French stretch ceilings - installation

The stretch ceiling is the ideal option for finishing the ceiling for lazy and practical. Its installation takes very little time, in the course of work there is practically no garbage and danger to pollute furniture or wall decoration. In addition, over time, cracks do not appear on such a ceiling due to shrinkage or progress. A huge selection of colors, shapes and textures of paintings allows you to realize the most daring dreams with almost effort. Behind the stretch ceiling, you can hide communications, wiring, and deficiencies in the surface of a real ceiling. And the canvases from PVC films will protect from the flooding of the apartment with neighbors from above, holding water in themselves. French ceilings are able to stretch under the weight of water to the floor and do not break. Legends go about their strength and other technical characteristics, which is why many prefer to overpay for reliability, beauty and elasticity than establishing the ceilings of a domestic manufacturer. What is the difference between French ceilings and how are they installed?

Why exactly French stretch ceilings

The French stretch ceiling is a design of a particularly strong and elastic PVC film, which is pulled on a baguette in the same plane with the main ceiling. In principle, German manufacturers, Swiss, and Russian, and others are engaged in the production of such canvases. But the most qualitative ones are considered to be the films of the French production. They say that there is some secret, a special formula and technology according to which the French make high-quality stretch ceilings. Naturally, this secret is not disclosed. But before telling how the French stretch ceiling differs from any other, let's get acquainted with the characteristics of the PVC film itself.

Characteristics and features of PVC film for stretch ceilings:

It has a low weight: from 180 to 320 g/m2.
The thickness of the canvas does not exceed 0.35 mm (happens from 0.17 mm).
The width of the paintings varies from 1.3 to 4 m.
Waterproof.
Difficult, does not support burning, but melts.
Sound absorption coefficient to 0.4.
The coefficient of light absorption is completely dependent on the texture of the film. If it is varnish, then the coefficient is approximately 30%, and if velvety, then 95%.
It withstands a pressure of 1 kPa.
The tensile strength coefficient in any direction is 30 N.
Capable of lengthening to 220%.
The optimum operating temperature is +5 - + 50 C. With a temperature decrease to 0 from the film, it becomes stiff and fragile. At this moment it is easy to damage. If you raise the temperature again, then the film will become elastic. Long -term operation at negative temperatures leads to the destruction of the film. When heated up to 90 s, the film becomes soft, too elastic, but does not lose its properties and when cooling it becomes the same. But with an increase in temperature above 90 s, it melts and is completely destroyed.
Easily welded together. Thanks to this, you can create canvases up to 8 m wide. It is no longer recommended, it is better to connect them with a structural element, otherwise the canvas will simply sag. The welded seam is practically not visible. The only exception to the varnish ceiling, on its surface, the seam can be seen with the naked eye.
It can have a different surface: lacquer, matte, rough, velvet, with special effects for the skin, wood, marble, metal, with cramped and holes.
It is easily stained, so the range of colors is large, about 120 colors and shades.

The films of PVC all manufacturers have to one degree or another, but the highest quality of them is still French. How not to make a mistake with a choice?

How to distinguish a French stretch ceiling from any other:

Price The first thing you should pay attention to. On a real French ceiling, the price ranges about 25 cu/m2. If you are offered supposedly a French ceiling for 15 cu, you can doubt, this is either a fake or a canvas of another manufacturer that is imposed for France.
The width of the canvas is greater than that of domestic manufacturers. French canvases are produced 2.2 4 m wide, while Russians are only 1.3 1.5 m.
Assortment of colors, textures and textures are simply huge. If the French manufacturer offers films of more than 120 colors, then other manufacturers are only a few color solutions. Below are French ceilings: photo examples.

French stretch ceiling

French stretch ceiling 6

Lack of smell. During the production of the film, special substances are added, so that PVC film does not stop the smell, even when heated. This difference is easy to feel on their own experience, most stretch ceilings smell unpleasantly in a closed room, especially the first months after installation.
Lack of static stress. French stretch ceilings are absolutely not electrified, they do not attract dust, due to which they always remain clean.
Strength. The French ceiling can withstand 100 kg of weight for each M2 film. When flooding from above, the water will accumulate and stay from spilling with a film. It remains only to dismantle one edge of the film, drain the water and fix the canvas again, after some time the film will take its former position without changing the color and textures.

Hypoallergenicity. Manufacturers claim that their PVC films do not cause allergic reactions.
Durability. He serves for many years, without losing its properties and without changing the color.
Guarantee 10 years from the manufacturer.
The canvas of the French stretch ceiling at once made with harpoon on the edge. As a result, the ceiling is easily and quickly installed, and is also easily removed without losing its properties.

