One of the main components of beauty is neatness. After all, even a nice design can be ruined by wires sticking out of the walls and pipes occupying the corners. Alas, most old plans did not take into account human aesthetic needs. But with the advent of know-how, such as, for example, suspended ceilings, you can forget about communications that disfigure the interior, simply hiding them in newfangled designs. Have you heard anything about this new product yet? It's time. Let's study existing species suspended ceilings so that you can choose the most suitable one for yourself.

Video series: ceiling options for your home

Basic truths: pros and cons

What is outlandish? suspended ceiling? What does he look like? What is it made of and can I install it myself? You know, some types of suspended ceilings are visually extremely difficult to distinguish from their traditional plastered “brothers”. And only the initiated few know that the design of suspended ceilings makes them actually “chameleons” on the outside and “suitcases” on the inside.

Meanwhile, the technology for installing suspended ceilings is simple, however, like everything ingenious. The structure is a well-coordinated “duet” of a metal (less often wooden) frame attached to the ceiling base or walls, and a covering. What material do manufacturers offer for suspended ceilings? You will probably be dizzy from the choice: these are slabs, slats, fabric, panels, film, and drywall, from which, by the way, you can create such masterpieces that will take your breath away with delight.

Like other structures, suspended ceilings have pros and cons. True, there are much more of the first, but, naturally, you should know everything, because your money and your time will be invested.

Could we have dreamed of such beauty just 20 years ago?!

Advantages

First, let's discuss the advantages of suspended ceilings, don't you agree? So, what are these miracle structures capable of?

1. speed up repairs;
2. hide communications;
3. protect you from noise and cold;
4. improve lighting;
5. achieve a perfectly flat surface;
6. become flood insurance;
7. save your budget;
8. implement your own project;
9. decorate the interior in an original way;
10. make your home fashionable.

Flaws

To accept optimal solution, you need to know the disadvantages of a suspended ceiling. Although there are not many of them, still, get acquainted:

• reduction in height (which makes the installation of such structures in some apartments impossible);
• price in case of choosing fancy options;
• Manufacturing suspended ceilings to special order will take some time;
• difficulty in choosing due to the great abundance of alternatives.

Do you want your own starry sky? It will be installed for you literally within 24 hours, just tell me

Meanwhile, now you will understand the science of how to choose a suspended ceiling that is optimal for your home, so the last minus can be crossed out.

Types of structures

Now that you are familiar with the structure and capabilities of miracle surfaces, it’s time to consider the possible options for suspended ceilings, because you will need to make a wise choice, right?!

Classification by shape

First, let's talk about the different shapes of suspended ceilings. There are 3 types of configurations:

• planar;
• curvilinear;
• modular.

Drywall - like a magician, it will hide all the imperfections of the base surface, as well as wires, pipes and other unsightly communications

And also combinations of the above options. And now briefly about each type. Planar coatings do not need any introduction, everything is clear here. But the other two types are very interesting, they turn an ordinary surface above your head into a work of art.

Curvilinear designs are multi-level masterpieces, which are most often placed in the catalogs of specialized companies; they never go unnoticed, due to the fact that they are spectacular, fashionable and help you realize a lot of ideas. Modular systems are not so fancy, but also quite interesting; in fact, they are construction kits that you have to assemble over your head.

Plasterboard coverings

What is drywall? This is a kind of “sandwich” of a pair of cardboard sheets with a layer of modified gypsum. There are 3 types of such material:

1. Fire retardant, with fiberglass.
2. Moisture resistant, containing silicone.
3. Special, characterized by special flexibility, so necessary for the construction of structures of bizarre shapes.

It is Mr. Drywall that helps to build flat and curved types of suspended ceilings. This material is ideal for installing various types of lighting, from built-in lamps to LED strips.

Stretch ceiling is one of the most popular today

Tensile structures

To install such a covering, you also need a frame that is attached around the perimeter of the room. A special material is stretched onto the frame - PVC film or fabric. By the way, do you know that the best moisture-resistant suspended ceilings are stretch film ceilings? This design is best protection from flooding. They say that the film coating can retain several hundred liters of water coming from neighbors above. Then the liquid drains through a small hole, and the surface returns to its previous shape.

But this is not the only good thing about tension structures. For example, the film can be matte or mirror. The latter option is very good for tiny rooms that need to create the illusion of spaciousness.

