An attic is a room under the roof of a house, which is often used as an attic. Using stretch canvases, it is easy to create an additional room under the roof and equip it as you wish. Consider the types of tensioning systems for attics and installation technology. Attic stretch ceilings are structures that are used to equip an additional room under the roof. The article contains design options for floors in attics and a description of the properties of components for them, as well as typical instructions for installing cladding.
Advantages and disadvantages of stretch ceilings in attic rooms
Stretch ceilings are considered an impeccable option for finishing attic ceilings. Consider the advantages of such systems in under-roof spaces:
- The structure is lightweight and weakly loads the roof of the house.
- The film covers unsightly elements of the roof: builders' flaws, beams, insulation, wiring, cables.
- The standard height of the stretch ceiling frame is 4 cm, but there are profiles with a height of only 1.5 cm, so it is convenient to mount ceilings even in low attics.
- You can create a ceiling of any shape and size. This advantage allows you to decorate the attic to your liking.
- The waterproof qualities of the film are considered the main difference between stretch ceilings and other methods of decorating the ceiling. The material is able to withstand up to 100 liters of water per 1 m2.
- The film overlap will reliably protect the attic from roof leaks for several days, until the defect is eliminated.
- There is a free space between the canvas and the roof, which is filled with heat and sound insulating plates.
- Stretch ceilings do not emit harmful substances, do not cause allergies, and are also capable of repelling dust.
- The durability of the films reaches half a century.
The design has a number of unpleasant features. Most of them are not essential, but remember the following points. In a system without ceiling luminaires, the canvas moves 5-10 cm from the ceiling; in the presence of luminaires, the gap increases even more. The film is easily damaged, especially in the attic room, where there are many sharp corners.
Types of attic stretch ceilings
The ceiling decoration of the attic room is complicated by the geometry of the roof, which can be located in several levels and at different angles, as well as the presence of a large number of beams. Ceilings of complex geometry will help to resolve the issue, allowing you to bypass the protruding elements of the roof.
The following are popular options for stretch ceilings for attics:
- Sibling … They allow you to correct non-standard forms of the attic roof or, on the contrary, create an original structure.
- Two-tier … Used when there are windows in the attic. You can beautifully beat the windows by repeating their shape or framing silhouettes. In small rooms, such systems will divide it into zones without erecting partitions. Ceiling steps are able to highlight, for example, a resting place and an office.
- Multilevel … Recommended for use in attics where one part of the roof is parallel to the floor and the other is built at an angle. On the lower tier of multi-level ceilings of small rooms, a glossy film is often hung, which visually enlarges the space of the room.
- Arched … Such ceilings in the attic are convenient in terms of practicality. They not only mask unsightly elements of the roof, but also give the room a graceful shape. The arch can be made from one side of the ceiling or along its perimeter. The geometry, dimensions and height of the ceiling are freely selectable.
- Domed … You can smoothly connect the walls and ceiling in the form of a dome. For such systems, it is recommended to use beautifully printed films to simulate painting on a spherical surface. A dome with a glossy or matte film in the middle is suitable for creating a greenhouse in the attic. The use of different types of film makes it possible to create zones with individual light modes for different plants.
The most common form of attic roof is at an angle. In this case, the ideal option would be to mount the stretch ceiling parallel to the roof support beams while maintaining the maximum room height.
The choice of materials for the attic stretch ceiling
The choice of material for the attic stretch ceiling is influenced by the operating conditions of the product and the features of the location and fastening of the bearing profiles. In order not to make a mistake when buying elements, check out the variety of stretch ceiling parts and their properties.
Stretch ceiling canvas for the attic
The durability of the film from which the ceiling sheet is made depends on temperature fluctuations inside the room. In heated rooms, the type of film does not matter, any material is suitable. Manufacturers offer users a wide selection of blanks of various textures and colors. Domestic companies have learned to make high quality film, its cost is much lower than the price of foreign analogues.
If the attic is not heated in winter, buy only imported polyester fabric. It is designed for operation at a temperature of minus 40 degrees. Conventional vinyl is destroyed under these conditions.
German and Swiss fabric ceilings are also considered very reliable, but their range is limited. In stores, you can find material only in pastel or light shades.
Profiles for a roof stretch ceiling
The frame of the skylights is a very flexible structure, the elements of which can be placed at an angle or at different levels. Manufacturers produce various types of profiles with which you can create a stretch ceiling of any shape.
When choosing parts for attic ceilings, pay attention to the following types of slats:
- Wooden … Most often, the roof of the attic is made of wood, and there is a desire to make a frame from the same material. But aluminum or plastic profiles have undeniable advantages. They weigh lighter, take up less space, and are not afraid of moisture. Prefabricated profiles are cheaper and quicker to install.
- Plastic … Such ceiling profiles are universal building materials and are used in many ceiling systems. They bend easily and do not break when bent strongly. The profile takes any shape and allows you to create volumetric and curved shapes. Ceiling slats are used if it is not possible to fix the baguette to the wall.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) baguettes … It is also easy to bend. They are mounted on the wall to fix the film using a harpoon method.
- Dividing … They are used in multilevel systems to create transitions between levels, as well as for equipment for lighting floors. They are not designed for heavy loads, therefore, they are attached to the roof beams with self-tapping screws in increments of 10-20 cm.
- Aluminum … Such profiles have a rather rigid structure and are much stronger than PVC baguettes. They lower the ceiling height by only 2 cm, which is very beneficial for low attic spaces. Fastened with hardware every 20 cm.
- Gapless … Allows you to build a beautiful multi-level ceiling without gaps between levels. Some samples have slots for luminaires that illuminate the structure from the end.
