A stylish, comfortable interior is made up not only of high-quality furniture, carefully selected decor, but also of high-quality, functional, modern finishing of all surfaces. High demands are placed on it in terms of reliability, safety for the residents of the apartment, durability and attractive appearance. That is why the debate about which ceiling is better - stretch or drywall, does not subside.
What to choose, a plasterboard ceiling or a stretch ceiling, because in terms of popularity they are not inferior to each other? These types of ceiling coverings have high strength, sound insulation, durability, allow you to create extraordinary, multi-level compositions. You can find the right solution for each specific room only by carefully weighing the advantages, disadvantages and installation features of both.
Stretch and plasterboard ceiling design features
Before proceeding to a detailed comparative analysis, we suggest understanding some of the design features of these types of finishes.
Stretch ceilings are a special fabric stretched between fixing plinths located along the perimeter of the room.
At the moment, the following materials are used as a material for a stretch fabric:
- PVC film;
- fabric impregnated with polyurethane.
The final cost of finishing the ceiling largely depends on which material is chosen.
The basis of the suspended ceiling structure is a frame made of a metal profile, rigidly fixed on the walls and ceiling of the room. Plasterboard sheets are fixed from its lower part, and already a finishing layer of decoration is applied to them.
Let's try to compare suspended and stretch ceilings by key parameters.
Ease of work
Without the presence of special equipment, you will not be able to mount a stretch ceiling. But even with a heat gun, installation is quite complicated and will require great accuracy and certain skills.
Run drywall construction installation quite possible on your own with the help of the simplest tools. However, it is better to invite an assistant to work, since wide sheets of drywall are difficult to lift to the ceiling, they can break.
The need to vacate the premises
When installing the stretch fabric, the amount of dust and construction debris is minimal. Only objects that do not tolerate heat will have to be taken out of the room.
Before installing a plasterboard ceiling, the removal of furniture cannot be avoided.
Speed of work
The simplest single-level stretch ceilings are mounted in just 4 hours.
The installation of plasterboard ceilings usually takes 2-4 days, depending on the characteristics of a particular room and the complexity of the design.
Altitude loss
When fixing a baguette to install a ceiling covering, about 3–5 cm are lost. This value may be greater depending on the presence of communications passing under the canvas and lighting features.
To make the distance between the drywall and the base ceiling less than 10 cm is unlikely to succeed. Consider this fact when installing in rooms with low ceilings.
Built-in backlight
Recessed lights and wiring to them in both types of finishes are mounted without problems. For point light sources intended for stretch ceilings, there is a huge range of thermal rings, plates, glasses that make this process absolutely safe.
Care
PVC canvas requires minimal maintenance: dry cleaning every few months and wet cleaning every six months.
Plasterboard ceiling will need to be "refreshed" periodically.
Resistance to mechanical stress
PVC film is prone to punctures with sharp or hard objects, children's toys, furniture corners during rearrangement, etc. can harm it. Sealing the puncture site reduces visual appeal and negates the effect of water resistance.
Damage to the suspended structure is much more difficult, but throwing heavy objects at the ceiling is still not worth it.
fire resistance
Both coatings show good results. They are not flammable, but will be damaged during a fire.
Bay resistance
Stretch ceilings made of PVC film can hold up to 100 liters of liquid per 1 m2. You just have to wait for the master to drain it and restore the original appearance of the ceiling.
For drywall, a flood can be fatal.
Lifetime
With proper operation, PVC film manufacturers claim that it will serve faithfully for up to a quarter of a century.
Plasterboard ceilings come with a 10-year warranty, but they will need to be refinished sooner.
Design
Stretch ceiling can have almost any color. They can be matte, glossy, velvet, pastel or bright, decorated with ornaments or photo printing.
Suspended structures can also be customized with wallpaper, paint or the use of ceiling tiles. However, to create the effect of a mirror surface still does not work.
GKL and stretch fabric provide completely different design possibilities
Price
What is cheaper, suspended or stretch ceiling?
Installation of suspended structures will cost you around $ 20-35 per 1 m2, depending on the skill and ambitions of the installers, as well as your location.
The spread in prices for stretch ceilings is somewhat wider, from 10 to 100 dollars. It all depends on the texture, type and color of the material, its manufacturer and the prices of the installer team. A canvas with photo printing will cost several times more than a plain one.
What kind of ceiling to choose?
The decision on which is better, stretch fabrics or drywall, can only be made by carefully reading all the advantages and disadvantages of both types of structures and considering how important each of them is for a particular apartment being renovated.
Stretch ceiling - the best choice in the following cases:
- the room has a small height;
- in the room there is a high probability of a bay;
- the ceiling needs to be done quickly;
- the structure is planned to be used for a long time;
- there are no restrictions on funds;
- repairs are being carried out in an apartment in a new building.
Important! Plasterboard ceilings are strictly not recommended for installation in new buildings. The building will inevitably shrink, which will lead to the appearance of cracks on the surface.
Drywall is the best fit if:
- installation will be done by hand;
- it is required to maintain access to the space behind the ceiling covering.
With a limited budget for finishing the ceiling surface, it is also more rational to choose a plasterboard construction. And you can add a painting or a thematic drawing to it, repaint it in any color you like later.
Combined options
You can implement the most interesting design ideas and achieve amazing results with the help of combined structures, where drywall and stretch fabric are combined on the ceiling in the following variations:
- Plasterboard box with lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling + stretch ceiling inside the plasterboard frame.
- A wide drywall box in the shape of a circle or oval + stretch fabric in the middle.
- Plasterboard circle in the center of the ceiling + stretch fabric over the entire surface.
- Plasterboard constructions of complex sinuous shape (ovals, sinusoids, winding paths) + canvas stretched between them.
To implement all these options, and especially the last one, is quite difficult and expensive: only true professionals can do such work.