What can we say about color scheme tension surfaces. You are free to choose from hundreds of different shades, order a combination of them, or become the author of a special masterpiece - a canvas with a photograph from your album or a drawing from your head.

And here is a combination of plasterboard and tension covering, beautiful?

Modular systems

And as a dessert - the most easy-to-assemble suspended modular ceilings, consisting of a special frame, somewhat similar to a honeycomb and many elements that are attached to these “honeycombs”. The elements can be plates, cassettes, slats and other figures made of various materials.

This system is good because you can always remove one of the elements and gain access to communications, wiring, and so on, which is very convenient, especially for large areas, for example, in offices, hospitals, banks, supermarkets, and so on. In addition, to install such a suspended ceiling in a house, one pair of hands is enough, whereas with other types of listed structures such a trick is difficult.

Modular structures can be assembled yourself - without helpers, of course, if you try

Types of modular surfaces

So, remember the types of systems:

• tiled;
• cellular;
• cassette;
• rack and pinion

And now briefly about each option.

And here is the tile “handsome”

Tile system

This design is a frame with built-in slabs (usually square). This design is more often found in non-residential premises (offices, hospitals, etc.).

Cellular coating

In some ways, suspended cellular ceilings are similar to their tiled “brothers,” but their shape can be more bizarre - in the form of a circle, a honeycomb, or even a polyhedron. The cells themselves are covered with a background substrate with reverse side.

The cassette version is really good?!

Cassette module

A cassette or raster suspended ceiling is based on metal squares or rectangles placed in a frame. This is the best solution for places that require increased protection from fire or moisture. According to the color scheme, you can choose from white, gold, chrome and mirror shades.

Reiki – perfect solution for the bathroom, right?! So, what types of ceilings do you prefer to “settle” in your apartment?

Rack and pinion option

This design consists of aluminum slats coated with enamel or varnish. Externally, the elements resemble lining. Due to its frost and moisture resistance, this coating is the best solution for unheated rooms, for example, summer houses, gazebos, but also for the kitchen or bathroom - it is also a wonderful choice.

One of the components modern interior any room has suspended ceilings. Ceilings of this type will not surprise anyone today. They can be seen in public and government institutions, industrial premises and private houses, city apartments. Such designs are successfully used in the reconstruction of old premises.

What is a suspended ceiling?

This is a special design consisting of a lightweight frame and a variety of facing materials and elements. In most cases, the supporting frame of a suspended ceiling has the form of a metal lattice, which is held in place by special hangers attached to the ceiling or wall. Only after the initial stage of strengthening the frame has been completed are various facing elements attached. The main condition for these cladding elements is the same shape and size as the ceiling panels. Experts call these elements differently: modules or registries.

Today, suspended ceilings are the most practical design of ceiling space. Very often, this type of ceiling is used in cases where it is necessary for the ceilings to be “invisible”, but at the same time maintain access to engineering systems and communications - electrical, television and computer wiring; thermal and ventilation equipment. Some lighting devices, ventilation grilles and fire systems are quite easily built into such structures. The acoustics in a room with a suspended ceiling are noticeably improved.

Advantages:

• Aesthetics. A suspended ceiling allows you to hide all the shortcomings of the “host ceiling”. What is very important: there is no need to work on leveling the ceiling surface, and also periodically paint or whitewash the ceiling after and during its operation.
• Durability. Most companies producing and installing suspended ceilings provide a long-term warranty. And this takes into account the fact that the manufacturing company often plays it safe - in fact, the ceiling structure will serve you faithfully much longer without changing its quality and external characteristics.
• High resistance to temperature changes and provision of heat and sound insulation, which is important for residents of high-rise buildings. Now noisy neighbors will be far from your ears, and you can save on heating.
• Simple care that does not require material costs, a lot of time and effort (but more on that a little later).