- Curved profile … It has notches on the surface that allow you to bend the rail in any direction. During installation, the profile can be deformed to an oval, spiral or arbitrary curve.
- Flexible … They change their shape when you press on the side grooves. The slats are bent and connected to each other on the floor, and then the finished structure is attached to the roof of the attic. Profiles are used to obtain surfaces of complex shapes, for example, in the form of a dome or an arch.
- Angular … It consists of two parts, which allows you to bypass the roof slats and beams, as well as obtain an inclined surface.
Lighting devices for stretch ceilings in the attic
Correctly selected lighting devices are able to divide the attic into functional areas and decorate the ceiling. For a better perception, it is advisable to see the finished structure or even take a photo of the illuminated attic ceiling. When choosing lighting options, one should take into account the peculiarities of the location of the attic. In summer and winter, the room heats up to varying degrees, so lamps should be selected according to the degree of heat transfer.
The PVC film of the stretch ceiling does not withstand high temperatures, therefore the lighting fixtures should not heat it up. In attics, it is recommended to use LED or fluorescent lamps as recessed ceiling lights. You can make the backlight around the perimeter of the room, directly on the ceiling or in the form of a translucent screen.
Some helpful tips for lighting your attic:
- In small attics, place the fixtures in a circle two-thirds apart between the walls and the center of the room.
- Use a small D-shaped light fixture, direct the light from the center to the walls to create a dome effect.
- In rooms with sloped ceilings, place small bulbs along a low wall, just above the floor, evenly spaced apart. Place the main bulbs as you wish.
- In summer, the attic is the warmest room, and should be illuminated with "cold" light, and in winter - "warm".
In the attic, you can use the same lamps as in living rooms - spot, wall or ceiling chandeliers, etc.
Attic stretch ceiling installation technology
The technology for attaching a stretch ceiling in the attic depends on the structure of the building's roof. A large number of supporting and connecting construction beams rarely allows the use of a canvas of a simple design. To get a good result, develop a detailed drawing of the location of the tensioning system profiles and modify the roof.
Preparatory work before installing a stretch ceiling in the attic
For attic equipment, it is not enough to mount a stretch ceiling. The premises are located directly under the roof and are often not originally intended for living. Check the strength of the roof beams, because the tension from the stretched ceiling is rather big, and the film and profiles weigh a lot.
The best option is to use lightweight aluminum or plastic battens. Be sure to provide ventilation overhead space to avoid mold and mildew.
Inspect the roof for insulation. The top of the attic is formed by wooden or metal construction beams, between which heat-insulating mats with a moisture-proof coating must be installed. Insulate the roof if necessary, do not forget the vapor barrier film.
Further work is carried out as follows:
- Prepare a drawing of the attic and indicate on it the location of the building structures and equipment that will be placed above the film. According to the plan, you can determine how to make an attic ceiling in the shortest possible time.
- Decide on the ceiling configuration. Consider the location of profiles and other tensioning structure elements that will ensure the fulfillment of your ideas.
- Draw on the drawing the location of the profiles for attaching the stretch film, taking into account the shape of the ceiling.
- Decide on the materials for the base surfaces to which the stretch ceiling profiles will be attached.
- Straight sections are made of 20x40 mm wooden slats. Curved can be paved with metal profiles, which are used for the installation of gypsum plasterboards.
- Fix the base rails to the roof rafters according to the completed drawing. Work must be done carefully so as not to damage the vapor barrier of the roof.
- Draw lines on the strips that will serve as the bases for installing the stretch ceiling profiles.
- Determine the types of baguettes that will create the intended ceiling shape. For complex lines, it is recommended to use flexible or curved baguettes.
- Indicate the location of different types of baguettes in the drawing, count the required number of battens of each type. Buy profiles with a margin, increasing the length by 10%.
- After purchase, fasten the profiles to the base surfaces. On flat areas, baguettes are attached in the usual way. If curved zones are present, the profiles can be cut and deformed.
Fastening the stretch fabric to the attic ceiling
Install the door leaf slowly and carefully because of the large number of sharp corners and ribs on the building structures of the roof. Determine the area of the workpiece according to the developed drawing, taking into account the following recommendations:
- It is convenient to attach the film to the wall rails using a harpoon method, using notches on the sides along the edges of the film. This method requires careful accurate calculations of the size of the canvas.
- To determine the area of the workpiece, use a drawing drawn in advance, and then reduce it by 7%. It is recommended that the ceiling be made from a single piece of material, matched to the width of the ceiling.
- The finished film with the ordered dimensions is delivered in a roll; it should also show the base angle, which is the first to be attached to the profile.
The sequence of work when tensioning ceilings is as follows:
- Clean the floor of any sharp objects that could damage the canvas.
- Heat the room with a heater to a temperature of 60 degrees and do not lower the temperature throughout the installation.
- Find the base angle on the workpiece.
- Move the heater away from the film prepared for installation.
- Fix the base angle of the web and diametrically opposite to the wall profile. To do this, place the harpoon in the groove of the profile and press it with a spatula until it clicks.
- To increase the elasticity of the film, blow it with air heated to a temperature of 70-80 degrees.
- Secure all corners of the workpiece.
- Fasten the sides of the curtain to the profiles. Warm up any defects in the film with a hairdryer.
- After the room has cooled down, the film will stretch and form a flat surface.
- The final stage of the installation work will be the connection of the luminaires to illuminate the attic ceiling.
How to make an attic stretch ceiling - watch the video:
Installation of stretch ceilings in attics does not seem to be a very pleasant experience due to the complex geometry of the room. But modern technologies allow you to create a ceiling of any configuration, and the interweaving of building elements of the roof only feeds the imagination.
