Concrete ceiling, its finishing options: whitewashing, painting, wallpapering and tiles, clapboard sheathing and installation of suspended structures. There are many options for finishing concrete ceilings. Each of them has its own characteristics. To select the optimal type of concrete floor facing, you need to have a general understanding of the rules for conducting such work in any of the possible ways. In addition, their financial support is also of great importance. Considering these two factors, you can get a decent result of your work.
Features of whitewashing a concrete ceiling
This is the most "ancient" type of ceiling decoration, which became traditional many decades ago. Then he had practically no competitors and reigned supreme in almost all houses and apartments. Whitewashing technology is quite simple. A solution of chalk or lime is applied to a previously prepared ceiling surface, which, after drying, leaves a snow-white color on the floor plane. Sometimes, to give the ceiling a certain shade, special pigments are added to the solution.
Whitewashing itself is technologically very simple: you need to apply several layers of solution to the ceiling with a brush or spray gun and wait for it to dry, but preparing the concrete base for this procedure is very tedious. It starts with removing the old ceiling coating with scrapers, water, rags and abrasive materials, and ends with a continuous leveling of the surface of the slabs with putty or plaster. Only then can the main work be done.
The cheapness of materials for whitewashing and the ability to do it yourself are the main advantages of this type of work. But if there is the potential to finish the ceiling in a different way, it is better to refuse to whitewash it.
The disadvantages of whitewashing a concrete ceiling are quite significant, so you should not ignore them:
- Labor intensity of the process of preparing a concrete surface.
- The fragility of the coating - it begins to turn yellow after a year of operation of the new ceiling.
- Instability to moisture - after exposure to it and the subsequent drying of the ceiling, its whitewashed surface often swells and then crumbles.
- Ceiling cleaning and whitewashing are dirty jobs. Therefore, after their completion, a grandiose cleaning usually follows within a few days.
Concrete ceiling painting technology
This is also a fairly common way of finishing ceiling surfaces. In many ways, it is similar to the previous type of work, but more practical due to a number of distinctive features.
Before painting a concrete ceiling, it also requires removing its old coating and leveling the surface with a putty or plaster mixture. After cleaning, the structure must be coated with a penetrating polymer primer. This procedure makes it possible to reduce the hygroscopicity of concrete and thereby improve the quality of the putty layer. The ceiling is painted with acrylic or water-based compositions intended for interior work. Rollers, brushes or paint sprayers are used as a working tool.
A significant advantage of painting a concrete ceiling is the unlimited choice of colors. Modern technologies make it possible to give the paint, depending on the wishes of the customer, any shade. With high-quality preliminary preparation, the ceiling covered with it has a very presentable appearance and almost does not need maintenance.
Many paints and varnishes are capable of creating a smooth and elastic layer on the ceiling surface. It can be washed without fear, which is relevant for the ceilings of kitchens and bathrooms.
The disadvantage of this type of finish is the direct dependence of the painting result on the quality of the preparation of the ceiling surface. In addition, the paintwork has to be renewed every 2-3 years.
How to paste over a concrete ceiling with wallpaper
This method of finishing the ceiling is very practical: under the attractive outer surface of the wallpaper, you can hide all the minor defects of the base, although its preparation also requires some effort. Unlike painting, wallpapering on a concrete ceiling does not require a perfectly smooth surface. Quite the opposite: its roughness creates the prerequisites for better adhesion of the material to the base.
A creative approach to wallpapering the ceiling may involve the following options:
- Embossed wallpaper coated with imitation plaster;
- Pattern on the ceiling, made of paintings of various colors and textures.
For pasting the ceiling, non-woven wallpapers are most often used, which are quite reliable and do not require special maintenance, or structural vinyl - they can be glued onto flat concrete slabs.
Before pasting, the wallpaper should be cut into pieces of the required length, then grease their back with adhesive and glue the canvases to the ceiling in a parallel direction to the rays of light from the window, starting from the edge of the side wall. The canvases are glued end-to-end, the seams between them are rolled with a rubber roller. When performing work, the presence of a draft is unacceptable.
The advantages of this type of finish include the cheapness of the material and its relative durability. Unlike whitewashing, high-quality wallpaper does not turn yellow over time.
The disadvantage of wallpaper on the ceiling is its sensitivity to changes in room humidity. If it is filled with water by the neighbors of the upper floors, the wallpaper from the ceiling will surely come off, and it will have to be finished again.
Installation of tiles on a concrete ceiling
This method has found wide application due to its low cost and versatility. Here, for pasting the ceiling, lightweight polystyrene foam tiles are used, which have many varieties that differ in patterns and texture. For the installation of this material, an absolutely flat base is not required.
Facing the ceiling with polystyrene foam tiles is very simple. First, the ceiling is marked taking into account the placement of each tile, then they are glued to the ceiling using a special adhesive. Work begins from the center of the ceiling from a chandelier or lamp.
In the visible space of the junction of walls and ceiling, it is advisable to glue whole tiles, and cut tiles - above the entrance. Trimming will still have to be done, since the geometric dimensions of the ceiling do not always correspond to the number of whole tiles laid in one row.
Tiled ceilings can be easily repaired - any damaged tile can always be replaced. In addition, the cost of materials for this type of finish is very low, which makes it quite affordable.
The disadvantages of a tile covering include the visual feeling of the absence of a single surface and the fragility of the material. During installation, when the tiles are pressed against the ceiling, dents from fingers may remain on it, spoiling the appearance of the coating.