Flaws:

• The most significant drawback is that the distance between the ceiling and floor is reduced. The suspended structure makes the room 5-15 cm lower. This is especially significant for rooms with a ceiling height of up to 3 meters.
• Relatively high cost. Of course, ordinary whitewashing or painting does not require any special material investments, but sealing cracks and leveling the ceiling is a waste of money and additional inconvenience in the form of construction debris, dust and dirt. In addition, such activities will take much longer than installing a suspended ceiling.
• We need to attract specialists. In order to install a suspended ceiling, you need special knowledge, equipment and construction skills. Only highly qualified specialists will clearly, quickly and competently carry out all the stages of constructing a suspended ceiling.
• Cheaper options for suspended structures are not friendly to humidity. If you are regularly flooded by your neighbors, it is necessary to change the structural elements - and this costs time and a significant financial investment.

Main types of suspended ceilings

In order to introduce the main types of suspended ceilings, you need to know that they differ from each other in certain parameters:

• by shape and size;
• type facing material;
• according to the connection method.

According to the shape of the facing elements, suspended ceilings can be: modular, lattice, slatted, solid.

Modular suspended ceilings

The modern market of building structures and materials offers a wide selection of suspended modular ceilings. The wide variety of these designs is explained by the fact that all their module elements are finished products, manufactured in a factory and do not require further processing.

Based on the shape of the facing modules, the following groups are distinguished: panel or tile, cassette, cellular and slatted. A special type of modules are gypsum frames; they are used for installing slabs of any material.

Cladding modules are made from the following materials: metal, mineral fiber, gypsum, plasterboard, wood and plastic. The shape of the module is determined by the material it is made of. Thus, cassette and slatted ceilings are only metal.

The ceiling surface as such does not offer a wide range of finishing possibilities. Traditionally, it was refined with paint or lime coatings, but in last years the situation has changed radically. Innovations were introduced by the concept of a suspended frame, which allows the implementation of a wide variety of design ideas, from the point of view of external design. We can say that such structures replace the main surface, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of installation operations. At the same time, there are different types, each of which focuses on one or another technical and operational characteristics. But almost all variations of such finishing involve ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the surface and increasing the insulating qualities of the room.

What is a suspended ceiling made of?

The basis of the structure is formed by a frame made of metal profiles. They are usually made of aluminum with a low mass, which allows them to withstand both their own load-bearing elements and the finishing material. The second important component of the system is the coating itself, which forms the decorative surface. There are two finishing methods: using traditional panels or using tension materials. As for the usual finishing, it is represented by plasterboard slabs, panels made of plastic, and the same aluminum in the form of slats or rectangular modules.

A separate category includes fabric material based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Although this solution seems rather fragile and fragile, in practice it demonstrates very good wear resistance. Manufacturers' tests demonstrate that PVC suspended ceilings can withstand loads of up to 100 liters of water. The structure will withstand such a volume in flood conditions.

Types of plasterboard boards

The group of tile finishes for suspended ceilings mostly consists of gypsum plasterboards. This is due to the fact that this material is characterized by almost impeccable appearance and resistance to stress. However, tiled types of suspended ceilings also differ in technical and operational characteristics. Standard panels are inexpensive, provide a smooth surface, but can only be used in rooms with normal humidity levels.

Special types include fire-resistant and moisture-resistant boards. In the first case, it is a material that is resistant to open flames. If you plan to install it in the bathroom, then you should use such slabs that not only are resistant to moisture penetration, but also prevent the formation of fungi and mold.

Cellular ceilings

The original decorative effect of the ceiling is achieved by the cellular texture of the materials used. By and large, these are panel types of suspended ceilings, which can be made of aluminum or plastic modules. The fundamental difference between this finish is the presence of cavities that are covered with a background substrate. At the same time, the shape and size of the honeycombs can be different.

Typically, such ceilings are formed by separate panels, the installation of which involves the formation of a continuous cellular surface. But this is the difficulty of installing elements in complexly configured rooms. If a plastic suspended ceiling is used, it can be adjusted manually to certain dimensions, ensuring smooth joints. If an aluminum module is used, then high-quality edge processing is best done to order in the factory.

Slat ceilings

In finishing the ceiling surfaces of private houses and apartments, slatted elements are rarely used. This practical solution, but its decorative capabilities are not so high compared to alternative options. Externally, the surface resembles clapboard paneling or a plank floor, albeit made of more attractive plastic. Public spaces and offices are traditional places where slatted suspended ceilings are used. Prices in this case are quite affordable - about 200 rubles. for 1 m 2. For comparison, standard plastic panels cost approximately 400-500 rubles. for 1 piece Aluminum slats are the most common, since this material is resistant to both mechanical damage and humidity and temperature. By the way, these characteristics allow you to install ceilings in the bathroom or kitchen, where performance comes first.

