Do-it-yourself stretch ceiling: step by step instructions. How to make a stretch ceiling with your own hands? Installation of finished stretch ceiling

The article provides step-by-step instructions for preparing and installing a stretch ceiling. You will learn how to properly mark the room and install the profile, warm up and mount the ceiling sheet. The article will tell you what the preparatory work is and how to install the fixtures.

In order to install a stretch ceiling with your own hands, you will need a tool:

1. Control and measuring: tape measure, square.
2. Marking: marker, paint cord, level (preferably laser).
3. Manual: plastic spatula, knife.
4. Power tools - impact drill, screwdriver.
5. Special: heat gun.

Installation of any ceiling - work at height. Provide in advance a way of convenient access to the working surface - goats, scaffolding, stairs.

The canvas comes in several mounting options - cold, hot and with heating at the end. In our case, a material was chosen that provides for installation with heating (hot installation). Ceilings are mounted in several rooms at once, which allows you to consider various options for surface preparation.

markup

The ceiling level must be determined in advance, according to the project. The horizon must be marked at the level of the front surface of the canvas. The perimeter mounting profile will run along this line.

Training

The walls must be even and reliable - the flexible profile will repeat irregularities, depressions, defects. If the ceiling is wooden, and the floor above it is residential, you should fill the membrane, fiberglass or polyethylene on the draft boards. Unused floors can not be isolated.

Profile mounting

The profile is installed in the usual way - on self-tapping screws or dowels according to the marking. Before installing the profile, all work on preparing the walls and strengthening them at the installation site must be completed.

It is better when the finish goes into the niche of the ceiling than when it does not reach. It is highly undesirable to leave any work other than painting and wallpapering after installation - there is a risk of accidentally damaging the canvas. Tile seams must be sealed.

How to go around corners with a profile

In order to avoid the formation of sharp edges of the profile when going around the inner and outer corners, it is better to do the corner cutting as follows:

1. With a hacksaw, cut a bar that will adjoin the wall.
2. Bend the profile in the desired shape, press and install fasteners.
3. Thus, the corner will be even, smooth and safe for the canvas.

How to install intermediate profiles

The mating of the planes can also be covered with a cloth, but for this it will be necessary to mount a suspended (without fastening to the wall) independent base, on which a special mating profile will be installed.

The point of intersection of the planes is determined in advance and locally. Then, from the intersection points on opposite walls, you need to pull the cord and install the base along it.

The intermediate profile installed on the base must exactly match the level of the wall profile.

In this way, it is possible to frame * rather complex multi-stage sections.

* The profile for attaching a stretch ceiling is sometimes called a “baguette” and in this regard, you can hear the term “baguette” from the craftsmen - this means “tie”, “frame with a profile”, “set a profile”.

Installation of fixtures

Lighting devices are selected in advance, and the mounting plinth is installed before the web is stretched.

Attention! The thermal power of the luminaires should not exceed the equivalent of a 40 watt incandescent lamp. Incandescent lamps themselves are prohibited (or highly discouraged) by fabric manufacturers due to the risk of deformation of the stretched ceiling.

Choose standard LED fixtures. When installing built-in lighting devices, only one rule should be observed: the reverse (not front) plane of the decorative overlay must coincide with the plane of the canvas.

Along with the installation of lighting points, the installation of electrical networks is carried out.

Attention! All wires must be laid in the corrugation.

All preparatory work is being completed - soundproofing sewer pipes, sealing cracks with foam, sealing joints, etc.

Installation of pendant lamps and chandeliers

A platform for a chandelier and other attachments should be installed on 4 U-shaped suspensions or pieces of mounting tape. In this case, they should be located at an angle to it. The site itself can be made of plywood, wood or chipboard.

The main requirement is that it must be located according to the plan and be exactly in the plane of the ceiling, or at the right height with a hidden location of the working part of the device (alignment during installation).

Canvas stretch

The canvas for "hot" installation has the exact dimensions taken in advance from the premises and embedded in the material during manufacture. The room in which the work is carried out should be preheated with a heat gun to + 30 ... 35 ° C, while drafts should be blocked.

Installation is carried out in three stages.

Stretching

The canvas is hung around the corners on temporary fasteners - "crocodiles" or simply ropes.

This is necessary in order to warm it up in a hanging position - folded or lying on the floor, it warms up unevenly. After the suspension, the heat gun comes into play. Hot air should evenly warm the entire canvas.

Attention! Do not overheat the canvas! It may deform completely. Ready-to-install canvas feels between warm and hot to the touch, but does not burn your hands.

