Whitewashed and plastered ceilings have long been a thing of the past. They were replaced by new technologies in the form of stretch linens and drywall constructions. Both methods of decoration are very popular today, so it is difficult for many homeowners to choose the best option. We suggest that you consider in detail the characteristics of both types in order to understand which is better - a gypsum board ceiling or a suspended ceiling.
General characteristics of drywall ceiling
GCR - an environmentally friendly material consisting of gypsum and cardboard. It can be used without fear in children's rooms and rooms in which people who are prone to allergies live.
Material safety is far from its only plus. GKL gained popularity due to its versatility. Using sheets of drywall, you can not just align the ceiling, but give it an unusual shape, create several levels and add curly elements.
Studying the question of which is better: a gypsum board ceiling or a suspended ceiling, one should pay attention to the flexibility of GCR. If the polypropylene fabric creates only straight surfaces, then in the case of drywall, play with lines and figures is possible. This makes it possible to realize the most daring design ideas.
Positive aspects of the material
To make a comparison of drywall ceilings and suspended ceilings, you should consider the positive aspects of both options. For GKL structures, they are as follows:
- A plasterboard suspended ceiling perfectly conceals defects in the foundation, electrical wiring laid on top of it and various utilities.
- It is easy to install built-in lighting fixtures in GKL ceilings, and the lamp power in this case does not matter.
- The surface created from GKL has sufficient strength. Apartment owners do not have to worry about the fact that the appearance of the ceiling can be damaged as a result of contact with sharp objects or a common cork from champagne.
- Gypsum plasterboard surfaces are subject to staining and wallpapering. This allows you to change the color scheme of the ceiling as many times as the owners want.
It is also important that the drywall sheets do not belong to combustible and toxic materials. GCR burns very poorly, which sometimes becomes a decisive argument in favor of this type of finish.
What about the flaws?
Absolutely ideal materials do not exist, therefore, when comparing gypsum plasterboard ceilings and stretch ceilings, it is worth considering the negative aspects of GKL structures.
The disadvantages include the following:
- Exposure to moisture. This minus can be called the most important and significant. Residents of the last floors should pay special attention to it. If the roof leaks or the neighbors flood, the ceiling will have to be completely changed, since the wet cardboard shell will immediately become unusable.
- Installation of a suspended ceiling made of gypsum plaster is carried out by assembling the frame, which is why the ceiling height in the room is reduced by 5-7 centimeters. If we are talking about a multi-level design, then this figure can increase by 2-3 times.
- Some experts do not recommend installing suspended ceilings from GKL in new buildings, explaining this by the fact that the house will shrink and the integrity of the finish may be impaired.
Having appreciated the pros and cons of gypsum plasterboard ceiling, we can conclude that there are much more advantages to this type of finish than disadvantages. The negative sides of the material appear only under certain circumstances, the probability of occurrence of which is extremely small.
Stretch ceilings: description and features
The stretch ceiling is a thin and flexible canvas, which is fixed on the starting strips, fixed around the perimeter of the room. As the main material used PVC film. The maximum width of such a canvas is 1.8 meters.
There are varieties of fabric paintings, but their cost is much higher than the film version. The use of fabric varieties is attractive in that the ceiling can be painted in different colors, depicting even the most complex patterns on it.
Considering the types of suspended ceilings, the features and advantages of this type of finish, the main thing to note is that all varieties of paintings are installed in the shortest possible time. Work is carried out quickly, the room after installation does not require general cleaning.
Positive properties of a stretch ceiling
The popularity of stretch linens is due to a number of attractive features that this method of decorating ceiling surfaces has been demonstrating for many years.
The main advantages of stretch ceilings are to attribute their following properties:
- Attractive appearance. Even the simplest white canvas fits perfectly into any interior of the apartment. What can we say about varieties with gloss or patterns that can become the main decoration of the room.
- The ability to stretch. This property allows stretch ceilings to successfully compete with GKL structures. The latter categorically do not accept contact with water, while the finish of the PVC film perfectly tolerates moisture. If water leaks from the top floor, the film sheet will retain moisture, thereby preserving the integrity of the interior of the room. The material can withstand up to 200 liters of fluid. This fact makes many think about what is better - a drywall ceiling or a stretch one.
- Easy to care. The ceiling of the film can be regularly cleaned with a damp sponge, which allows us to talk about its hygiene.
- The lack of shrinkage, drying. Unlike GKL constructions, the film ceiling is not subject to cracking, which means that its service life is much longer.
Installation of the curtain is much faster than finishing the ceiling with drywall, which can also be the main argument in favor of PVC film.
Do not forget about the shortcomings
Negative qualities in stretch cloths are also present. The main one is the synthetic origin of the base material. Tissue varieties are considered more ecological, but they are covered with polyurethane compounds, which are far from natural origin.
Considering the advantages of suspended ceilings and their disadvantages, you should pay attention to a number of the following properties of this type of finish:
- Exposure to temperature. When using stretch linens, it is important to choose the right lighting. The film is afraid of heating, so the power of the lamps should not exceed 60 watts.
- The complexity of the installation of fixtures. It is necessary to think over the design of the location of lighting devices before mounting the canvas, since the holes are made at the stage of its manufacture. And for each such hole the customer will have to pay extra.