Design options

Installation of a suspended ceiling

Work begins with fastening the frame. The lower part of the profiles is installed horizontally, after which slats, slabs or other finishing material are fixed to the finished base. In the case of single-level structures, the load-bearing structures are located in one direction parallel to each other. Direct fastening of the suspended ceiling is carried out using anchor elements or ceiling dowels. In addition to the parallel configuration of the profiles, a cross-shaped installation is also practiced, in which the frame elements are installed perpendicular to each other. Finishing decorative materials are attached to the profiles using self-tapping screws so that the caps do not deform the top layer.

Ceiling decoration

The finishing touches must include sealing the seams with putty in a color that matches the base material. Reinforcing strips are embedded in the gaps, which also impart rigidity to the structure. Next, the joints are sanded. Paint coatings are not always required. For example, if a suspended ceiling was installed, in which the texture itself creates a decorative effect, this operation is not required. But ordinary plasterboards look boring and monotonous, so it would be useful to use paint to transform their surface.

Additional features

From an engineering point of view, suspended structures are advantageous in that they allow you to hide communication routes in their niche. By adjusting the height of the suspensions, telephone cables and electrical wiring can be laid in the formed channel, as well as the bases of lamp housings can be integrated there. This opportunity is especially valuable if you plan to install suspended ceilings in the kitchen, where ventilation ducts also pass. In addition, insulation materials are often placed in the ceiling space. Mineral wool or foil insulation, for example, is laid at the stage of installation of the supporting structure, after which the material is hidden by facing panels and does not spoil the appearance of the room.

Conclusion

With all the advantages of suspension systems, their complexity and high requirements for frame rigidity cannot be underestimated. And the slabs themselves can be subject to loads that consist of the mass of profiles and attached communication elements. Carefully calculating the characteristics of materials, specialists install durable and stable suspended ceilings. Prices for structures with a reliable power base are quite acceptable: 300-400 rubles. on average it costs one high quality profile element. Finishing a small room with such a frame will generally cost about 2-3 thousand, excluding the facing material, which will cost about the same amount. Of course, if we are talking about a simple design that is undemanding in terms of aesthetic characteristics, then you can get by with less expensive means.

Which ceilings are better? This question is asked by everyone who is about to renovate an old home, or decorate a newly built house.

In this article we will tell you what forms of suspended ceilings are used today in the design of public and residential premises. Let's figure out together which of the proposed options you can create with your own hands, and in which case it is better to turn to specialists. And for clarity, we will give you several examples with successful design solutions.

Criteria for choosing a suspended ceiling

Individual ceiling design is very important for finishing the room as a whole. Without giving the ceiling surface an original shape, creating an unusual relief, interesting color combinations and high-quality lighting, it’s even difficult to imagine a modern interior.

So:

• Suspended ceiling structures make it possible to combine all this, so to speak, “in one bottle”. In addition, they help solve many practical problems. This is especially true for public and office premises.
• Where to place the split system, security and fire alarm, where to hide cables and pipes, and, finally, how to adjust the height of the room?
• The solution is obvious - you need to install a suspended ceiling! Which better ceilings choose for a specific room, you need to decide based on its purpose, as well as the height and configuration of the base floor.

• If we talk about administrative, public and shopping and entertainment buildings, the design in them is almost always individual. In such cases, suspended ceilings are designed at the construction stage, and parts for their installation are produced exclusively.
• Update ceiling interior, for example, in an airport terminal, hotel lobby, or concert hall foyer, it is possible only during the period of reconstruction or overhaul. But until this moment, from the start of construction, more than a dozen years will pass.
  Provided, of course, that materials of appropriate quality were used to create the suspended ceiling, and the installation was carried out without deviations from the technology.

As for residential buildings and apartments, the owner has to choose the design independently. Even if you turn to specialists for help and are offered several options design solutions— the choice will still be yours.

Ceilings in small rooms

So, let's think together about what kind of ceilings to make in the house. Let's start with the hallway - it is the calling card of its inhabitants. Most often, this room is poorly lit, as it has no windows. But this is not her only problem.

