Stretch ceiling in the bathroom, its pros and cons

When planning repairs in the bathroom, the owners of the house are faced with the problem of choosing the type of decoration for walls and ceilings. The microclimate in the bathroom differs from the rest of the house by significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In addition, this room must meet hygiene standards, and therefore makes special demands on finishing materials. Nowadays, quite often installed stretch ceilings in the bathroom, but what are their pros and cons? They attract people with the beauty and variety of projects created by designers, but do they meet all operational requirements? To deal with these issues, let's take a closer look at them.

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What ceiling is called stretch?

A stretch ceiling is a structure made of a cloth stretched under the main ceiling of a room and fixed to special profiles called baguettes. Profiles are attached to the main ceiling or to walls at a distance from the ceiling around the perimeter. The invention of this method of decoration opened up new possibilities for interior designers. This type of decoration is considered modern, but it came to us from centuries ago. Even in the Roman Empire and the Middle East, ceilings were draped in fabric. In Western Europe, stretch ceilings were re-invented in the middle of the twentieth century after the advent of a film of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Gradually, they became the main type of decorating ceilings and an integral part of modern interiors.

Two-level stretch ceiling

What are they made of?

For the manufacture of suspended ceilings today, two types of panels are used - PVC film and polyester fabric. These materials differ significantly from each other in their qualities, each of them is endowed with advantages and disadvantages, which are worth understanding.

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PVC film

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is a plastic, and is very common due to its special properties. It is quite durable and lightweight. It does not conduct electricity, insoluble in water, alcohol and hydrocarbons, resistant to mineral oils, alkalis and acids.

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PVC products have a beautiful glossy surface. In addition to technical applications in cars and power lines, he has gained popularity in the fashion and advertising industry. They make artificial leather and accessories from PVC, make clothes and sew gloves. Linoleum is made from it, it is applied to washable wallpapers. Stickers and advertising posters cover with PVC film. They make gaskets in refrigerators and window seals from this plastic. It is from such a material common today that stretch ceilings are made.

To support a bright red glossy ceiling, finishing one wall in a room can be done with bright tiles with red elements

The film is available in rolls with a width of 1.3 to 5 meters. If it is necessary to obtain a larger width, or to get a multi-colored cloth of an unusual shape, the films can be joined together by soldering using special technology. Consider the main types of films that are presented on the market today.

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• Glossy film - used to create a shiny, "mirror" surface.A rich color palette and reflective ability allow designers to achieve interesting effects in the design of interiors. Its disadvantage is that on the glossy surface the lines of connection of the films are more noticeable if the film width is not enough, and it has to be soldered from several parts.
  

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• Matte film - does not create glare, has a matte even color, giving the impression that the surface is painted. Water droplets are less visible on such a cloth.
• Satin film - similar to matte, but reflects light much more strongly. It is distinguished by a bright pearly shade and looks like a shiny satin fabric.
  

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• Suede film - in its structure is thicker and denser than the others, in texture resembles suede fabric, such a film is used to create the effect of "starry sky"
• Translucent film - transmits light, if the lamps are located behind the film at a sufficient distance, the effect of frosted glass is created. Before tensioning the transparent film, the surface under it should be tidied up, because it will be partially visible through the transparent film.
  

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An interesting fact: the PVC film has a memory and after deformation returns to its original form, but for this it needs to be slightly warmed up.

Polyester fabric

For stretch ceilings use textile fabrics made of polyester with polyurethane impregnation to increase its strength, waterproofness and durability. Fabrics cannot be brazed, so they are usually made seamless.

It looks harmonious when the shelves and floor are of the same saturated color, especially with white walls, this visually expands the room

Polyester is a synthetic fabric widely used for the manufacture of clothing and accessories, has high strength, is not wrinkled, is not afraid of sunlight and dries quickly. Products made of polyester are durable, retain their shape well and do not lose their appearance.

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Polyurethane is a synthetic material unique in its properties, which has high wear resistance, heat, frost and water resistance. Ceiling fabric is available in rolls from 1.5 m to 5.1 m wide. Cloths for polyester ceilings are made white or colored. It is possible to print a pattern on the fabric or dye it with acrylic paints.

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Fabric ceilings are 15 times stronger than PVC film ceilings, it is almost impossible to tear them with a blunt object, and it is not easy to cut even with a knife. Such ceilings are not afraid of heating to 80 degrees and frost to -40, so they are used in intermittently heated rooms.

