The design of ceilings with stretch sheets gives a special aesthetic effect, which surpasses all traditional finishing methods in design characteristics. But technically, such a design is quite difficult. The task is complicated if the wall decoration is realized with a material sensitive to mechanical stress. For example, the popular question is how to fix a stretch ceiling to gypsum plasterboards (GCR)? The supporting structure according to the installation technology is fixed to the wall base, but what if the vertical surfaces of the room are decorated with aesthetic, but fragile panels?
Basic technology for installing suspended ceilings
The main task of the wizard to install the panel on the ceiling is to fix it. A number of preparatory operations are preliminarily carried out from marking to heating of the finishing material, but the most crucial stage involves the direct fixing of the canvas to the walls. The harpoon is considered the most common mounting method. It is also used in the installation of a stretch ceiling to drywall. The photo below shows the harpoon snap-in. A special profile is attached to the walls, and plastic hooks are already integrated into it. This technology is reliable, but it can only be used in relation to polyvinyl chloride panels. As an alternative, wedge and clip methods of fixing the tension material are offered. In the first case, a glazing bead with fastening in a U-shaped profile is used, and in the second - clothespins-clips, which themselves also act as a bearing base such as a ceiling plinth, and perform the function of gripping the fabric.
Features of fixing the stretch ceiling to the gypsum wall
Plasterboard panels are made on a composite basis, the structure of which is complemented by two outer layers of cardboard. In the core is a mineral gypsum core, which just provides the functions of heat and sound insulation. The complexity of installation operations with such a finish lies in the fact that even the protective layers of GCR are not able to provide a sufficient level of reliability of fastening. Accordingly, the stretch ceiling will be attached to the walls not directly to the flimsy drywall finish, but through the supporting frame. This is a kind of reinforcing structure, which is desirable to perform from a galvanized metal profile. But it is important to emphasize that the frame is installed before the installation of GKL. That is, the sheets are fixed to the profiles and further serve as the basis for fastening and ceiling decoration material.
Preparing for installation activities
Tools and supplies should be prepared with the expectation of installing the stretch fabric and frame for drywall. An expanded set of tools and materials may look like this:
- To create holes in the wall you need an electric hammer drill with drills with a diameter of 6-12 mm.
- To tighten the screws, it is better to prepare a light screwdriver so that the hand does not get tired, since there will be many points of attachment of the stretch ceiling to the drywall.
- Special attention is paid to thermal means. To heat the panel, you may need a heat gun - electric or gas.
- Marking tool. It is advisable to have a laser level on hand or at least an ordinary bubble level with a tape measure and marker.
- A set of household tools of ordinary home craftsmen - multi-format screwdrivers, a hammer, putty knife, assembly knife, hacksaw, scissors, pliers, etc.
- Of the consumables, you will need directly fasteners, profiles and connecting crabs with plugs.
Mounting profile mounting
First of all, horizontal markings are applied to all walls for fastening metal profiles. For future contours of the installation of the strips, visible lines are drawn with a step of the order of 1-1.5 m. When fixing the profiles, neither bends nor overlaps at the joints of the joints should be allowed, therefore, the elements are correctly and accurately adjusted to the room dimensions. Moreover, it is important to observe a slight indentation from the bottom surface. To compensate for the stress with pressure on the metal strips, indent from the floor of 10-15 mm. In the upper part, for convenient fastening of the stretch ceiling to the drywall, preparatory holes or grooves for installing hooks are made. It is desirable that the factory perforation of the profiles act as attachment points - additional adjustment of the elements of the supporting structure should be minimized.
Performing a combined ceiling with two levels
Drywall panels can be used not only for wall decoration, but also in the construction of the ceiling itself. In this case, the technology of a combined system device with elements of a suspended and tension two-level structure will be described.
Using plastic dowels and prepared mounting points in the wall, horizontal lateral profiles are mounted to hold the lower level of the suspension frame. On the back side, the same fixation unit along the side walls is made. It is important to calculate the optimal thickness of the duct - about 15-25 cm. This method of attaching the suspended ceiling to drywall is good because it allows you to hide engineering and electrical communications in the design niche. The thickness of the box is just calculated for them. Then it remains only to fix the side load-bearing profiles with horizontal jumpers, strengthen the corner joints and stretch the canvas. The tension material in this design is usually fixed to the continuous profile by the clamping method, however, depending on the characteristics of the fabric, a joint technique can be used.
Method of using embedded structures
In this scheme, not a solid wall profile is used, but fragmentary. More precisely, it will provide for an approximately 20-centimeter empty section for laying a wooden beam. Both the profile, consisting of two parts (the upper short and the lower long), and the timber are fixed with dowels or self-tapping screws to the wall base. Further, a plasterboard plate is already fixed in a continuous way, covering both metal profiles and a wooden insert. It is important to outline the zone in which the beam is installed in height. At the next stage, fixing the baguette for suspended ceilings to drywall using screws. The convenience of this method lies in the easy fixation of the supporting profile with a hook to the wooden block through the GKL finish. Then it remains to fix the cloth with the help of complete harpoons.
Fastening the canvas to the ceiling
The option of mounting a stretch ceiling in a room with a finished gypsum board, in which there is no substrate of metal profiles, is not excluded. Even if they are present, then it will not be possible to determine them to the accuracy of finding holes. In such a situation, only fixing the ceiling-type baguette will be possible. That is, the supporting profile is mounted to the ceiling. For the convenience of installation, it is worth preparing a small suspended structure with a bookmark of timber. Along the perimeter of the room, profiles with clamping mechanisms for the panel will be fixed.
General recommendations of the masters in the course of work
To prevent the ceiling from getting dirty during installation, it is advisable to fix the fabric in the last place, when all construction debris will be removed. Also, you should think about a lighting system in advance. For example, LED spotlights are installed together with the canvas, however, at the stage of installation of profiles, electrical communications should be prepared for connecting the device. In the process of attaching the suspended ceiling to the wall of drywall, it is recommended to make ventilation holes so that condensate does not accumulate in its niche during operation of the structure. Typically, to perform this task, a ventilation grill is integrated into the web with fixation to the supporting profiles.
Conclusion
The principles of designing a decorative stretch ceiling in a room with drywall finish generally correspond to standard technology. The difference is that it will be necessary to overcome the wall cladding layer that is susceptible to dynamic loads. The easiest way is to use the method of attaching a stretch ceiling to a drywall with metal profiles. In any case, they will have to be mounted as a supporting structural element. Another thing is that different configurations of their placement and methods of direct mounting can be applied.