So:

• Often the hallway has the shape of an elongated parallelepiped, with a fairly limited internal space. IN apartment buildings, to these disadvantages is added the relatively small height.
• How to get rid of these problems and get a harmonious interior. Installing a suspended ceiling of a certain shape will help with this.
  First you need to think about it, and only then decide with what material you can bring your fantasies to life.
• In such a hallway as we described above, first of all, you need to try to get away from the correct geometric shape of the ceiling. And here is one of the most suitable options that can be used in this case. This is a curved caisson on a plasterboard ceiling.

• IN small spaces, one large recess is made on the surface of the ceiling. A caisson always makes a room look higher, especially if its “bottom” is painted a lighter shade. By the way, the surface in the recess may not be lined with plasterboard.
• A well-leveled base can also serve as the bottom of a caisson. This figure fits perfectly not only into the ceilings of hallways or corridors - bedrooms and kitchens also often have a parallelepiped configuration.
• Looking through photos designer interiors, you can see many variations of designs similar to this one. Often there are wide projections along the perimeter of the ceiling, made in the form of overhanging cornices.
  At the same time, the space between the levels remains open - lighting is usually installed there.
• These are curved steps, both symmetrical and made only in one area of ​​the ceiling. Of course, these options are good not only for the hallway or kitchen.
  The living room ceiling, for example, will benefit from such a design. Simply if the room has large area, the caisson is, as it were, cut by a transverse bridge. You can see this design in the example below.

• For lobbies, kitchens and bathrooms, an acrylic modular ceiling is ideal. Of course, decorative modules can be made of natural glass or fiberglass - but these are more expensive options. The price of hardboard (as acrylic glass is called) can be said to be budget-friendly.
• When using glass cassettes, caissons on the ceiling are not needed. The visual depth of the ceiling, in this case, is ensured due to the transparency coefficient of these materials, as well as their internal lighting. Frosted glass is most often used in ceiling structures of this type.

• Printing on glass is no less popular. It can be either an abstract pattern, a landscape, an image of an animal, or a photographic image of the sky. Moreover, glazing does not have to be done over the entire area of ​​the ceiling.
• One or more glazed frames can be inserted into drywall, wood, or tension fabric. The insert can be located, for example, across a long wall, thereby adjusting the space of the room.
• Glazed frames are often inserted into the ceiling asymmetrically, concentrating them in a certain area. In the hallway, the entrance is usually zoned, in the kitchen - the dining area, in the bedroom - the head of the bed.
• The most practical option for the kitchen and bathroom are slatted and cassette ceilings. They are assembled from aluminum modules, which in the first case have the configuration of a long narrow panel (slat), and in the second case - a square.

• Perhaps, aluminum ceilings can be called the most durable, despite the fact that their operation is carried out in conditions high humidity. Such ceilings usually repeat the configuration of the ceiling, and are installed only in one plane.

The only exceptions can be those structures that are mounted from thin and flexible aluminum tape. All parts for installing an aluminum ceiling can be purchased as a kit from the manufacturer. The instructions included with them will help anyone who wants to assemble such a ceiling on their own.

PVC film and gypsum board: variety of shapes

The only option that can be used for ceiling design in a room for any purpose is a suspended ceiling. It looks equally good both in the bathroom and in a large living room.
So:

• In small rooms, as a rule, stretch ceiling done on the same level. But where the space of the room allows, you can let your imagination run wild. You can stretch PVC film onto a frame of any design: in several levels and different planes.
• Ceilings with a complex design are most often built in the living room. This is not surprising, since this room is used to receive guests, and every owner wants to impress them.
• Drywall is in no way inferior to tensioned fabric in this regard, and even provides even more opportunities for creating unusual shapes: curved planes, volumetric figures, caissons.

• The advantage of a stretch ceiling is that it can be installed quickly, in one or two days. In addition, the canvas does not require finishing. But for its manufacture and installation you will have to turn to the services of a specialized company.
• You can try to make a ceiling from plasterboard sheets yourself. This does not mean, of course, that you can immediately take on complex designs - everything requires skill and experience.
  And to think that everything is so easy and simple would be wrong.
• You need to start with something simple, for example, with lining the ceiling in one level, or lining the attic ceiling. There is no need to be particularly imaginative, because most often, it repeats the configuration of the roof.