The canvas, ready for fitting, looks like this:

Fitting

After a general warm-up, you can start point stretching. To do this, any corner section of 2x2 m is heated up intensively. Then the canvas is inserted into the profile with a plastic spatula.

First of all, opposite corners are pulled. The areas before this also warm up intensely.

Then the canvas should be filled into the profile with a uniform step of 200-300 mm.

final refueling

Fill all remaining sections in the profile.

Installation of small sections of inclined planes is carried out in the same sequence. The difference is that they do not have to be heated as large ones - they stretch more easily.

The final view of the finished stretch ceilings:

The cost of a "hot" ceiling starts from 5 USD. e. / m 2 for the material and 7 y. e. / m 2 for work. At the same time, the price strongly depends on the complexity of the design and the manufacturer of the canvas (they come in different qualities). Cold-mounted ceilings are much easier to work with - they do not need to be heated with a heat gun and are quite capable of being installed by a home master alone.

Today, due to the variety of colors, beautiful appearance, and the possibility of installation in almost any room, PVC film has gained immense popularity as a material for finishing ceilings. In this article, we will touch on the pros and cons of such a finish, we will analyze how to install a stretch ceiling with your own hands.

Types of stretch ceilings

PVC stretch ceiling material is a heavy-duty polyvinyl chloride film sewn together by welding. Due to its small thickness and strength, the PVC sheet can be stretched onto a frame fixed under the ceiling. Polyvinyl chloride ceilings are used in the interior design of private houses, apartments, offices, shopping centers and other premises.

Stretch PVC ceilings can be conditionally divided into several types:

• translucent ceiling, looking like frosted glass;
• glossy ceiling with a mirror reflection, due to which the room visually increases;

Glossy ceiling.

• matte, or classic ceiling, which has neither shine nor gloss;
• mother-of-pearl ceiling;
• satin - smooth ceiling without texture;

Satin ceiling with a light reflective effect.

• textured ceiling with printed pattern;
• a ceiling with a "metallic" effect, as well as the most popular - "starry sky";

• translucent ceiling that transmits light and pattern. Most often used in large design projects.

Advantages of PVC ceilings

The benefits include:

• various colors;
• width from 1.2 to 3.2 m, which allows you to make almost seamless ceilings;
• democratic prices in comparison with a fabric stretch ceiling;
• safety;
• microcracks do not form on the surface;
• resistant to deformation and destruction by chemicals;
• provide an absolutely flat and moisture-resistant surface;
• quick and easy installation;
• does not require subsequent painting;
• due to its small thickness and weight, PVC film does not exert pressure on the walls;
• installation of the structure does not require the removal of old whitewash or putty, which saves time and money;
• dust does not settle on the surface of the PVC film;
• aesthetic appeal;
• durability. The minimum service life is 15 years.

Ceiling Disadvantages

Despite the impressive list of advantages, PVC stretch ceilings still have some disadvantages:

• installation of a stretch ceiling requires a heat gun;
• at temperatures below 5 ° C, the PVC film loses its elasticity and begins to crack;
• the width of the roll is limited to 3.2 m, therefore, in large rooms, PVC ceilings are made with seams;
• the possibility of damage to the ceiling with sharp objects.

Required Tools

To install a PVC ceiling, you will need the following tools:

• water or laser level. Water is preferable, as it greatly simplifies the marking of a long profile;
• crocodiles - universal clips for the canvas;
• painting upholstery thread;
• a hammer;
• drill;
• thermal rings for stretch ceilings;
• heat gun (some companies offer for rent);
• special spatula;
• roulette;
• grinder or hacksaw, cutting metal;
• measuring pencil;
• stationery knife;
• sandpaper or file.

Installation technology of stretch PVC ceilings

Installation of PVC ceilings can be divided into several stages, which we will discuss below.

Taking measurements

Installation of PVC ceilings requires the most accurate measurements of the room. To apply dimensions, take a blank sheet of paper and measure the perimeter of your ceiling with an accuracy of 0.5 cm. Next, measure the diagonals of the ceiling surface: from each corner of the room, measure the distance to the other corners with a tape measure, and then apply the dimensions and locations of window openings to the drawing, doors, as well as all communications. This will help you choose the best placement of the solder seams.

Fixing profile installation

The technology of PVC stretch ceilings involves fixing a PVC film on a harpoon-type baguette, which can be either plastic or aluminum. You choose the number of profiles based on the perimeter of your room, but it should be noted: it must be taken with a margin of 15 cm, since its length can be significantly reduced when trimmed. The standard profile length is 2m. Before fixing it, level it. If you have a low ceiling, you can mount the profiles back to back, but if the height of the luminaire exceeds the height of the profile, retreat this distance from the ceiling.