- Intolerance to contact with sharp objects. It was previously said that the film stretches very well, but it does not accept sharp mechanical influences. Such a ceiling is very easy to damage, and it cannot be restored.
Considering the advantages of drywall ceilings, we noted that such structures can be repainted many times. So stretch fabrics can not boast of this, what they lose to their counterpart. If you want to change the color of the interior, you will have to order a new canvas.
What about installing both types?
Stretch ceiling or plasterboard - which is better in terms of ease of installation? The main thing here is to highlight the priorities of the owner. If preference is given to quick and clean installation, then the PVC film remains the undisputed leader in these matters. Its installation is carried out in 3-4 hours.
Installing a drywall ceiling requires proper marking of the base, installation of the frame. Sheets must be cut to the desired size and only then fixed to the base. After the installation of the ceiling, all joining places are treated in a special way. As a result, such work takes from 2 to 5 days. After installing the structure there is a lot of dust and scraps of building material.
If the main goal is saving, then it is better to give preference to the ceiling from the GKL, since it can be installed on its own. But for the installation of stretch linens you need special heating equipment and experience in such work, as it is very easy to spoil the canvas.
As for labor costs, GKL structures are easier to install, albeit longer. One master can handle the work. And for the installation of the stretch fabric requires the simultaneous participation of two people.
Cost comparison
The economic component is especially important in any matter, so it will not be out of place to compare both types of finishes by price characteristics.
So, the cost of a drywall ceiling depends on several factors:
- on the complexity of the design (the presence of curly elements);
- on the number of levels;
- from whose forces the ceiling will be installed.
Installation of the simplest ceiling in one level will cost from 350 rubles per square meter. Additionally, expenses for the purchase of gypsum plaster, profiles and self-tapping screws are taken into account.
For example, one sheet of drywall of medium thickness (with parameters 2.5 x 1.2 meters) costs about 175-200 rubles. To this figure we add 40% for additional materials and get the approximate cost of the ceiling. If the installation will be done with your own hands, this price tag will be final.
The cost of stretch cloths can also not be called fixed. It depends on what kind of canvas will be used during the work and on the number of lighting fixtures. The cheapest are white matte canvas. Their price tag starts at 250 rubles per square meter. If you want to install a glossy variety, get ready to pay twice as much.
The estimate for installing the stretch ceiling additionally includes the manufacture of holes, fixing the starting strips around the perimeter of the room and pasting the masking tape. Sometimes you need to install new wiring. The minimum price tag for the installation of stretch linens is 280 rubles per square meter. In this case, saving on the services of specialists will not work.
Which ceiling is better: drywall or stretch? Owner reviews for surface care
The duration of its operation depends on proper care of the ceiling. In this regard, GKL constructions are more finicky, as they do not accept wet cleaning. You can simply brush off the dust from them, and any stains and other contaminants can only be masked under a new coat of paint.
The owners of such structures note that over time cracks may appear on the surface of the sheet, which can only be repaired by puttying and tinting of individual sections of the ceiling.
Film canvases are not afraid of moisture, which allows them to easily clean from pollution.
If the canvas fades over time, you can independently restore it to its original form by treating it with a solution of ammonia and water (mixes 1: 9).
Judging by the reviews, such canvases proved to be excellent during operation in bathrooms and kitchens. They perfectly tolerate humidity and temperature changes.
But for GKL structures, dry rooms are optimally suitable. An excellent solution would be to install a plasterboard ceiling in the bedroom, children's room and living room.
What you should pay attention to
When choosing any finishing material, you should pay attention to its manufacturer. The modern market is simply overwhelmed with low-quality products, and materials for arranging the ceilings did not go unnoticed by the unfortunate manufacturers.
If with GKL constructions everything is extremely simple: gypsum and cardboard are always of the same quality, then with stretch fabrics everything is much more complicated. Understanding which ceiling is better (drywall or stretch), reviews will never be over. Most of them say that it is absolutely not worth buying the cheapest paintings.
Today, on every corner you can see an advertisement for super economical stretch ceilings. Many simply can not resist such advantageous, at first glance, offers. Ultimately, after installing a low-quality canvas, the apartment is filled with an unbearable pungent odor that does not disappear for weeks.
With the windows closed, it becomes impossible to be in such a room. Harmful fumes negatively affect the health of households, and people who are prone to allergic reactions begin to cough, runny nose and redness of the eyes.
To protect your family from such troubles, even at the stage of signing the contract with the service provider, you should check the certificates of conformity of products with uniform standards. This will help protect against unplanned expenses for the purchase of a new canvas.
To summarize
So, which ceiling is better: stretch or plasterboard? There is no definite answer to this question. When choosing the best option should be based on the following factors:
- microclimate of the room where the installation is planned;
- desired time frame for the work;
- financial opportunities;
- the expected life of the finish.
For rooms with high humidity, only film options are suitable. It is categorically not recommended to consider the possibility of arranging structures from gypsum plaster in these rooms, since their service life in an aggressive environment is significantly reduced.
If environmental protection comes first, then GKL ceilings are leading here. In the event of an unexpected flooding, they will immediately fail, but they will definitely not cause harm to your health during operation.