• Our website has many articles and videos that will help you cope with the task. In them you will find many different examples of the design of gypsum plasterboard ceiling structures.
• We have combined stretch film and drywall in one chapter, since in ceiling structures they also often coexist. Therefore, we will discuss forms, and you will think about which of these two materials to prefer to create a suspended ceiling.
• So, what forms of ceiling structures are most popular today? We have already talked about caissons. The recesses can be of various shapes, including oval, as in our example.

• This is the same option when the design combines two materials: the first level has a glossy fabric stretched, and the second level is made of gypsum board. Such a ceiling can be made entirely of plasterboard.
  In this case, the role of a glossy tension film is played by a self-adhesive film.
• When it comes to ceilings in spacious rooms, we face a completely different task. The ceiling structure should divide the space into zones and make it more compact.
• In apartments, the largest room in terms of area is the living room. In private houses, bedrooms, dining rooms, and even bathrooms are quite spacious.
• In the picture below you see a bedroom, which also has a combined ceiling structure. The part of the ceiling above the head of the bed, highlighting the sleeping area, is made of plasterboard, and the rest of the part is covered with glossy fabric.

• The bedside area is highlighted not only on the ceiling area, but also on the wall. For this purpose, gypsum board was also used here.
  This type of bedroom design is most common today. The reason for this is the desire to make the room as comfortable as possible for relaxation.
• Psychologists believe that a person in a horizontal position feels more comfortable when the ceiling is closer. For the same reason, the overhanging section of the ceiling has a darker shade, which visually brings its surface closer. This design is ideal for a room with good natural light.

• Here is another example of zoning a bedroom using a suspended ceiling. In the photo above, the bedroom is located in attic floor, which has no windows. What we see on the wall is a false window made for psychological comfort.
• There are three fairly large recesses located in a row on the ceiling. The caissons are well illuminated, plus spot lighting, and the entire room is decorated in white. Thanks to this design, you don’t notice the absence of windows at all.
• The ceilings in children's rooms are the most difficult. There you have to make not only various figures in the form of the sun, clouds and butterflies, but also often hand painting as a finishing touch. Without artistic talents, it is simply unrealistic to complete such a nursery design on your own.

• In suspended ceilings, plasterboard is combined not only with tension fabric, but also with wood. Most often, this wooden beams, the space between which is lined with gypsum board, or stained glass frames.
• This design is suitable for almost any room, and is used when decorating them in classical and English styles. This ceiling in the interior of the room is combined with beautiful wooden baguettes, decorative partitions, and wall paneling with planks or slats.

• By the way, a suspended ceiling can be made entirely of wood. This does not mean the banal filing of its surface with a board, but ceiling modules: coffered, relief, carved - installed on a frame. Wooden ceilings Ideal for the interior of a living room, office, or billiard room.

There are many types ceiling panels, both made of valuable wood and in more affordable options: veneered MDF or laminated plywood. Here the choice depends on the amount of money that you can afford to spend on finishing the ceiling.

Creating comfort in your own apartment is a troublesome task. Especially in houses old building with uneven ceilings. But if the height of the rooms allows, you can install a suspended ceiling in the rooms. Despite the painstaking and thorough work, it will not be difficult for you to install such ceiling structures yourself.

Types of suspended ceilings

The inclusion of suspended systems in the interior is a common technique that helps hide communications, defects in rough ceilings, and reduce the height of the room if the space is very large. The variety of types of hanging variations can present you with a difficult choice when it comes to which one to choose. Knowing their possible types, you will better understand what a suspended ceiling is.

It is customary to divide suspended ceilings into two large groups:

• Solid designs.

In some cases, a third category is distinguished - suspended ceilings, but most often they are classified as separate species ceilings.

Popular among solid structures are plasterboard ceilings, the installation of which involves installing a frame or attaching sheets to a rough ceiling, finishing the surface with putty. But such an overlap will not allow access to communications, ventilation systems and wiring. Therefore, if necessary, special hatches can be installed. But this ceiling is the most inexpensive of all possible options.

They include separate modules (finished parts of the ceiling), which have a small surface area and have a significant advantage: at any time you can dismantle the damaged element and replace it with a new one, and wiring and communications with such suspended ceiling options will always be within walking distance.

The main types of suspended modular ceilings include: slatted, cassette, cellular, panel, tiled.