A PVC ceiling edging is inserted between the canvas and the wall of the room - a plug equal to the perimeter of your room, which, as in the case of a baguette, must be taken with a margin of 10-15 cm. Thermal rings are selected according to the number of lamps, which are glued to the film using special glue. It is preferable to use lamps for a stretch ceiling with an external location of the light bulb.

The profile is mounted with dowels 6x30 mm in increments of about 30-40 cm. When installing spotlights, U-shaped aluminum suspensions are used, and for chandeliers - thick plywood or timber.

Horizontal marking

For horizontal marking of the plane, the water level is more often used. In the absence of it, you can take a laser. The necessary marks are made along the walls of the room with a pencil, and then, using a drill, screws and dowels, a baguette is attached along the marked line at a distance of 7-15 cm. It should not be connected in the corners. As well as joining skirting boards, joining profiles is carried out with cutting at an angle of 45 °.

If you plan to hang one chandelier in the center of the room, you need to install an embedded part on the ceiling.

To do this, with the help of dowels, suspensions are attached, and a plywood blank is mounted to them with self-tapping screws. In the center of the square blank, it is necessary to make a small hole through which the wire for lighting will be output.

Web fastening

After that, using hanging clips, starting from the corner indicated on the canvas, fix the PVC film, then in the opposite corner.

With the help of a heat gun (you can also use a building hair dryer), the room is heated up to 60-70 ° in circular motions, which allows you to make the film elastic. Subsequently, the heated canvas can be easily pulled onto the frame of the PVC ceiling. Heating with a heat gun is carried out until the completion of the stretching of the PVC film. With a special spatula, place the welded harpoon - a special profile - inside the baguette until it clicks. According to the established norms, first the corners are evenly seasoned, then the middle. The film stretches under the influence of temperature, and the harpoon system securely holds it on the structure. The rest of the film can be cut off. Small creases or streaks can be smoothed out by heating the ceiling with a building hair dryer.

Installation of lighting fixtures

Installation of a chandelier on a stretch ceiling is carried out after the room, and with it the canvas, has cooled to its original temperature. Further, in the place of the embedded part, which can be easily felt by hand, plastic thermal rings are glued. After waiting for some time until the glue dries, a small hole is cut inside the thermal ring, through which the chandelier is fastened with self-tapping screws.

The light source can be installed behind a stretch ceiling.

In this case, the ceiling is illuminated from the inside along the surface, while the bulbs must be installed in such a way that they do not come into contact with the film.

After installing the chandelier, the PVC canvas is wiped from dust and dirt.

Stretch ceilings look attractive and have a lot of advantages. Their arrangement is often trusted to professionals, although the process itself is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. In this article we will tell you how to do the installation of a stretch ceiling with your own hands.

A stretch ceiling is a sheet of fabric or PVC film stretched between special profiles. Such a design can have a different shape, design, number of levels, etc. Installation of a stretch ceiling is possible in any room - from the hallway to the bedroom and from the kitchen to the bathroom. Stretch ceilings allow you to hide the unevenness of the coating, and you can also hide communications and wires under them. They do not accumulate dust, do not burn, perfectly retain heat, are easy to clean when dirty, and are absolutely safe for others.

Types of stretch ceilings

Depending on the material of the canvas, there are:

1. Fabric - for their arrangement, a durable synthetic fabric with special impregnation is used. Thanks to this, they endure any physical impact, do not fade in the light, do not accumulate dust, dirt, do not rot, and are not afraid of frost. The canvas has micropores that allow the surface to breathe, creating an optimal microclimate in the room. Fabric width up to 5 meters makes it possible to equip seamless ceilings. In addition, almost any image can be applied to them.
2. Film - made on the basis of a PVC film, which tends to change its elasticity under the influence of temperature. Therefore, for the arrangement of such a ceiling, it is necessary to use heat guns. The film has a smaller width than the fabric, which makes it almost impossible to avoid seams. However, such material does not absorb odors, and also has the widest range of colors and different textures, it can be matte or glossy.

According to the type of installation, stretch ceilings can be either single-level or complex figured and multi-level structures.

Taking measurements

This is a rather important stage of work, on which the further result depends, especially when installing a PVC ceiling. Accuracy in measurements will help to avoid errors when installing a stretch ceiling. First you need to take a sheet of paper on which the scheme of the future ceiling will be applied. All measurements are carried out at the installation height of the mounting profile. To begin with, the perimeter of the ceiling is determined and the results are applied to the diagram. Next, all possible diagonals of the surface are measured, which are also recorded.

