nailed to the ceiling, or a special metal bar for the future level that will block it. Or, if there is a desire to make the cornice invisible, mount it according to the following scheme:

In principle, this is all we need to do before we start the installation.

Required tools and materials

So that there are no delays during the work, we need to prepare some equipment that is in any toolbox of the home master. You will need the following:

  • perforator with a pobedit drill with a diameter of 6 mm;
  • crosshead screwdriver;
  • a special plastic spatula with a rounded end for filling the web into a profile;
  • a hammer;
  • ladder;
  • level;
  • laser or hydraulic level;
  • chopping cord, if possible;
  • tape measure with a pencil and a marker;
  • hacksaw for metal;
  • construction or clerical knife.

We figured out the tool, and now we will list the material so that you do not forget anything when buying. So we need:

  • the actual canvas of the fabric ceiling is bought with a margin along all 4 edges, which should be at least 10 cm in size;
  • plastic, or better aluminum profile, and it doesn’t matter which mount we choose: under the clip or bead;
  • screws (with a flat, not sharp thread);
  • dowel plastic impact.

Also don't forget to purchase adjustable fixtures for fixtures. As for screws, I would like to note that impact dowels are used as standard. But if you want your ceiling to be impossible to tear off, then buy Sarmat screws. They look small and inconspicuous, but any of these three-centimeter screws driven into the ceiling can withstand a weight of more than 100 kg, this has been verified.

Step by step installation

In order to contemplate the long-awaited result in a few hours, you need to do the following.

  1. We carry out those listed above.
  2. We beat off the future level of the ceiling, that is, we put two risks in the corners on each of the walls. This is done with the help of a laser or a hydraulic level, or, at worst, with the help of a conventional one, only you have to tinker with it. Usually this distance is 10 cm, but you may have a different value. For example, if you are not going to use spotlights, it can be reduced to 5 cm. Well, or if you are making a hidden cornice system, then you will have to retreat at least 15 cm. In general, this is purely individual and is calculated based on local conditions.
  3. We draw a line around the entire perimeter with a chopping cord.
  4. Under the line, we begin to nail the profile. If necessary, cut it with a hacksaw for metal. If you are using a branded and high-quality profile, then it already has holes for screws, and if it is cheaper, then they are not. Drilling should be at a maximum distance of 30 cm from each other. If you use Sarmatians, this distance can be increased to 50 cm. Do not risk nailing less often, it is better to be safe than to redo the entire ceiling later due to the fact that some part of the profile will move away from the wall. In extreme cases, you can use dowels with a hat and drill holes in the wall directly through the profile.
  5. We proceed to the primary fastening of the canvas. To do this, we fix it at 4 corners of the room with a spatula into the groove. This can also be done with a large stationery binder - a black paper clip. They take two such clips, tie them with a cord about 30 cm long, attach one binder to the corner of the canvas, and the other to the profile, and so on in all 4 corners.
  6. We start to fasten. This is done with a spatula, with which the canvas is carefully tucked into the profile clip.