As you already understood, the advantages are obvious why it is to save on what is a key element of the decoration of the room and which is visible immediately as soon as you enter the door. The durability, strength and uniqueness of the French ceiling more than covers all the costs of their installation. In addition, you can be sure of the safety of PVC used, unlike Chinese -made films, the use of which can lead to serious pulmonary diseases.

Rules for the installation and operation of French stretch ceilings

In connection with some characteristics of the PVC film used in the stretch ceiling canvas, there are some restrictions and requirements for their installation and operation.

Stretch ceilings from PVC film cannot be installed in rooms where the temperature is not maintained above +5 C, i.e. where there is no heating. At negative temperatures, the film can burst.
The optimum temperature in the room with stretch ceilings should be +20 - +22 C, this will protect the canvas from sagging.
Caution in handling sharp objects. The stretch ceiling can easily withstand the traffic jam from champagne, the pressure from a heavy object or water, but can easily cut it out if it is inaccurately using sharp cutting objects or tools.
To illuminate the stretch ceiling, you can use incandescent lamps and fluorescent, not more powerful than 60 watts, halogen with a voltage of 12 V is not more powerful than 35 W, and with a voltage of 220 V is not more powerful than 20 W. If it is planned to install 12 V lamps with a capacity of 12 V, special transformers must be used for them. The usual ones are not suitable under their weight will sag the canvas.
To prevent the accumulation of condensate on top of the PVC film in the wall baguette, ventilation holes are performed. The ideal option would be to install ventilation grilles directly in the ceiling canvas, so forced extract will be provided. In rooms with an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 35 m2, this measure is considered mandatory.
To remove spots and dirt from the stretch ceiling, only liquid detergents, soap solutions and soft sponges can be used. Brushes and abrasive products should be avoided.

A 10 -year warranty that the manufacturer or installer provides is applied only to those cases when the temperature is maintained in the range of 0 +50 C. It is guaranteed that the canvas will not change the color, does not sag, wrinkles and cracks will not appear.

Failure to comply with these rules leads to the destruction of the canvas of the stretch ceiling. If you want to install it in a country house where you are in time, and heating does not work constantly, then you will have to refuse the PVC film and consider the installation option of a fabric ceiling.

French stretch ceilings: installation and installation

The installation of French stretch ceilings seems quite simple. And, in principle, it is, especially for an experienced master with all the necessary tools. But we do not recommend you to engage in installation yourself to save money. For a very simple reason, you will not get a guarantee. Only if certified professionals were engaged in the installation, a guarantee for 10 years is provided.

If you decide to install French ceilings, then order them in a trusted company and wait for a commercial specialist.

Work of measurements and preparation of the premises

Do not try to remove the measurements yourself, it is better to let the representative of the company do it. The fact is that the canvas of the French ceiling is made strictly to the size so that it will no longer have to be cut, and for this everything should be verified perfectly.

The measurer not only removes the size of the room, then measures the corners and radius elements, examines the surfaces for strength so that they are in the same plane and are not damaged.

All finishing work should be completed before the installation of the stretch ceiling starts, the garbage must be removed and, if possible, provide unhindered access to the installers to the ceiling. If necessary, take the cabinets from the room. For example, if the cabinet is close to the wall, then from its top to the ceiling should be at least 70 cm. If the depth of such a cabinet is more than 50 cm, then it should be strong enough to withstand the weight of the installer that has recovered on top of it. Otherwise, the furniture will have to be moved or taken out.

All communications should be equipped before the installation of ceilings. Cable lines for ceiling lamps should be brought to the necessary places. By the way, the location of lighting devices, electricians and heating pipes with accurate dimensions must be provided to representatives of the installer. The installation of electricians is not included in the cost of installing a stretch ceiling and are paid by agreement.

A baguette or mounting profile for attaching a canvas can be reliably fixed only to such surfaces: concrete, brick, wood, ceramic tiles, aluminum and iron, plaster, drywall, reinforced with a profile.

And do not forget, the room should be heated.

Making a weer ceiling canvas

The canvas of the French stretch ceiling is made in compliance with the strictest technology. After measurements, the canvas of the required size is cut out and welded. As a rule, its area is reduced by 5 15 % of the real area of \u200b\u200bthe ceiling. This is necessary in order to pull the canvas as much as possible in the process of installation, and it turned out to be smooth and smooth.