In addition, it is necessary to indicate the dimensions and location of windows, entrance doors, pipes and other communications on the drawing, which will help to most successfully place the seams during the installation of the ceiling.

Two-level stretch ceiling: 1 - door; 2 - pipe; 3 - LED lamps; 4 - chandelier; 5 - window

After that, you can contact one of the companies involved in the production of stretch ceilings to order a canvas of the size you need and a mounting profile.

The systems for attaching the ceiling to the profile are different, so the fabric and profile should be purchased from the same manufacturer.

Profile types

Profiles for installation of stretch ceilings are made of durable plastic or aluminum. The choice depends on the type of structure that you plan to end up with. Aluminum profiles are more durable, so they are suitable for large canvases. And plastic ones allow you to install as high as possible, almost right next to the ceiling.

According to their purpose, profiles are:

• universal - suitable for mounting on any surface (vertical or horizontal). Such a profile is also used in hard-to-reach places and complex structures;
• wall - profiles that allow you to attach the ceiling sheet to walls or other vertical surfaces;
• ceiling - type of profiles that are installed on the ceiling or other horizontal surface.

Wall profiles: 1 - harpoon fastening system; 2 - profile; 3 - decorative overlay; 4 - harpoon; 5 - ceiling canvas; 6 - clip-on fastening system; 7 - profile; 8 - ceiling canvas; 9 - bead fastening system; 10 - glazing bead; 11 - U-shaped profile; 12 - plug; 13 - ceiling canvas

There are also visible and invisible profiles. The latter, after installation, are absolutely invisible under the PVC film. Visible profiles, in addition to holding the canvas, are used for a kind of framing of the ceiling structure.

The separating profile is necessary for joining two different canvases together.

The corner profile is most often used in multi-level structures or for joining canvases in the corners. It consists of two parts, which are connected during installation.

PVC stretch ceiling installation

Choice of tools and materials

Before proceeding directly to work on the installation of a stretch ceiling, you need to acquire all the materials and tools necessary for this. This list includes:

• heat gun;
• screwdriver or hammer;
• perforator;
• self-tapping screws or dowel-nails;
• roulette;
• water or laser level;
• angular and straight blades;
• PVC ceiling sheet;
• fixing profiles;
• mounting clips (clothespins).

Fixing profile mounting

Mark the walls using a level. With it, straight lines are formed around the entire perimeter of the ceiling, along which the profile will be mounted. The profile is attached one to one, so its length should correspond to the perimeter of the ceiling minus 2 cm at the corners. It is worth noting some of the nuances that you need to pay attention to:

• when determining the height at which the installation will be carried out, the possibility of installing recessed fixtures is taken into account;
• when profiles are cornered, their edges must be cut at an angle of 45 degrees.

When all the details are taken into account, you can proceed directly to attaching the profiles to the wall. This is done with self-tapping screws or fastened with dowel-nails. The choice depends on the material to which the fastening takes place. The distance between them should be approximately 7-8 cm. Moreover, the first and last self-tapping screws cannot be placed at the very edge of the profile.

Installation of racks for ceiling lights

First, we determine in advance the number, size and location of future fixtures. As you know, the ceiling canvas is not able to withstand the weight of lighting fixtures. Therefore, special height-adjustable racks are used that will hold the lamps. They are attached to the draft ceiling with dowels and screws. The body of such mortgages should not interfere with the further installation of the web. After installing the racks, electrical wiring is connected to them, and then, using plumb lines, points are projected onto the floor, which correspond to the center of the lamp. Thanks to them, it will be possible to make an exact hole in an already stretched canvas. The electrical wiring must be fixed to the draft ceiling using mounting plates so that there is no sagging of the wire.

Web fastening

Before moving on to stretching the PVC fabric, the room must be properly warmed up with a heat gun. Next, the film is carefully unfolded with clean hands and hung around the corners using mounting clips "crocodiles". Then, turning on the heat gun and pointing it at the canvas, they begin to make the installation.

The base corner is fixed first, and then they move to the opposite corner. Then it's the turn of the rest of the corners. Fasteners are carried out using an angled spatula, with which the panel is carefully inserted into the baguette. After fixing each of the corners, the same is done with sections in a straight line, using a straight blade. It is important that the film is stretched evenly and without wrinkles. The closer to the final, the more difficult it is to stretch the canvas.

Installation of fabric stretch ceiling

The process of installing a fabric tension thread is somewhat different from installing a similar one from PVC film. This does not require the use of a heat gun. Moreover, installation can be carried out even in an unheated room. Before starting work, it is necessary to mark the walls.