Finishing a concrete ceiling with clapboard
This is a good finishing option for rooms with low ceilings, since the supporting profile of the cladding is attached to the floor slabs and therefore can reduce the height of the room by a very small amount. The false ceiling well masks small flaws in the base surface.
The technology of lining the ceiling with clapboard is quite simple. On the ceiling, using dowels, guiding elements made of wooden blocks or metal profiles are fixed at the level. The pitch of these elements should be 40-60 cm in order to avoid sagging of the sheathing. Fastening the lining to wooden bars is done with a stapler, nails or screws, depending on its type. Fastening of the cladding to metal profiles is carried out using self-tapping screws with a fine thread pitch. The result of this work is a strong and durable ceiling covering that is easy to maintain. The laying of the necessary communications along the ceiling is carried out before its cladding.
The disadvantage of this method of finishing the ceiling is the difficulty of placing lighting equipment on it. The small space between the ceiling and the cladding limits the size of the base of the spotlights.
Suspended structures for concrete ceiling
This is a whole group of types of ceiling finishes that are very popular in modern construction. Suspended structures of concrete ceilings allow you to implement almost any design solutions, mask external defects of the base surface and engineering communications.
Finishing the concrete ceiling with plasterboard
In a combination of price and quality, gypsum plasterboard suspended structures are the most optimal. They are able to give the ceiling any shape and even hide the level differences in the floor slabs.
The installation of a suspended ceiling begins with the installation of its frame, which consists of metal profiles and forms the appearance of the future structure. It can be completely different: solid, even and smooth, curvilinear, wave, multi-level with hidden backlighting or having niches and complex shapes.
With the help of the gypsum board, you can create the appearance of individual ceiling fragments floating in the air. In addition, any type of lighting that can be installed in the structure allows you to make the lighting of the room as efficient as possible. For the decoration of rooms with high humidity, for example, kitchens and bathrooms, moisture-resistant plasterboard is used.
The assembly of the frame is carried out strictly according to the level and previously drawn up scheme. Then it is sheathed with plasterboard sheets. This process is simple. To work, you need to have a construction knife for cutting sheets, self-tapping screws 25 mm and a screwdriver. Installation is usually carried out by two people, since the gypsum boards are rather large in size 1, 2x2, 5 m, and it is very problematic to attach them alone. After sheathing, the ceiling is putty, sanded and painted.
The disadvantage of this type of finish is the inevitable loss of room height, which is typical for all suspended structures. Therefore, in apartments and houses with low ceilings, multi-level systems are not suitable.
Installation of cassette structures on a concrete ceiling
With this type of finish, a durable lightweight frame is installed on the ceiling, which is attached to the base using adjustable steel rods. By changing their length, the entire structure is brought to the horizontal level. The frame consists of guides and wall profiles. Wall profiles are installed around the perimeter of the room and serve as supports for the guide elements. The intersections of the profiles form cells, into which decorative cassette plates are then inserted.
The cassette ceiling can be matched to any interior thanks to the rich color range of cassettes. In addition, the slabs are decorated with various ornaments and relief designs.
Advantages of the design: its light weight, resistance to changes in humidity and temperature, and easy maintenance of the coating. Any cassette can be easily removed from the cell, washed or replaced if necessary. The disadvantages of cassette ceilings are their high price and low sound insulation.
Installation of rack structures on a concrete ceiling
This is another option for finishing the ceiling. The frame of the rack suspension system is similar to the similar construction of the cassette ceiling with the difference that slats are present in the rack ceiling instead of slabs. The slats are made of metal and are lightweight. The slatted flooring comes in a wide range of colors, and some types of ceilings are embossed with decorative patterns.
Rack ceilings can have complex configurations, several tiers and even arches. The slats are strong and durable, a simple structure can be assembled from them without the involvement of professionals in this business.
The disadvantages of a slatted ceiling include its high price, the difficulty of accessing communications located behind the ceiling, and the risk of deformation of ceiling fragments due to their small thickness.
Fastening a stretch fabric to a concrete ceiling
Stretch ceilings are light, original and quick finishing, but expensive. Canvases can contain any photo of flowers and landscapes, as well as drawings that emphasize the purpose of the premises. For stretch ceilings of standard rooms, seamless canvases are used, large ceilings consist of several canvases welded together.
Stretch ceilings are made of PVC film, which is attached to the baguette along the entire perimeter of the room. In the process of installation, the canvas is heated by a thermal "gun", and when it cools, it is stretched to an absolutely smooth state.
There is another type of similar material that does not require heating - this is a fabric cloth. It is attached to baguettes with special clips, and is more expensive and environmentally friendly.
Advantages of stretch ceiling structures:
- Original design;
- Fast installation;
- Durability;
- Lack of work to prepare the base ceiling;
- Moisture resistance;
- Durability - the ceiling can withstand up to 100 liters of water when the room is flooded from above.
- Easy care of the coating.
The disadvantages include the high cost of stretch ceilings and their "fear" of being damaged by sharp objects.
Watch a video about finishing a concrete ceiling:
In addition to the above options, various methods of combining materials can be used for finishing concrete ceilings: stretch fabric, wood and drywall, decorative plaster and painting and many others. Ceiling decoration has always been a creative process, and every craftsman has the right to lead it at his own discretion. Good luck!
