Features of the choice of mirrored ceilings for different rooms of a residential building. Types of ceilings by installation method, type and material of manufacture. The main advantages and disadvantages of mirror coating. Just 10 years ago, the mirrored ceiling was associated only with the huge areas of banquet halls and shopping and entertainment centers. Today, this type of decoration has imperceptibly disappeared from the usual places, moving to residential buildings and high-rise apartments. Consumer wariness that arose initially was replaced by interest. Now you can count several separate types of ceiling coverings, which are usually called mirrored. They all have their own characteristics, distinctive features, advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages and disadvantages of mirrored ceilings
The mirrored ceiling is an aesthetic, stylish and multifunctional design. These undeniable advantages are a small fraction of the long list of positive qualities of this kind of coating.
The advantages of a mirrored ceiling include the following:
- The mirrored surface of the ceilings is completely safe for residents and pets. Due to the high density of the material, mold or mildew does not form on it. Glass slabs do not emit harmful substances, as they are environmentally friendly material.
- The ceiling with a mirror finish is able to visually expand the room to a significant extent. This option is optimal for rooms with a small square area or low floor level.
- Most types of mirrored ceilings do not require preliminary surface preparation. The exception is cases involving gluing mirror plates to the very base. In this case, it is necessary to remove the old plaster cleanly and make a perfect alignment. For the rest of the systems, a prefabricated base-frame made of profiles, etc. is used.
- A mirrored ceiling will add a lot of light to a low-light room. Shiny panels reflect every ray, therefore, they are successfully used in rooms whose windows do not face the sunny side.
- The practicality of such a finish is obvious. Mirror panels on the ceiling do not wear out and do not fade from exposure to sunlight. They can be easily cleaned from dust with inexpensive household products. The exception is polystyrene boards intended for dry rooms. It is allowed to wipe them only with a slightly damp cloth.
- A variety of design options for mirrored ceilings allows you to complement any interior. It is not necessary to give preference to a purely glossy material. By combining it with matte inserts with laser or sandblasted patterns, you can create a unique stylish decoration. The same applies to the shape of the glass cut. Triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal and other tile options can be easily folded into a gorgeous puzzle on the ceiling surface.
From an objective point of view, mirrored ceilings, which have a lot of positive qualities, also have negative ones. There are not too many of them, they are not very significant, but they are still available. The following factors are considered to be the disadvantages of mirrored ceilings:
- A mirror covering installed in a kitchen or bathroom requires special care. Evaporation rises to the ceiling and settles as condensation. As a result, mirror panels lose their presentable appearance and require careful cleaning.
- Even toughened glass on the ceiling does not withstand strong impacts from hard objects very well. A mirrored ceiling should be handled very delicately in order to avoid any chips and cracks. Only mirror-type stretch ceilings are considered not too sensitive to mechanical stress.
- Since the weight of the mirror tiles on the ceiling is quite impressive, it is worth fixing it as securely as possible. It is strictly forbidden to stick glasses onto a layer of plaster! They risk falling off, thereby harming the tenants of the house and the finished repair.
The above features are easy to take into account and apply during installation and operation. After all, all high-quality and expensive items require careful and careful handling. Elite mirrored ceilings are no exception. In addition, the list of significant advantages eliminates minor disadvantages.
Types of mirrored ceilings
For more than two decades, specialized companies have been offering consumers the purchase of mirrored ceilings. This type of ceiling finish finds its application in any residential and public space: from kitchens and living rooms in private houses to wide walk-through halls in restaurants and office centers. Stylish and extravagant mirrored ceiling can be obtained using different materials. Owners of apartments and houses who do not trust fragile glass tiles can opt for a more practical option. Mirrored ceilings also differ in type and installation method. The wide variety of possible "mirror-style" surfaces makes them even more desirable and popular.
Classification of mirrored ceilings by material
Based on the materials used in the manufacture of elements (panels, tiles, etc.), mirrored ceilings can be divided into several types:
- Classic glass mirrored ceilings … The design of such ceilings is a set of ordinary or tinted canvases with a specific thin reflective coating. Typically, tiles are square, triangular, rectangular, or diamond shaped. Often, plexiglass is used in this type of mirrored ceilings. Such material is considered lighter, more practical and affordable than the original counterpart. Glass mirrored ceiling is the best reflector, therefore it copes better with the function of expanding space and enhancing lighting.
- Mirror polystyrene boards … Mirror plastic is a kind of polystyrene boards sold in solid rolls. Until the moment of use, the material is straightened under the load and kept in the room where the installation will be carried out directly. In most cases, polystyrene boards have an adhesive layer on the back surface. Do not forget that this material does not allow for all types of lighting fixtures. Halogen lamps and other powerful lights are best left for other rooms.
