About fabric ceilings: advantages and disadvantages of fabrics

Decorating ceilings has long been a part of the overall interior decoration. Regular whitewashed, plastered and painted ceilings are no longer common. They have been replaced by convex ceiling wallpaper, plastic, liquid wallpaper, wood panels, cassettes and so on. A special place among them is occupied by stretch fabric ceilings. The article will tell you what a stretch fabric ceiling is, what materials are used for its production, what are their properties.

What is a fabric stretch ceiling, its appearance

For stretch ceilings, a special fabric is used, obtained by weaving, as a rule, synthetic fibers of polyester or polyether with the addition of impregnations to impart water-repellent and fire-resistant properties. Polyester fabrics are produced only in matte variations due to the specifics of technology, but can imitate silk, wool, suede or be two-layer. It is these features that make fabric ceilings so noble and popular.

Fabric Ceiling Materials

The most important question during installation is to determine what material the fabric is made of. The choice of material is acute, since the operational properties of the final decorative element, its service life, and ease of maintenance depend on it. The most common are PVC and polyester.

The numerous advantages of synthetic fibers polyester and polyester make the product suitable for use in various interiors.

Performance properties

Ceilings made of synthetic fabrics have a number of practically impeccable properties, including:

• Safety for human health, including children;
• Strength and wear resistance;
• Noble appearance;
• No special care requirements;
• Possibility of printing original images on fabrics;
• Resistance to high humidity and exposure to UV rays;
• Sound insulation combined with good air passage.

Pros and cons of decorating ceilings with fabric

It's time to talk about the pros and cons of stretch ceilings, which have recently captured the building materials markets due to their attractive appearance and low cost.

Among the advantages, the following can be highlighted:

• High resistance to temperature changes. Even in severe frost, polyester retains all its properties;
• Simple installation: baguettes are installed around the perimeter of the room and the installation is carried out using the "cold" method. PVC ceilings require heating of the room;
• The canvases can reach up to 5 meters in width, which makes them indispensable for use in large halls;
• Fire resistance and water-repellent properties achieved through special impregnations;
• Completely safe for health, since no harmful substances, odors or compounds are released even when heated;
• Savings compared to conventional primers and paints. The latter require additional work and finishing, and may not last long. Fabric lasts on baguettes for at least 10 years.

The canvases also have their disadvantages:

• There are restrictions on colors and textures;
• Even impregnations sometimes do not save from inattentive neighbors who forgot to turn off the tap;
• If the material is torn, it will need to be completely replaced with a new one;
• Despite the width, it is not unlimited compared to slabs and panels. Therefore, in some places for large rooms it will be necessary to hem the canvases;
• Dust does not bypass the canvas, so you will also have to wash it, but using only a dry and gentle method. A damp cloth can leave stains on the fabric, which will be at least very difficult to get rid of, if possible at all.

Myths about stretch ceilings

Any popular product on the market eventually becomes surrounded by myths and "legends" that are invented by people who are happy and unhappy with it. There is a lot of information about fabric ceilings and sometimes it is contradictory.

The first myth is that stretch ceilings and their installation are expensive. Their price depends on factors such as the area of ​​coverage, the quality of materials, etc. Despite all this, there is no additional work, as in the case of painting. Over the past few years, the average price of materials on the market has decreased.

The second myth is that installation takes a lot of time and leaves a lot of trash behind. Everything depends on the competence of the workers, the material and the complexity of the layout. A typical installation in a square room rarely takes more than 2-4 hours.

Suspended ceilings are short-lived. This myth is related to the "fragility" of the canvas, with the fact that it cannot be repaired. Modern materials are installed with a minimum 10-year guarantee, and their service life reaches 20-30 years.

The canvases attract dust and have an unpleasant smell. This property can be found in PVC materials, but is completely absent in polyester ones. The smell can appear in any coating, but it completely evaporates from the house within a few days after installation.

Popular manufacturers and ways to recognize a fake

Most often on the market you can find several manufacturers that customers have come to trust: French Clipso, German Descor and Swiss Cerutti. These manufacturers have proven themselves in terms of quality, density of materials, and moisture resistance.

Although there are few fakes on the market, since it is difficult to counterfeit the fabric, you still need to be wary if the price of the fabric is extremely low (500 rubles* per square meter). You also need to pay attention to the complete set and packaging. Manufacturers always complete their materials with instructions, labels, inserts with a description of the characteristics.

Cost of fabric stretch ceilings with installation

The cost of fabric ceilings consists of two parameters: the price of materials and the cost of installation. The latter depends on the method. If the installation is carried out by a team, then everything depends on their prices and experience. Installation done by yourself will obviously be free.

Most often, people order installation services and purchase of materials at the same time. Together with the work, a German canvas will cost 1,200 rubles* per meter, a French one – 1,400*. And a Swiss one – 1,800*.

Aesthetic solutions in the interior

There are ready-made solutions that help to beautifully decorate the interior of rooms:

• Children's bedroom with white and "sky" colored ceiling;
• A kitchen or hallway with a suspended ceiling with a pattern looks very expressive;
• The wood paneled walls are perfectly matched with the coffee-colored ceiling with light fittings;
• A solid “warm” color and velvet for a living room decorated in the same tones will be ideal for completing the interior;
• Translucent solutions for dark rooms and public places.

An example of stretch fabric ceilings is shown in the photo below.

Stretch ceilings have become more popular than paints and plasters. This happened due to the reduction in the cost of textile production and final products, such as fabric for stretch ceilings. Another attractive feature of the solution is simple and quick installation.

* All prices listed are current at the time of writing in August 2019.