Fabric stretch ceilings: installation, pros and cons, care (25 photos)

Fabric stretch ceilings are a material impregnated with a special chemical composition. This composition ensures the resistance of the fabric to fire and increases its strength. Externally, the fabric ceiling looks like a perfect color or evenly applied plaster. Only the process of stretching the ceilings takes much less time. The advantage is the variety of colors, as well as the opportunity to realize any ideas. You can apply any image manually with watercolors or use photo printing services.

Installation of fabric ceilings

Installation of fabric stretch ceilings does not cause difficulties either for specialists or for beginners. Unlike polyvinyl chloride films, the fabric does not need to be heated.

The installation process is as follows:

• A profile or baguette is installed along the perimeter of the wall at a certain distance from the ceiling surface. This is the dirtiest stage of work.
• Gently unwinds the fabric. The canvas does not need to be measured up to a centimeter, because excess can always be cut off. It is important not to drop the fabric on a dirty floor so that after installation it is not necessary to clean it.
• The fabric is attached to the profile with special clips resembling clothespins.
• When the edges of the web are firmly fixed, pulling begins. The result is a perfectly flat surface.
• The main process is complete. It remains only to cut off the excess with a sharp knife, and then with the help of decorative elements hide the joints.
• At the last stage, lighting devices are installed.

Recommendations for choosing a stretch ceiling

The range of stretch linens is great. This forces people to spend a lot of time to decide what kind of ceiling texture is needed in a particular room. We offer several recommendations that will help with the choice.

For living room and bedroom

Two types of coatings are used in these rooms: fabric and polyvinyl chloride. The choice depends on the style decision of the owners. Glossy ceilings will look spectacular in the living room. This will add room to the room, and a mirror image will attract the attention of guests. Matte PVC or fabric surfaces will be more appropriate in the bedroom. It is best to make them calm nude shades. Bright colors are possible if this is a child’s room. But do not overdo it so that prolonged stay in the room does not cause irritation and fatigue.

For bathroom

The fabric suspended ceiling in the bathroom should be selected depending on the size of the room. A too colorful pattern will visually make a small room very tiny. The size of the disproportionate bath can be adjusted. For example, walls that are too high can be balanced by a dark ceiling surface. So the room will not resemble a well. The lightest shade of the ceiling will visually increase the height of the room.

For kitchen

Fabric stretch ceiling in the kitchen can not be seen often. This is due to the fact that the fabric absorbs odors and is more difficult to clean. Designers usually recommend glossy ceilings that reflect light and, thanks to the mirror effect, visually make the room larger. As for the color scheme, light shades prevail.They also increase space. You can add variety with patterns on the ceiling. Although you need to experiment carefully. The main rule - the smaller the kitchen, the smaller the drawings on the ceiling should be (or not at all).

Advantages and disadvantages of fabric cloths

Before buying fabric stretch ceilings, you need to familiarize yourself with their positive and negative features.

The benefits of fabric ceilings

Fabric-based stretch ceilings have several advantages:

• Strength. The fabric, especially in comparison with film ceilings, has a much greater resistance to mechanical damage. So it is almost impossible to accidentally damage the stretched fabric. Caution should be exercised only when using sharp objects (knives, scissors).
• Resistance to temperature extremes. Fabric stretch ceilings are frost-resistant. This allows you to install them in unheated rooms (balconies, garages, country houses, etc.). For comparison, the PVC film begins to crack when the thermometer shows less than 10 degrees. The fabric does not deform due to temperature fluctuations.
• Seamless montage. Fabrics are produced in rolls, the width can reach 5 meters (the film is only 3.5 meters). Due to the large size, even wide rooms can be overlapped seamlessly. Experts say that the seam is the weakest point where the ceiling can break. So, having ordered a stretch ceiling made of fabric, you will avoid unexpected tears.
• Decorative function. You can make a unique masterpiece from a fabric canvas. Stretched fabric can not only be easily repainted in any color, it can be painted in an original way. You can also use photo printing services. The applied drawing does not darken with time and does not fade in the sun.
• Easy to install. For installation, the exact dimensions of the room are not required, so the installation time is broken due to an error in the measurements. It is not necessary to heat the canvas (unlike PVC film), so you do not have to move or remove interior items that could be deformed due to high temperature. The fabric is simply mounted in a special design and then stretched. This can significantly reduce time costs.
• Hypoallergenicity. This material is safe for homeowners. The fabric does not emit toxic substances, has no smell.
• Improved soundproofing. Such stretch ceilings have good sound insulation, and in combination with heaters, they will completely save residents from extraneous sounds.

Cons of stretch ceilings made of fabric

The main disadvantages of fabric paintings:

• Cost. From the purchase of many stops the high price. However, do not rush because of this criterion to refuse to purchase. Carefully inspect the product, make sure its quality. Imagine how your room will visually change. Maybe you should pay once to enjoy the special aesthetics of the ceiling surface for years?
• Inability to retain water. Unlike PVC film, the fabric structure is porous. This means that in the event of flooding, the material will quickly allow the liquid to leak out (it will hold hot water for no more than 8 hours, cold water for no more than 2 days).
• Dismantling is not feasible. In case of tissue damage, a complete replacement will be necessary, partial repair is not possible.
• Limitations on the invoice. If you want glossy stretch ceilings, then keep in mind that fabric fabrics do not have such an invoice, they have an exclusively matte surface.
• Special care. Just wash the ceiling will not work. We will talk more about cleaning below.

Care Tips

Fabric stretch ceilings, like any surface in the house, periodically need to be cleaned. Many people know that PVC-based cloths can be washed with ordinary water by adding a few drops of detergent to it. But is this method suitable for ceiling cladding of fabric?

Wet cleaning

Care of the fabric canvas using cleaning products is only necessary for severe soiling. For washing, you need to make a soap solution. To do this, washing powder or soap is mixed with water. The concentration should not be large so as not to injure delicate material. It is forbidden to use liquid for washing windows or any other alcohol-containing product, so as not to destroy the structure of the fabric.

It’s great if you saved a piece of fabric after installing the ceiling. On it you can check how the soap composition will manifest itself. If everything is in order with the sample, then nothing will happen to the ceiling.

Contaminants are removed with a damp sponge, after which the wet place can be wet with a dry cloth without lint. During cleaning, do not press on the sponge and do not rub heavily so that unevenly stained areas do not form. To avoid streaks, do not wet the fabric much.

Dry clean

If there are no noticeable spots, this does not mean that you do not need to take care of the ceiling surface. Dust and cobwebs will not disappear anywhere without your intervention. Mistresses should forget about the grandmother's method and stop brushing the web with a broom. Better get rid of it with a vacuum cleaner. For this, the power of the electric appliance is set to minimum, it is also desirable to change the universal brush of the vacuum cleaner to a small nozzle with a long soft bristle. Do not touch the ceiling nozzle during cleaning.

If you do not forget to clean the surface regularly, then its attractive appearance will delight you for many years. But even if not all spots were removed, then this is not a reason for sadness. In this case, you can use acrylic paint to paint the fabric ceiling, restoring its original appearance.

As you know, the installation process is so simple that even a layman can handle it. A variety of colors and patterns will allow everyone to choose a unique ceiling for their own home. Remember that the choice should depend not only on your taste preferences, but also be related to the size of the room and its purpose. Well, caring for this original design decision will not take much time and effort.