- Aluminum ceiling … This type is characterized by dissected seams on the surface. Aluminum rack systems are used for installation. Suspensions are attached to the floor slabs, on which metal slats are installed in stacks. Ease of installation and long service life are the main qualities of rack and pinion systems.
- Mirror PVC ceilings … The mirror surface in this type of construction is achieved by stretching the glossy PVC film. The material reflects light with sufficient quality, although it is considered an imitation of a mirrored ceiling. The indisputable advantage of this type is the absence of the risk of breakage or falling off of any structural element.
Classification of mirrored ceilings by element type
Not all types of mirrored ceilings successfully complement the existing interior. In some cases, a "solid" mirror surface will be optimal. In others, it is divided into geometric segments.
Be that as it may, depending on the configuration of the elements, mirrored ceilings can also be divided into several specific types:
- Mirror slatted ceiling … This is a structure that includes aluminum strips or plastic panels covered with a reflective film. The surface of the elements can have composite components or be absolutely smooth. In some cases, mirror strips are combined with a material painted in copper or gold, or coated with a chrome layer.
- Mirror cassette ceilings … An option that allows you to make an almost one-piece reflective coating. To create, use a square or diamond-shaped glass tile, as well as a prefabricated frame, on which the elements are installed.
- Film ceiling … Mirror coating made of PVC film, stretched in a special way just below the level of the ceiling.
Classification of mirrored ceilings by design
The design features and the method of mounting mirrored ceilings are far from the last factor influencing the choice of potential consumers. If for some owners the priority is practicality or low cost of the material, then for others quick and easy installation will be decisive when choosing.
So, given the types of structures, we can distinguish certain types of mirrored ceilings:
- Fitted ceilings … This type of fastening structure slightly resembles a prefabricated frame for drywall. In this case, the ceiling profiles are fixed to the ceiling, and the guides are installed on the walls. All structural elements are connected with self-tapping screws. The distance between the transverse partitions is regulated by the size of the mirror tiles. At the end of the installation of glass plates, the gaps between them are closed with special fittings - a 10-mm layout. The standard color of such a part is chrome or gold.
- Faceted ceilings … It is a combined structure with a frame similar to the Armstrong system and an adhesive solution with which the glass tiles are fixed. This type of mirrored ceiling is non-separable. At the same time, it is the beveled mirrored ceilings that make it possible to achieve the most effective reflection of light rays. Facet - a polished beveled edge on each tile, with the help of which an unusual refraction of rays occurs. The standard size of the elements is 30x30 and 40x40 cm. But sometimes the owners prefer non-standard shapes.
- Mirrored ceiling Armstrong … This type of fastening device is based on the popular T-shaped system. The complex frame structure includes many suspension parts and fasteners: power and transverse profiles, wall corners, suspensions, etc. The Armstrong mirrored ceiling cannot be compared with the hardware in terms of elegance. But in terms of speed and ease of installation, it is clearly the leader. All other advantages of this type are characteristic: from easy access to communication networks to the ability to use various types of lighting.
- Glue-based mirrored ceilings … A mirror glued to the ceiling is another type of attachment. But it needs a perfectly flat surface. It is strictly forbidden to glue the elements onto putty or plaster, because in this case they will quickly fall off. Initially, it is worth installing a structure made of plasterboard or plywood, only then lay the prepared tiles on the glue solution.
Features of the choice of mirrored ceilings
Over the years, reflective ceilings are increasingly used in living spaces. But unlike other types of finishes, materials for mirrored ceilings must be selected, taking into account the characteristics of each zone of housing. So, it is not recommended to install glass tiles and solid mirrors in bathrooms. In a humid room, condensation collects on the ceiling surface, traces of which are problematic to remove. For such a zone, a stretch PVC ceiling would be ideal. This kind of coating does not lend itself to fungi and does not collect condensation.
Mirrored ceilings in corridors and hallways look unusual. With their help, you can visually increase a small area of these zones. For corridors, tiled and rack options are used, which have strict geometric shapes and are devoid of pompous and pretentious details. With such a finish, the room will become more stylish and concise.
For the kitchen area, it is better to choose stretch mirrored PVC film ceilings. Rack types are characterized by high flammability, and on glass ones, streaks from evaporation and grease are very quickly formed.
For the most frequently visited rooms, almost all types of mirrored ceilings are suitable. In bedrooms and living rooms, you can experiment successfully, combining different colors, materials and decor elements, creating multi-level designs. Don't forget about spot lighting. Small lamps will easily make the room even more elegant and will be beautifully reflected from the chic glossy surface.
What are the mirrored ceilings - look at the video:
Mirrored ceiling is a very popular type of ceiling finish. After all, it is not only able to become a luxurious and effective addition to the interior, but also fully meets all the requirements put forward. Moreover, almost any type of mirrored ceilings can be installed independently without preliminary preparation and baggage of deep knowledge.