Tip: it is best to install the eaves in the room before installing the stretch ceiling, most often the panels are damaged when installing the eaves.

Soft pink color creates the effect of airiness and lightness

How to install suspended ceilings

Stretch ceilings are mounted at the last stage of repair, after cleaning the premises from construction debris and dust. Special baguettes are mounted on the ceiling or along the perimeter of the wall under the ceiling so that the gap between the main and suspended ceilings is at least 3 cm. If communications are made under the ceiling or fixtures are provided, the gap should be greater. The blade is attached to the profiles firmly and tightly. This is achieved by such mounting methods:

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• The harpoon mounting method is distinguished by the presence of a special harpoon, which “snaps” the edge of the blade in the aluminum profile. This method is used for the installation of PVC ceilings.
• The clip-on method of fastening is characterized in that the fastening structure is integral with the baguette and does not require additional fasteners. It is used mainly for fastening fabric cloths.
  

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• The wedge or bacon method of attachment is characterized by the presence of a “P” -shaped profile into which the wedge is inserted, after which the structure is hidden under a special overlay.

Tip: if you decide to replace the old ceiling with a suspended ceiling, it’s not necessary to take out furniture from the room, after the installation is complete it will remain clean and unharmed.

White - the universal color for the ceiling in the bathroom

Pros and Cons of Stretch Ceiling in the Bathroom

From the above information, it follows that both types of paintings for suspended ceilings meet the main operational requirements that apply to the finishing materials of the bathroom, and the installation of a stretch ceiling in the bathroom is quite acceptable. But, like any other finishing option, stretch ceilings have their positive and negative sides. Let's list the main advantages in favor of installing ceilings in the bathroom from both materials:

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• The ability to get a perfectly flat surface in a relatively short period of time. All installation work takes an average of 3-5 hours. The ceiling that closes under the fabric does not have to be aligned, and it does not require any special preparation.
• A rich palette of colors and a variety of textures give designers the opportunity to realize the most incredible ideas.
  

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• The air cushion, which is created between the two ceilings, provides additional thermal insulation and protects the second ceiling and hidden communications from moisture. It is warm and does not form condensation on it, even if splashes of water get on the cloth, it will dry quickly, so no fungi will start on it.
• In the space between the two ceilings, it is easy to hide all communications, for example, wiring, pipes and equipment for fixtures.

Ceiling option where the stretch web is used only in the central part

• The ceiling will last more than 15 years, it does not need to be painted, and it does not require any repairs, unless, of course, it is not damaged mechanically.
• A soiled ceiling can be washed or wiped with a damp cloth.
• The ceiling made of PVC film, due to its water resistance, elasticity and sufficient strength, helps save things in the bathroom in the event of flooding by neighbors from above. Fabric ceiling with a task of this kind copes much worse.
  

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  It does not stretch, so with a large amount of water it can break out of the mount, and with prolonged standing in it, water will gradually begin to leak. After the flood, the fabric ceiling will be damaged and will have to be replaced, and PVC will remain unharmed after draining the water.

  

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Did you know: the ceiling film can easily withstand the weight of an adult, and a ceiling of 10 square meters can hold 1 ton of water.

Cons of suspended ceilings in the bathroom

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• Stretch ceilings must be handled carefully so as not to damage the canvas with sharp objects. This mainly applies to PVC film, the fabric can withstand pricking and cutting loads and is less likely to be damaged.
  

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• PVC stretch ceiling begins to sag when the air temperature rises above 45 degrees, so use heating appliances in the bathroom very carefully.
• Drops of water after drying sometimes leave marks, this is more true for glossy paintings. Therefore, it is best to avoid splashing water onto the ceiling to avoid frequent washing.
  

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• Poor quality cloths for ceilings can give off an unpleasant odor when the temperature rises, so it is advisable to buy repair materials only from trusted manufacturers.
• Washing a stretch ceiling is a rather time-consuming process, especially for fabric ceilings due to their non-smooth texture.

Green stretch ceiling

Stretch ceilings in the bathroom have many advantages. If you carefully consider the choice of the suitable material, and take into account all the possible disadvantages and advantages, it is quite possible to get a magnificent stretch ceiling without unnecessary trouble. And then for many years, deservedly admire, lying in the bathroom, the amazingly beautiful result of his work.

Stretch ceiling in the bathroom - design ideas

45 photos of ideas for stretch ceiling in the bathroom: