Do-it-yourself stretch ceiling

Recommendation points

• Types of stretch ceilings
• Taking measurements
• Profile types
• Installation of PVC stretch ceiling
• Selection of tools and materials
• Mounting the fixing profile
• Installation of racks under ceiling lights
• Fastening the canvas
• Installation of a fabric stretch ceiling
• Wall markings
• Frame installation
• Fastening the canvas
• Installation of lamps

Stretch ceilings look attractive and have a lot of advantages. Their arrangement is often trusted by professionals, although the process itself is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. In this article we will tell you how to do the installation of a stretch ceiling with your own hands.

A stretch ceiling is a cloth or PVC film stretched between special profiles. Such a structure can have a different shape, design, number of levels, etc. Installation of a stretch ceiling is possible in any room – from the hallway to the bedroom and from the kitchen to the bathroom. Stretch ceilings allow you to hide the unevenness of the coating, and you can also hide communications and wires under them. They do not accumulate dust, do not burn, retain heat well, are easy to clean when dirty, and are also absolutely safe for others.

Types of stretch ceilings

Depending on the material of the canvas, there are:

1. Fabric – for their arrangement, a durable synthetic fabric with a special impregnation is used. Due to this, they firmly endure any physical influences, do not fade in the light, do not accumulate dust, dirt, do not rot, and are not afraid of frost. The canvas has micropores that allow the surface to breathe, creating an optimal microclimate in the room. Fabric width up to 5 meters makes it possible to equip seamless ceilings. In addition, almost any image can be applied to them..
2. Film – made on the basis of PVC film, which tends to change its elasticity under the influence of temperature. Therefore, for arranging such a ceiling, it is necessary to use heat guns. The film has a smaller width than the fabric, which makes it almost impossible to avoid seams. However, such material does not absorb odors, and also has a wide range of colors and various textures, it can be matte or glossy..

By the type of installation, stretch ceilings can be either single-level or complex figured and multi-level structures.

Taking measurements

This is a rather crucial stage of work, on which the further result depends, especially when installing a PVC ceiling. Accuracy in carrying out measurements will avoid mistakes when installing a stretch ceiling. First you need to take a sheet of paper on which a diagram of the future ceiling will be applied. All measurements are taken at the height of the mounting profile. To begin with, determine the perimeter of the ceiling and apply the results to the diagram. Next, measure all possible diagonals of the surface, which also write.

In addition, on the drawing it is necessary to indicate the dimensions and location of windows, entrance doors, pipes and other communications, which will help to place the seams most successfully during the installation of the ceiling..

Two-level stretch ceiling: 1 – door; 2 – pipe; 3 – LED lamps; 4 – chandelier; 5 – window

After that, you can contact one of the companies engaged in the production of stretch ceilings to order the canvas of the required size and fastening profile.

The systems of fastening the ceiling of the leaf to the profile are different, therefore, the leaf and the profile should be purchased from the same manufacturer.

Profile types

Profiles for installing stretch ceilings are made of durable plastic or aluminum. The choice depends on the type of construction that you plan to eventually get. Aluminum profiles are more durable and therefore suitable for larger canvases. And plastic ones allow installation as high as possible, almost flush with the ceiling.

By their purpose, profiles are:

• universal – suitable for mounting on any surface (vertical or horizontal). Such a profile is also used in hard-to-reach places and complex structures;
• wall – profiles that allow you to attach the ceiling to walls or other vertical surfaces;
• ceiling – type of profiles that are installed on the ceiling or other horizontal surface.

Wall profiles: 1 – harpoon mounting system; 2 – profile; 3 – decorative strip; 4 – harpoon; 5 – ceiling sheet; 6 – clip fastening system; 7 – profile; 8 – ceiling sheet; 9 – glazing bead fastening system; 10 – glazing bead; 11 – U-shaped profile; 12 – plug; 13 – ceiling sheet

There are also visible and invisible profiles. The latter, after installation, are absolutely invisible under the PVC film. Visible profiles, in addition to holding the canvas, are used for a kind of framing of the ceiling structure.

A dividing profile is required for joining two different canvases together.

The corner profile is most often used in multi-level structures or for joining canvases in the corners. It consists of two parts, which are interconnected during installation..

Installation of PVC stretch ceiling

Selection of tools and materials

Before proceeding directly to the installation of a stretch ceiling, you need to acquire all the materials and tools necessary for this. This list includes:

• heat gun;
• screwdriver or hammer;
• puncher;
• self-tapping screws or dowel-nails;
• roulette;
• water or laser level;
• angular and straight scapula;
• PVC ceiling sheet;
• fastening profiles;
• mounting clips (clothespins).

Mounting the fixing profile

Mark the walls using a level. With the help of it, straight lines are formed around the entire perimeter of the ceiling, along which the profile will be installed. The profile is attached one to one, so its length must correspond to the perimeter of the ceiling minus 2 cm at the corners. It is worth noting some of the nuances that you need to pay attention to:

• when determining the height at which the installation will be carried out, the possibility of installing recessed luminaires is taken into account;
• when angular joining of profiles, their edges must be cut at an angle of 45 degrees.

When all the details have been taken into account, you can proceed directly to the fastening of the profiles to the wall. This is done with self-tapping screws or fastened with dowel-nails. The choice depends on the material to which the attachment takes place. The distance between them should be approximately 7–8 cm. Moreover, the first and last self-tapping screws should not be located at the very edge of the profile.

Installation of racks under ceiling lights

First, we determine in advance the number, size and location of future lamps. As you know, the ceiling sheet is not able to withstand the weight of lighting fixtures. Therefore, they use special height-adjustable stands that will hold the lamps. They are attached to the rough ceiling with dowels and screws. The body of such embedded elements should not interfere with the further installation of the canvas. After installing the racks, electrical wiring is brought to them, and then, using plumb lines, points are projected onto the floor, which correspond to the center of the lamp. Thanks to them, it will be possible to make an exact hole in an already stretched canvas. The electrical wiring must be secured to the rough ceiling with mounting plates so that there is no slack in the wire.

Fastening the canvas

Before moving on to stretching the PVC cloth, the room must be properly warmed up with a heat gun. Then the film is carefully unrolled with clean hands and suspended by the corners with the help of crocodile mounting clips. Then, turning on the heat gun and directing it to the canvas, they begin to install.

The base corner is fixed first, and then they move to the opposite corner. Next comes the rest of the corners. Fastening is carried out using an angular spatula, with which the panel is carefully inserted into the baguette. After fixing each of the corners, the same is done with the sections in a straight line using a straight blade. It is important that the film is stretched evenly and without wrinkles. The closer to the finale, the more difficult it is to stretch the canvas..

Installation of a fabric stretch ceiling

The process of installing a fabric tension flow is slightly different from installing a similar PVC film. This does not require the use of a heat gun. Moreover, installation can be carried out even in an unheated room. Before starting work, it is necessary to mark the walls.

Wall markings

The frame for a fabric stretch ceiling consists of an aluminum profile, which is of two types: U-shaped and the so-called clothespin profile. The first mark is placed at a level of 1-2 cm from the existing ceiling if the installation of recessed lamps is not planned, or 7-10 cm for a ceiling with built-in lamps.

With the help of a building level, horizontal lines are drawn, so that their beginning and end dock together.

Frame installation

The frame is attached to the wall around the entire perimeter of the room. Often, each profile already has special holes for fastening. In this case, it is very important to carefully fit the joints between the profile strips. After the profile is fixed, you can proceed to stretching the canvas.

Fastening the canvas

First, the corners of the panel are fixed to the “crocodiles”. Then, places are fastened in the center of each side using a reserve cord or a special profile, depending on the system chosen, thereby forming a primary cross. At the same time, a minimum sag of the ceiling fabric is allowed..

Next, the web is tensioned. This is done by moving evenly along each wall from the already fixed central sections to the side to the corners. Then go to the opposite wall. The same is done with the other two walls, leaving only 50 cm to the corners..

The completion of the installation of the panel is its final stretching and elimination of sags. The primary cross mount is carefully removed and the main mount is inserted in its place. Further, the canvas is evenly fixed using the same technology from the middle to the corners on each wall, eliminating the sag to the maximum.

Installation of lamps

Installation of luminaires when installing PVC and fabric ceilings is identical.

To install the luminaires, you will need the marks on the floor made earlier. They can be used to determine the center of the luminaire. A round profile is attached to the ceiling sheet at the location of the lamp. Then, along its inner contour, a hole is carefully cut out for the lamp. Then you can adjust the height of the mounting racks, install and connect the devices.

Council. Do not install incandescent lamps in horn-type chandeliers with the arms facing up. Over time, dark spots of burnt dust will appear over the bulbs. Use LED or energy saving bulbs.

At the end of the work, you can install the baguette at the junction of the wall and ceiling.

Council. Inexpensive PVC baguette turns yellow over time. Instead, you can install polyurethane or foam ceiling skirting boards, having previously painted them with water-based paint of the required color.