If the room has a suspended ceiling, how to remove it and not damage it? This question is asked by many owners of premises who are interested in preserving the material, since they simply lay additional communications under the ceiling, repair wiring and eliminate other problems that require dismantling of the structure.
The history of the stretch ceiling
The history of suspended ceilings has its roots in ancient Rome. At that time, fabric was used for drapery, the color of which underwent careful selection, since it had to match the shade of the wall. A significant minus was that the service life of such material was very short.
The second allusion to the stretch ceiling in a later historical period is the use of calico soaked in chalk in Armenia in the 17th century. This material was stretched over the frame, so the result was a perfectly even ceiling.
The appearance of a modern stretch ceiling occurred 30 years ago in France.
What is a stretch ceiling
A stretch ceiling is a flat surface obtained by tensioning a special polyvinyl chloride film. A polyester fabric is also often used as a material for a stretch ceiling . In modern designs, the first option is often used.
The thin film or fabric is pulled onto a special frame (baguette), the attachment point of which is the base ceiling. The result is a perfectly flat and uniform surface, similar to a hard ceiling.
Pros of a stretch ceiling
The stretch ceiling has a lot of advantages compared to other finishing materials:
- PVC film is the easiest way to get a perfectly flat surface.
- Fixing technology is considered the simplest and fastest. First, a special frame is installed on the wall, and then a film is heated on it, heated with a heat gun. The duration of such installation takes no more than 4 hours. In addition, before starting installation work, there is no need to take out all the furniture. Simply move it to the center, thereby freeing access to the walls.
- The stretch ceiling is characterized by high strength (up to 100 kg per 1 m 2 ), which often saves in case of flooding from above.
- Such a surface is easy to clean thanks to a thin micron layer of Teflon.
Types of Stretch Ceilings
Before answering the question of how to remove the stretch ceiling, you should determine its appearance. This information is usually contained on the letterhead of the company that made the installation of the product.
So, the canvas can be:
- Made of PVC. Installation / disassembly of such a design requires a high temperature (about 70 degrees). If such heating is not provided, then you can just ruin the canvas. To achieve this temperature allows the heat gun.
- Seamless fabric. The advantage of this type is the following moment: the room does not need to be heated in order to install or dismantle the ceiling. It is recommended to start work from the central part of the ceiling and gradually move to the corners.
Mounting Methods
So, the suspended ceiling - how to remove it? The solution to this issue largely depends on what type of mount was used during installation:
- A harpoon system, used only if a PVC web is installed. This mounting method greatly simplifies the dismantling process.
- Fixing the material to the baguette using the wedge or bead method. A similar method can be used in relation to PVC or fabric cloths. Is it possible to remove the stretch ceiling using the above option with your own hands, and then install it in the same place? No. Analysis of the design, of course, is possible, but to knock out a wedge without experience is quite difficult.
- Fastening with plastic clips can only be used on seamless fabric webs. Installation and dismantling of such a design are considered the simplest.
Necessary tools
When answering the question of how to remove the stretch ceiling, you need to keep in mind that for a start you should stock up with such tools:
- a typical plaster spatula having ground corners;
- pliers, which are characterized by the non-standard size of the working “jaws”;
- standard installation knife;
- heat gun of any type;
- large clothespins, with which the film is usually suspended during dismantling.
Which method to choose in order to disassemble the stretch ceiling, you need to decide based on the type of design.
Dismantle PVC stretch ceiling
How to remove this type of ceiling? First you need to determine the type of mount. If you used the harpoon method during installation, then disassembly and reassembly of the ceiling is possible, and if wedge, then you can forget about re-installation of the structure.
The following is a step-by-step instruction that describes how to remove the stretch ceiling with your own hands:
- Before starting work, it is necessary to free up the room to the maximum, and cover the furniture that cannot be removed, cover it with a heat-resistant fabric.
- Heat the room with a heat gun. If the room is not sufficiently heated, then the dismantling work will be doomed to failure - the film will tear. The optimum temperature for parsing the canvas is at least 600 degrees.
- You must first prepare the stepladder and find an assistant who will hold the gun. So the question of how to remove the stretch ceiling yourself can be safely answered: no way, since you can’t do without a second person.
- The entire dismantling process should be accompanied by heating of the blade, as this greatly facilitates the work process and avoids surface tearing. True, you need to remember that too close to the gun can cause damage to the material.
Seamless fabric ceiling
How to remove, install a stretch ceiling, the material for the manufacture of which was a seamless fabric? If the fastening is bacon or wedge, then installation / dismantling should be carried out in the same order as with a PVC sheet. The only difference is that there is no need to use a heat gun, and dismantling starts from the middle of the wall, and then gradually moves to the corner.
The dismantling of the canvas, for which clip baguettes were used, has the following feature: it will not be possible to partially replace the material, since the stretch ceiling will have to be removed completely. If this is not done, sooner or later the clip will pop out, which will lead to the forced replacement of the entire ceiling.
Stretch ceiling repair
How to remove, install a suspended ceiling? This question can concern anyone, because a cut and a puncture are damages to which stretch ceilings are most often exposed.
In the event of such a nuisance, each owner begins to think about how to fix the situation and at the same time minimize money. It all depends on what material was used to make the canvas, and on the size of the “wound” itself.
Fabric ceiling repair
How to remove and install a suspended ceiling? If the fabric cloth was damaged by a cut, then repair work can be done independently. The detected damage can simply be sealed with a piece of glass wallpaper or a particle of material left after installation. Transparent glue is usually used to glue the patch on the back. At the end, it is recommended that the repaired area be covered with a suitable paint.
PVC cloth repair
If the location of the cut or puncture of the PVC film structure is near the wall (distance is not more than 15 cm), then the dismantling of the fabric should begin from the side of damage, cut off the affected area along the entire length, re-tension the film and put it into the frame. This operating procedure will not change the appearance of the surface.
If the damage is somewhat removed from the wall, then pulling the ceiling should not be dealt with, as this simply spoils it. In this situation, it is better to use the following tricks:
- the place of a small cut can be perfect for installing an additional lamp or ventilation grill;
- large size can be masked with color applique or panel.
To eliminate the puncture on the PVC ceiling, the size of which does not exceed 1-2 mm, special glue is quite enough. It will not only hide the damage, but also prevent the canvas from dispersing further. But to get rid of a large puncture, you will need to perform the same actions as with a cut.
Do not forget that if the installation of the ceiling was carried out by specialists, then for repairs, you also need to call them, and not come up with a way to seal a cut or puncture. The thing is that unsuccessful independent work will void the warranty on previously completed installation, which is why you will have to pay for the elimination of any negative consequences.