Wall marking

The frame for a fabric stretch ceiling consists of an aluminum profile, which can be of two types: U-shaped and the so-called clip-on profile. The first mark is set at a level of 1-2 cm from the existing ceiling, if the installation of recessed fixtures is not planned, or 7-10 cm for a ceiling with built-in fixtures.

With the help of the building level, horizontal lines are drawn so that their beginning and end are joined together.

Frame installation

The frame is attached to the wall around the entire perimeter of the room. Often in each profile there are already special holes for fasteners. In this case, it is very important to carefully fit the joints between the profile strips. After the profile is fixed, you can proceed to stretch the canvas.

Web fastening

First, fix the corners of the panel on the "crocodiles". Then the places are fixed in the center of each side with a lanyard or a special profile, depending on the system chosen, thus forming a primary cross. In this case, a minimum sag of the fabric web of the ceiling is allowed.

Next, the fabric is stretched. They do this by moving evenly along each wall from the already fixed central sections towards the corners. Then they move to the opposite wall. The same is done with the other two walls, leaving only 50 cm to the corners.

The completion of the installation of the panel is its final stretching and the elimination of sagging. The fastener of the primary cross is carefully dismantled and the main fastener is inserted in its place. Further, the canvas is evenly fixed using the same technology from the middle to the corners along each wall, eliminating sagging to the maximum.

Installation of fixtures

Installation of fixtures when installing PVC and fabric ceilings is identical.

To install the fixtures, you will need the marks on the floor made earlier. With the help of them you can determine the center of the lamp. A round profile is attached to the ceiling canvas at the location of the lamp. Then, along its inner contour, a hole for the lamp is carefully cut out. After that, you can adjust the mounting racks in height, install and connect the devices.

Advice. Do not install incandescent lamps in carob-type chandeliers if the horns are directed upwards. Over time, dark spots of burnt dust will appear above the light bulbs. Use LED or energy saving lamps.

At the end of the work, you can install the baguette at the junction of the wall and ceiling.

Advice. An inexpensive PVC baguette turns yellow over time. Instead, you can mount polyurethane or foam ceiling plinths, after painting them with water-based paint of the desired color.

To install a stretch ceiling with your own hands, which today is a fairly popular design, you need to have a good understanding of the technology of its installation. During installation, a number of nuances always arise, which are closely related to the individual characteristics of the ceiling being designed. How to make a stretch ceiling with your own hands, and will be discussed in this article.

Mounting technology

If you decompose the entire installation process point by point, you get the following instructions for installing a stretch ceiling with your own hands:

• Ceiling marking and baguette installation;
• Installation of lamps;
• Installation of hangers for curtains;
• Stretch ceiling;
• Installation of lamps;
• Installing the cap and cornice.

Before you make a stretch ceiling with your own hands, you need to consider each stage in detail so as not to encounter surprises during work.

Stretch ceiling marking and baguette installation

The first stage of installation of a stretch ceiling includes the following operations:

• Before you install a stretch ceiling with your own hands, you need to properly prepare the surface. It is necessary to remove a layer of old plaster and treat the ceiling with a primer with an antiseptic - this will protect the structure from the appearance of mold and fungus, which always appear in areas that do not have any ventilation.
• The next step is the markup, which must be done before you stretch the stretch ceiling with your own hands. With the help of the level you need to beat off the horizon line. Next, you need to find the lowest point of the ceiling and calculate the distance at which spotlights with fixtures and wiring can be placed. The free space for the installation of these elements must be at least 7 cm. A pencil or a coloring cord is used for marking.

• A baguette is attached to the marked areas. Aluminum baguettes show themselves best - they are more durable, so the probability of sagging of the stretch ceiling is minimized. However, you can also choose plastic elements. The back of the baguette is sawn in those places that will be adjacent to the corner sections of the walls. The baguette is attached to the wall with self-tapping screws and dowels, which are driven into the wall every 20 cm (if the walls are not very strong, then the step can be reduced to 10 cm). All joints of the structure are sealed with masking tape. Before a stretch ceiling is made, consider in detail all the stages of work.

Installation of fixtures

• First you need to purchase everything you need to install stretch ceilings, including mortgages for fixtures. A good option would be special thermoplastic platforms, which are selected according to the diameter of the lighting fixtures already purchased. However, if necessary, you can take universal platforms that can be cut to fit any size of lamps.
• Mortgages are attached to the ceiling with metal hangers. Exactly the same suspensions are used to form the frame of the plasterboard ceiling. To fix the hangers, self-tapping screws 3.5x11 mm are used.