When choosing a finishing option, which ceiling is better is up to you to decide. Be guided by your personal preferences, financial capabilities and interior design style.

Advantages and disadvantages

Suspended ceilings as a method of finishing the ceiling surface have a number of advantages.

With the help of a suspended ceiling it is easy to hide ventilation and other communications

There are a lot of them, so we will list the main ones:

• They hide imperfections and flaws in the rough ceiling, forming smooth, even surfaces.
• Made in many variations, thanks to which you can choose coatings to suit every taste, suitable for different styles. They are glass, matte, transparent or translucent, glossy, marble.
• Simplicity and ease of installation.
• Possibility to dismantle the entire system or a separate element (exception, gypsum board ceilings).
• Do not require careful care. Many can be washed with standard cleaning products.
• They do not accumulate moisture. Therefore install suspended ceiling can be used in the bathroom, kitchen or other rooms with high humidity.
• For them, you can choose any lighting and zone the space.

A suspended ceiling can cover large spaces

However, even such designs are not without drawbacks:

• They take the height from the room. This moment is especially felt in small apartments with low ceilings.
• Installing ceiling systems will require significant time investment.
• Price. Many products are expensive, and the cost of one square meter suspended ceiling may exceed the price for the same indicator for suspended ceilings.

There are much fewer disadvantages, and they are minor, so if you are puzzled by the question interior decoration, feel free to install a suspended ceiling in your apartment.

Features of different types of suspended ceilings

Slatted ceilings will look avant-garde and stylish in any room. For installation, slats of different lengths are used, so the visually installed ceiling is similar to lining. These coverings fit very well into spacious rooms. The material used for manufacturing is polyvinyl chloride or aluminum.

Typically, slats are produced in three- or four-meter lengths. If you need to purchase longer items, you can place a custom order. The width varies from 5 to 20 cm.

The slats can be solid, mesh, embossed or perforated. Surface – gold, copper, chrome, etc.

There are three main design options for slatted ceilings:

• Italian style– represented by mesh aluminum or steel slats. Distinctive features are perforation up to 1.5 mm and a rounded shape. Products can be installed in closed or open ways. For the latter option, decorative overlays are used at the joints.
• German style– rectangular-shaped products without perforation or with holes up to 1.5 mm. They also suggest installation by any method.
• Designer style– this is the production of structures according to individual orders and for a specific room. The relief on the ceiling can be created using panels shaped like the letters V, S, P. A rich palette of textures and color solutions– wide scope for the brave design techniques, with the help of which you can show the advantages of a room or hide its shortcomings.

The slats are fastened to guides (combs), the latches of which firmly fix the structural elements. You can make a ceiling using U-shaped or corner profiles. In this case, installation is carried out around the perimeter of the room.

Armstrong is represented by a metal frame made of a T-shaped profile and mineral pressed plates in the shape of squares. The distinctive feature is that individual elements profiles are not completely hidden under the slabs and play the role of design elements.

A standard slab has sides 60 cm wide and a thickness from 1 to 2.5 cm. Rectangular slabs 120 by 60 cm are also produced.

The main types of such coatings are:

• Baikal and Oasis – budget options which are the most popular. These include slabs of white or gray with small textured indentations.
• Biogard– hygiene products, the inside of which during production is coated with a special antibacterial layer that prevents the adhesion of fat, the formation of mold and mildew. This system can be installed in the kitchen without any worries.
• Prima– moisture-resistant boards that retain their original shape at a humidity of 95%.
• Ultima– have additional sound insulation. They are characterized by a narrower profile and joints.

Grilyato ceiling

Grilyato is a lattice system most often used to decorate ceilings in spacious, high rooms.

The gratings are made of aluminum profile. A wide range of textures and color variations provide scope for the development of design imagination. Grilyato elements can be combined with other options for hanging systems. For example, with drywall, reproducing multi-level structures.

Main models of Grilyato ceilings:

• Standard– flat design, mounted in parallel floor covering from a U-shaped profile. The cheapest and easiest option to install.
• Pyramid represented by a lattice of high-density cells. Covers the rough ceiling well and hides communications.
• Multi-level system. It is characterized by profiles of different shapes and heights. Such distinctive feature will allow you to choose an option for any type of room.