The geometry of the canvas completely repeats the geometry of the ceiling section on which it is going to install (protrusions, radius elements, arch, etc.).

If the width of the film is not enough to make a seamless canvas, then it is welded from several flaps so that the seam is as less noticeable.

A harpoon is welded to the edge of the canvas the element (plate) of the mounting system of the stretch ceiling into a baguette made of a more durable PVC than the canvas itself. Using a harpoon, you can easily and quickly tie the canvas into the mounting profile and secure it reliably there. In addition, if you need to remove the canvas, this will not be difficult. And the ceiling can be done again, while it will not lose its shape and elasticity.

Installation of the fasteners of the baguette

First of all, a line is beaten off on the walls along which baguett profiles will be attached. The distance from this ceiling should be at least 3 cm. This is if it is not planned to install lamps. Otherwise, you will have to retreat 7 10 cm, and sometimes all 15 cm. Most often, the mounting profile is attached to the wall, this is more convenient and reliable, but if this is not possible, then there are special ceiling profiles.

Important! Total varieties of baguettes 3: wall, ceiling and connecting (separation). The latter is necessary when the ceiling area exceeds 60 m2 and the tension of one canvas is inappropriate, since there is a large probability of sagging. Then a separation profile is attached in the middle of the room, into which the edges of two paintings are refuel.

In addition to purpose, baguettes differ in the material of manufacture: aluminum and plastic. Aluminum profiles are considered more durable, as they do not bend.

So, the baguette is fixed to the wall with self -tapping screws or dowels, depending on the material of the walls with a step of 15 cm.

If you plan to perform a two -level ceiling with a drywall frame, then there is a certain feature of installation. The baguette is attached to the vertical strut of drywall, and the box itself must be made of wall drywall, not ceiling.

Along the perimeter of the entire frame of the plasterboard box, a horizontal mortgage is fixed from the CD profile. The height of the installation should be the same as the height of the installation of the stretch ceiling is planned. After the gypsum plasterboard is mounted and painted, the lamb mount begins. It is attached to drywall and is attached through it to a mortgage profile using self -tapping screws.

This method of fastening has undeniable advantages: the design receives a large margin of strength, and the baguette will no longer come off from drywall even in case of flooding.

If there is no possibility to install mortgages from the CD profile, and it is necessary to mount the stretch ceiling to the already finished design of the suspended ceiling, then you can use special dowels along the drywall. But this method will not provide proper strength, and the probability of separation is extremely high.

The tension of the canvas on the frame is harpoons

Installation of the canvas of the French stretch ceiling begins with the heating of the room. First, with the help of a heat gun, the room itself warms up to a temperature of 50 60 s, then the canvas straightened and also heats up.

Important! Pay attention to which cylinders are used by masters for a heat gun. It is very important. After all, gas cylinders are a source of increased danger. The modern market offers safe composite gas cylinders, it is they are used by all self -respecting companies.

In the process of heating, the film softens, becomes more elastic. Then the canvas is stretched along the ceiling and attached to the baguette for convenience and attached with clips.

Starting the canvas in the baguette from the corners begins. The first is the so -called red corner. With the help of a construction spatula, which is found in the harpoon, the canvas is pushed into the baguette.

Then the canvas is heated again, now diagonally and to a temperature of +70 C. The opposite diagonal is refueling into the baguette.

Now you can refuel the rest of the corners. Only after they are refuel, you can push all sides of the canvas into the baguette.

After the whole canvas was clung to the baguette along the edge, they let him cool. The canvas should be spent evenly and become perfectly even.

It remains only to close the technological gap between the wall and the beginning of the canvas. For this there is a plastic pinch, which simultaneously performs a decorative function, and reliably protects the canvas from accidental loss, and hides the irregularities and disadvantages of the wall.

The flutter is attached to the technological hole of the baguette (the tooth closest to the wall), designed specifically for this purpose.

It remains only to install lamps. To do this, a cross -shaped incision is made in the canvas, wires of electricity are fixed to the lamp, the lamp itself is fixed to the mounting profile or rack. The remains of the canvas are refueled by the decorative edge of the lamp.

The installation of a French stretch ceiling using harpoon technology takes only a few hours. But she has a lot of advantages. If it will be necessary to remove it in case of flooding, it is enough to pull out one of the corners tucked into the baguette, and drain the water. To completely remove the canvas, it is necessary to pull out the entire canvas, from this it will not suffer at all. To carry out the repairs of the canvas or install it again, you will have to call the masters, as you need a heat gun. How to repair the French ceiling, you can watch in the video at the end of the article.

Site search