• On the ceiling you need to make marks that will show the location of the lamps. When choosing the lighting power, it is worth starting from the proportion of 35 W of lamp power per 1 m 2 of the ceiling. Each group of lamps has its own branch box, and the wires stretch up to those areas where the lamps will be located. It is recommended to pull the wires through the corrugation - it is more reliable and safer.
• Mortgages together with wires are fixed on the ceiling. The second edge of the metal hangers is fixed, and you need to make sure that their lower level ideally matches the level of the stretch ceiling.
• The loop with wires is extended beyond the mortgage by about 15 cm and cut in half at the very bottom. The wires are stripped and insulated, after which the terminal blocks are installed. The insulation must be strong enough so that no short circuit can occur under the platform. The wires, together with the terminal blocks, are laid on the mortgage - otherwise, these elements may interfere with the installation of the stretch ceiling canvas.

Using the same technology, all elements for the chandelier are installed, which will be located in the center of the ceiling. The only difference is the increase in the size of the embedded platform.

Attachment for curtain hangers

If the curtains will be attached to the ceiling, then you need to pre-mount the appropriate suspensions, which is done as follows:

1. First you need to install mortgages for the cornices. Installation is very simple - first you need to drill holes, insert dowels into them and fix straight hangers with self-tapping screws. Further, a paint cord is stretched between the walls at the same height where the stretch ceiling will pass.
2. At the measured level, you need to install a wooden beam of suitable length. If the length is not enough, you need to take another piece and combine them. It is attached to the ceiling with metal hangers. In order for the tree to last long enough, it is recommended to treat it with a protective compound before installation, which will prevent contact between material and moisture.

ceiling stretch

After completing the previous steps, you can finally do the installation of the canvas, for which you need to perform the following operations:

• Proper installation of stretch ceilings suggests that crocodile-type clothespins will be hung at the corners of the ceiling, which will prevent the canvas from slipping out during the stretching process. Thanks to the existing gasket, the canvas will not be damaged. The installation in this example will be done with a gas gun and a rounded trowel.
• The canvas is unfolded and carefully inspected for damage. If everything is in order, then the edges of the canvas are wound into clothespins located in the corners. The canvas needs to be fixed in several more places and brought into a baguette using a spatula. Gently heating the canvas with a gun, you need to fill it into a baguette in the direction from the corners to the center.

• In the event that a Clipso-type canvas was chosen for installation, the installation will take place using a slightly different technology. In this case, a gas gun is not required - the canvas will be stretched over the hoop, and all irregularities are smoothed out with a hair dryer.
• Extra strips that hang down when stretched must be cut off with a knife, but this can only be done if the canvas is well stretched. If the stretch ceiling sags, you must immediately solve this problem. Having filled all the corners, you need to continue heating the canvas and fill its middle part. To qualitatively stretch the ceiling with your own hands, you need to heat the gas gun to 60 degrees.
• As you stretch the canvas, you can remove the clips. Being engaged in the installation of the canvas, you need to try to simultaneously hold it and tuck it into a baguette. It is best to involve an assistant to complete the work - the installation will be much faster, and more attention can be paid to the quality of individual operations.

Installation of lighting fixtures

By installing a stretch ceiling with your own hands step by step and having completed all the previous operations, you can proceed to install the lamps:

• When the canvas is stretched, you need to find the points where the mortgages for the fixtures were installed. Next, thermal rings are taken and coated with a special adhesive. You can’t take ordinary glue - most of these compounds render the ceiling canvas unusable.
• The thermal rings smeared with glue are carefully applied to the mortgages and held for several minutes so that the glue grabs. In the inner circle of the ring, the canvas is cut with a sharp knife. This operation is performed with each mortgage. Through the holes obtained, wires are pulled out to connect the lamps.
• Now you can proceed directly to the installation of light bulbs. It is recommended to select them so that the power of each individual lamp is no more than 40 W - otherwise the risk of damage to the stretch ceiling canvas is very high. Spotlights must have a rim that covers the thermal ring. In addition, when choosing lamps, you should give preference to products with cooling grilles and a durable radiator.

When all the bulbs are installed in their places, it remains only to check the lighting devices for operability.

Mounting the cap and cornice

Performing a step-by-step installation of a stretch ceiling with your own hands, it remains only to mount the plug and the cornice of the stretch ceiling. As a result, a noticeable gap will remain between the wall and the stretch ceiling, to mask which you can use special skirting boards, picking them up to the appropriate interior. Only the wall can be used as a support for the plinth - the ceiling is not a rigid structure, therefore, when attached to it, the web may be pulled together and damaged. A ceiling cornice is attached to the mortgages on metal hangers, on which curtains are hung.