On a note! Any model allows you to install original lighting, which significantly expands the scope of application of Grilyato ceilings.

Combining different materials you can create amazing effects on ceilings. For example, using a structure made of plasterboard sheets, on which a suspended ceiling is installed, depending on preferences and the chosen design. Installation of this type of suspended ceiling involves the initial installation of the frame and fastening of the gypsum board, and then stretching the PVC film. We have already talked about what types of suspended ceilings there are, textures, colors.

Such combinations can be used in single-level or multi-level structures. In this case, the ceiling surfaces can be decorated with different shades and types of coatings. Using them, zoning a room will show specific areas intended for relaxation, work, play in the nursery, etc.

Regarding stretch fabrics, consumer opinions differ regarding their safety. Especially when it comes to PVC film. However, stretch ceilings that were purchased from a trusted manufacturer and have a quality certificate cannot be harmful.

The excellent properties of PVC materials make hanging systems durable and easy to maintain. Moisture resistance, environmental friendliness, odorlessness, resistance to high temperatures– the main advantages of plastic panels.

Installation is carried out on wooden or metal carcass using self-tapping screws screwed into the grooves of the elements, which are covered with the next panel.

The cassette type of suspended ceiling is quite easy to install with your own hands. Individual modules form a kind of construction set, which includes squares with sides of 60 cm. Sometimes you can find parts with sides of 120 or 30 cm. Cassettes are made of aluminum or galvanized steel.

Such structures can be mounted open or in closed ways. The second option involves installing a frame on which the ceilings are supported by a suspension. Visible joints are usually masked with a decorative overlay in the shape of a geometric diamond. Open way fastening is carried out according to the type of assembly of Armstrong ceiling structures.

The only drawback of cassette systems is the high price.

This option is the simplest of all those discussed above. Thanks to the features of the metal frame, it is possible to make a ceiling of any shape - a single-level or multi-level structure, build in lamps, LED strips etc.

The main thing is to choose the right sheet sizes and their material, which will correspond to the room where the ceiling is supposed to be installed - regular, moisture-resistant, fire-resistant or moisture-resistant gypsum plasterboard.

Rack ceiling: installation features

Before starting repairs, if you decide to install a slatted ceiling yourself, you need to study it design features. The whole system is a metal frame and slats with different surfaces.

Individual elements can be placed in any direction - along or across the joints, diagonally.

Ceilings are mounted in different ways:

• With closed joints, when the slats overlap each other without leaving gaps.
• Open - which creates gaps up to 1.5 cm wide.
• Without gaps, when individual elements are mounted close to each other.

Important importance is given to the suspension system, which includes a tire with profiles, hangers and a comb.

The installation process begins with markup. First, the location of the future ceiling is outlined, departing 5 cm from the rough surface. Using a level, horizontal lines are drawn along the entire perimeter of the room, and the profiles are cut into pieces of the required length.

The profile is mounted along the intended line with a pitch between screws of 50-60 cm. Internal corners At the same time, they are fastened end-to-end, the outer ones at an angle of 45 degrees.

When installing hangers, it is important to correctly mark the distance between the parts. It should not exceed 90-100 cm. The hangers are fixed with dowels and screws.

The next stage is installing tires every 1-1.2 meters by attaching them to hangers. If you have chosen a minimum distance from the rough ceiling, you can screw the tires directly to the ceiling surface.

Important! The distance between the corner profiles and the tires must be at least 1 cm.

The final stage of installation is the installation of the slats. The products are unpacked and cut to the required length. In this case, the length of the elements should be 0.5 cm greater than the distance from wall to wall.

Each new rail is fastened next to the previous one. You can adjust the height of the tires with hangers or by screwing in and out screws. The last rail, if necessary, is cut to width and attached with the cut side to the wall surface.

Finishing– installation of plinth around the perimeter of the room. Not only will it be a decorative touch, but it will also disguise unsightly joints between the walls and the suspended ceiling.

Suspended ceilings are not only elements decorative finishing. They also serve a functional purpose. For example, by adjusting the height of the hangers, you can lower and raise the structure, reducing or increasing the area of ​​the room.

Choosing suitable option, be guided by the type of room in which the installation will be carried out, the aesthetic appeal of the future ceiling and your financial capabilities.

Suspended ceilings: types, features, which one is better to choose video