Conclusion

Mounting a stretch ceiling with your own hands is easy if you use the technology described in this article. Attentiveness and accuracy at every stage of work will allow you to create a high-quality and beautiful ceiling that will delight all residents and guests with its appearance.

Stretch ceiling is a popular, inexpensive and practical way of finishing. By installing a stretch ceiling, you can get rid of annual repairs for a long time. Installation is quite possible to do it yourself, while significantly saving.

Types of stretch ceilings and methods of their fastening

There are two main types of stretch ceilings, which fundamentally differ from each other in chemical composition, production and installation method:

• tissue;
• film.

Fabric ceilings are traditionally more expensive than PVC film counterparts

Fabric ceilings have a matte texture. This is a thin polyester knitted fabric that is impregnated with polyurethane. Such canvases are installed with a plastic clip-type profile. They do not need to be pre-cut, a cut is brought to the customer, which overlaps the width and length of the room by several centimeters.

Craftsmen fill the coating into the intended groove with a smooth spatula, and cut off excess material. The gas gun is not used.

Film ceilings (PVC) do not have any solid base. They are distinguished by a high degree of elasticity, have a variety of textures, from gloss to velvet. Installation of such a ceiling is impossible without the use of a gas heat gun to stretch it. There are several ways to fix such a canvas in a special plastic or aluminum baguette. The most commonly used harpoon method, requiring accurate measurement and cutting of the ceiling, but you can use a wedge or bead.

In production, a thickened edge is welded all over the film, which can be easily tucked into a baguette slot. At the same time, the perimeter of the coating is decorated with a special narrow overlay - an insert or a corner.

How exactly to install a stretch PVC ceiling in a particular room should be decided based on the geometry of the ceiling, the capabilities and experience of the masters.

Do-it-yourself ceiling installation

The stretch ceiling installation technology allows you to reliably hide all communications and mortgages for installing curtains. Properly installed stretch ceiling is located slightly below the base ceiling, and is a flat and solid surface.

Installing a stretch ceiling is quite easy and simple, especially since the price of the material is quite reasonable. Installing a ceiling covering with your own hands can significantly reduce the cost. You can install the stretch ceiling yourself, either by reading the instructions or by watching a video on this topic.

Before ceiling installation

At this stage, it is necessary to determine everywhere is the quality of the walls suitable for mounting a stretch fabric. If there is a possibility that the wall may not withstand the tension, you can use the installation baguette to fix it to the ceiling.

At the same time, the stretch ceiling will drop much less, but you will need to carefully choose lighting fixtures, because not all types of fixtures may be suitable. It is recommended to do this in advance. But even after installing the stretch ceiling, you can slightly adjust their location.

Tools

Stretch ceiling installation tool is simple and inexpensive, except for PVC ceiling heat gun

Before you properly install the stretch ceiling with your own hands, you need to assemble the tools:

• level and chop thread;
• perforator and screwdriver;
• hacksaw for sawing profile corners;
• special clothespins for hanging the ceiling;
• spatula for filling in a profile corresponding to the canvas - fabric and film ceilings are mounted with various tools;
• gas gun and cylinder for installation of PVC ceilings;
• instant adhesive.

By the beginning of the installation, you need to prepare all the components:

• installation profile (baguette) into which the canvas, plastic or aluminum, will be inserted. If it is planned to install PVC using a wedge or bead method, then you need to purchase the entire kit;
• fixture. Usually a set of dowels and self-tapping screws is used, at the rate of 12 - 15 pieces per linear meter;
• cut ceiling with a harpoon, or cuts with sufficient allowances, at least 10 cm on each side;
• a decorative insert that will close the perimeter after installing the film ceiling;
• mortgages for chandeliers and installation of ceiling cornices, reinforcing rings, suspensions for mounting lighting devices. Mortgages for chandeliers made of durable plywood have proven themselves to be excellent, although plastic kits of accessories for all types of lamps can be found on sale;
• special piping.

The main stages of installation of PVC stretch ceiling

The question is often asked how long it takes to install a stretch ceiling. Specialists with the necessary experience will complete the installation in 3-4 hours. The installation is clean, with a minimum of construction waste.

The steps common to all fastening methods are:

• fixing line definition. The level determines the horizontal and beats off the line along which the baguette will be drilled. It is important to consider that the lowering must be such that the selected lighting fixtures can be mounted behind the ceiling. Most often, the ceiling drops by 3-6 cm;
• if the baguette does not have ready-made holes for fasteners, it is necessary to pre-drill them in it, in increments of 6 cm for fabric to 10 cm for film ceilings;
• a baguette for harpoon fastening is never joined in the corners, unlike other methods;
• along the intended line, the baguette is attached around the entire perimeter. The installation method depends on the material of the walls. Concrete and brick walls are drilled with a puncher through the holes drilled in the baguette, then the dowels are hammered in and the screws are screwed in with a screwdriver;
• mark and install all embedded elements, checking their level with a thread stretched along the level of the future ceiling.

The next steps depend on which installation method you will be using.

If you plan to remove ceilings without gusts, then it is better to entrust the installation to the masters

Harpoon method

The procedure is as follows:

• the ceiling is unfolded, the corners are hung on clothespins, and they begin to warm up. When the canvas becomes softer and more pliable, it is tucked into the profile using a spatula. A harpoon is attached to them, and it is snapped inside a baguette;
• after installation, the glossy ceiling is additionally evenly heated until the wrinkles and irregularities disappear and a characteristic shine appears;
• work begins from the place where the heating pipe passes. If there is no pipe, then from one of the corners, removing the clothespin from there;
• in order for the ceiling near the pipe to look aesthetically pleasing, you need to calculate the place of the cut, glue a special plastic reinforcing element on the reverse side, and then circle the pipe with a ceiling;
• having filled the ceiling, you can proceed with the installation of lighting fixtures, cornices, etc. Before cutting a hole in the ceiling, it must be reinforced by carefully gluing a plastic ring;
• install ceiling cornices. Wherever the film is supposed to be punctured, thin plastic is glued. It is impossible to screw self-tapping screws through a film without reinforcement;
• along the perimeter, a decorative insert is snapped into the baguette, which is joined in the corners.

wedge system

The wedge baguette, the wedge itself and the plinth are elastic enough to bend around the curved sections of the ceiling. The difference between mounting on the wedge system is that the ceiling is suspended from the middle of opposite walls. In this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the film remains on all sides. The canvas is heated and fixed in a warm form by inserting a wedge. Excess hanging parts of the film must be cut off.

Bead system

It is quite difficult to install the stretch ceiling correctly and accurately with the help of a glazing bead, since it is difficult to achieve a uniform tension of the coating due to rigid fasteners.

And the technological sequence is the same as for wedge mounting. But in the wide cracks formed, warm the film is filled with a polymer or wooden glazing bead instead of a wedge.

There is a gap between the wall and the stretch ceiling after installation to be hidden. For this purpose, a ceiling plinth is used.

How to install a plinth for a stretch ceiling

Most often, glue is used, which is selected depending on the type of fillet. Having prepared the plinth of the required dimensions, and having previously processed the cuts, it is necessary to attach it to the surface. Due to aesthetic reasons, it is not recommended to glue on a stretch ceiling.

The plinth is needed primarily to close the slots and mounting elements along the periphery of the ceilings, but it has also added an aesthetic load

Fabric ceiling installation

The basis of the fabric ceiling is denser, so you need to install the canvas, pulling it hard. In addition, there are no decorative overlays on the finished fabric ceiling.

The following installation features are associated with this:

• a baguette for a fabric web is fixed with self-tapping screws in increments of 5-6 cm;
• in the corners of the baguette it is necessary to dock neatly;
• for uniform tension of the canvas, it is necessary to adjust it alternately from opposite walls;
• holes for chandeliers and lamps do not reinforce.

In order to accurately and correctly install the stretch ceiling yourself, you should both study the instructions and listen to the advice of experts:

• it is better to glue the joints of the baguette with masking tape to avoid tearing the canvas;
• during installation, the height of the baguette should be taken into account so that the ceiling does not have “steps”;
• when installing mortgages on suspensions, it is recommended to leave a couple of centimeters of height in reserve, in case the ceiling sags and it becomes necessary to adjust the position of the lighting devices;
• matte ceilings do not need to be heated much. High temperatures can cause smooth spots;
• it is recommended to use white gloves when installing fabric ceilings to avoid leaving marks.

How much does it cost to install a stretch ceiling

The price of work on the installation of stretch ceilings depends on the method, installation features and, of course, the type of canvas. The most expensive is the installation of a fabric web, but it is absolutely justified. The cheapest installation is bead.

Of great importance are the dimensions and geometry of the room. The perimeter and configuration of the base ceiling determines the labor costs more than its area. If provided installation of additional built-in elements, this also increases the installation time and, accordingly, its cost.

For more information on how to properly install a stretch ceiling with your own hands, you can see in the video: