Ceiling made of plastic panels: pros and cons

When it comes to ceiling finishing, the market has a ton of finishing materials to offer. Among other types of coatings, plastic panels are in the spotlight today. They stand out noticeably against the background of analogs, have a number of features, advantages and varieties. Consider the relevance of this finish, study the popular design, size and subtleties of choice.

Plastic panels are a modern finishing material based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In terms of its composition, it is a grade of chemically resistant plastic. Externally, the design of PVC panels is similar to an elongated rectangle. It consists of two plastic sheets of identical thickness, interconnected by stiffening ribs. They are perpendicular to the plastic sheets.

The cavities between the sheets are responsible for the lightness of this finish. The panel has two fastening shelves along its length: a mounting shelf and a small one. The first is necessary to fix the panel to the ceiling frame. The second is used to connect PVC sheets to each other. The wide side locks resemble laminate plank locks.

The panels are made from polypropylene chips with the addition of solvents and plasticizers. They are combined into a pasty mass using an industrial mixer. After uniform stirring, they are squeezed out through special nozzles of the production unit, along the way being cut along the length with a special guillotine. The width of the panel depends on the width of the attachment used. After the plates leave the extruder, they are painted, then varnished.

Plastic panels for the ceiling are different from the wall counterparts. For their production, plastic is used with a smaller thickness. It is intended for interior decoration. Therefore, such panels are lighter and thinner than wall varieties. This is convenient for work and does not create additional stress on the frame. This is a separate type of panels that you need to consider when choosing: different cladding is bought for vertical and horizontal planes.

The use of panels for ceiling decoration significantly saves the time allotted for the preparation of the base. You don't have to buy additional building materials to level the ceiling. No sanding or priming is needed either. Installation is carried out on a frame created by means of load-bearing profiles.

The use of plastic panels for ceiling decoration has a number of advantages. Let's note the main ones.

• Ceiling installation, including cutting and fixing, is straightforward. It will take a little time, and the result will please with the aesthetics of the appearance.
• You do not have to contact the specialists: you can do the work yourself without unnecessary garbage and preliminary preparation of the base.
• Plastic panels are of reasonable price. Everyone can buy them: it will not hit the planned budget.
• Ceiling plastic panels are available in a wide range of colors. You can choose varieties in any color and pattern, making a choice between a variety of textures and color contrasts.

• Plastic panels can become a bright accent of any design. They fit well into the interior of classic, modern, ethnic, ecological and vintage styles.
• They are easy to transport.You can not be afraid that during transportation it will break.
• They are available to everyone. They can be bought at any hardware store, choosing according to your own taste. If you wish, you can decorate the ceiling with fragments of contrasting shades. This will bring freshness to the design and emphasize the individuality of a particular room.
• The plastic trim comes in standard sizes. The cladding allows you to make the ceiling even, without defects at a low labor cost.

• Plastic ceiling panels are easy to clean. You do not have to scrub dust, dirt and soot for a long time. The surface does not absorb dirt, it can be removed with a damp cloth or semi-dry sponge.
• The ceiling covering can withstand temperature changes. The plastic does not deform when exposed to moisture, it is protected from soot and fumes.
• If one of the elements breaks down, it can be replaced. It's easy to do, you don't have to start from scratch.

• Such a coating hides all the flaws of the base, which is not the case with whitewashing and painting.
• This facing material can be an independent ceiling decoration or its bright center. It goes well with other finishes, so you can create a unique design in the style you want.

Due to its high-quality performance characteristics, it can be used in different living rooms and utility rooms. You can decorate the ceiling of the bathroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room with such material. You can make a bright accent with its help in the interior of the living room, study, home library, decorate the ceiling of a glazed loggia or balcony.

With a thorough choice of material and texture, they will look harmonious in the interior of a city apartment or a wooden house, as well as in the country. Despite its apparent simplicity, it allows the installation of two-level ceilings. If the need arises, it can be dismantled and reassembled. The technology allows the installation of insulation between the plastic panels and the ceiling overlap.

The use of plastic panels for the ceiling allows you to visually play up the design features of the premises. For example, they can be used to zone a space. Choosing such a decor, you can unobtrusively highlight one of the functional areas of the room.

Despite a lot of advantages, PVC panels are not without disadvantages, let us designate the main ones.

• Plastic is not designed for significant mechanical damage. If you accidentally bump the panel or hit it with a sharp object, scratches or chips will remain on the surface. This in a moment will make the surface of the entire cladding sloppy. Thin sheets of plastic break easily.

• This finish looks simpler in comparison with liquid wallpaper, wood imitation. To make the interior of a particular room special and stylish, you will have to choose the finish especially carefully, playing on the simplicity of the surface.
• With the ease of installation and the possibility of masking electrical wiring, it is necessary to slab concrete slabs of the upper floor.
• Not all products are made the same. The number of ribs between the plastic plates varies. The fewer there are, the worse the panel is, this affects the durability and strength.

Despite the fact that plastic ceiling panels accept different types of recessed luminaires, you need to carefully select light sources. You can not use anything other than LEDs for lighting. They don't heat up like other lamps, so they won't melt plastic. Heating plastics is dangerous because of the harmful substances in cheap varieties. At the same time, toxins are released into the air, causing significant harm to the health of households.

With regard to luminaires, it is worth adding: installation implies near-surface and pendant models. However, they don't have to be massive. Built-in spot LEDs with silver or gold-plated frames look great with them.Such lamps shine brightly, look stylish, decorate with plastic.

To date, all manufactured PVC-based ceiling panels can be divided into two types:

1. seamless;
2. suture.

The design of the seamless and seam varieties is practically the same. They both have interlocks. The difference can be seen on the ceiling: the joint of seamless patterns is rather narrow when connected. The second products, upon completion of installation, resemble a clapboard ceiling. At the same time, if the design implies, they deliberately emphasize the size of the joint, focusing on the relief of the coating.

However, both of them are mounted on the same principle, the technology does not change. Both types are a river type of coating, which does not give, against the general background, the effect of a monolithic cladding. There is no difference in the width of the plates: it depends on the attachments used. However, seamless varieties are more loyal to the decoration of the ceiling with curly lines.

If you use strips with a large width when decorating, combining them with drywall, you will be able to avoid joining. In this case, plastic panels can be an element of different levels. For example, they can be used to create linear structures. In some cases, they can be supplemented with a stretch fabric. However, narrow stripes visually break the design. You need to decorate the ceiling with them with a thorough approach.

The complexity of the designs can be different. With the help of plastic ceiling panels, one-level and two-level ceilings can be made. In this case, for first, the frame of the lower one is mounted. You need to carefully approach the creation of a sketch so that the design looks harmonious.

Both those and other rack structures can have a glossy and matte texture. This allows you to successfully fit the panels into the design of the room, giving them the desired effect. For example, a glossy surface is reflective. This is used to visually change the area of ​​a particular room and increase its walls. The use of a matte texture allows you to add the necessary notes to the design, saving the space from gloss, if it is not provided for in the details of the furniture.

Plastic panels for planked slatted ceilings are different. They are sold in packs of 6. Usually their thickness is 1 cm. In some varieties it is thinner (0.9 mm). The width of the strips can be 100, 200, 250 cm.

The wide varieties are especially good: they give more scope for imagination. Their texture looks good together with a stretch fabric. The use of matte and glossy coatings of large width allows you to design with a transition on the wall. So you can highlight one of the functional areas of the room.

The length of the stripes is also variable. The standard dimensions are 270, 300, 400 and 600 cm. The availability of different sizes allows you to select coatings accurately, reducing overspending to a minimum. Varieties with a length of 4 meters and a maximum width allow you to quickly and accurately decorate the ceiling. To make them look good, they are complemented with a stretch canvas in a contrasting color.

6-meter strips are used in industrial-type premises with a large area. There is no need to use such products for a house or apartment. For these purposes, strips of 250x270, 250x300 cm are enough. Sometimes wide panels are combined with narrow ones, placing them in different directions.

Design solutions for plastic ceiling panels are varied. Changing the texture and giving the desired effect is carried out by means of offset printing. Immediately, we note: plastic panels cannot create an effect like tension structures and plasterboard designs. This is prevented by the seams between the fragments.However, their simple form and the ability to combine with other materials for finishing the ceiling with a skillful approach to design make it possible to bring to life the most unusual solutions.

For the most part, the panels are painted in different shades. When choosing them, it is necessary to build on the purpose of the room and shade, not forgetting about the texture. For example, glossy products with a large reflective or mirrored surface are undesirable for a bedroom or a living room. Together with a visual increase in space, they will create emotional tension. This fact will exclude the possibility of rest, which is especially important for a modern person who gets tired of the fast pace of life in a day.

The plastic looks original under the wood. Using, for example, a matte texture and a shade of light wenge oak, you can create the effect of warmth and home comfort. Of course, filling the entire ceiling space without decorating it is not always appropriate. And the rack ceiling does not look beautiful in every interior style.

For example, it will look more interesting if you connect plastic strips with drywall. It is worth considering an important nuance: it is really possible to cut the panels, but this is permissible only according to the width of the strip. They should not be confused with other finishes: they have locks along the length. By cutting them off, you will reduce the number of fasteners between the panels. It is better to use drywall to create a curly composition. In this case, it is preferable to lay the panels around it, tightly combining with each other.

Sometimes the design involves laying the panels with a ladder or step. In other cases, the cladding resembles a panel. If you want to support the design in a creative direction, you can finish with panels of matte texture under the array, gluing false beams over the panels. This design of the ceiling is in the spotlight today. At the same time, the design will look beautiful and natural. On the beams, you can subsequently attach spots with a tilt angle adjustment system.

If you plan to decorate the bathroom ceiling with panels, it is worth moving away from the usual design in blue tones. It is better to use contrast to decorate the room. Do not overload the room with an abundance of color: it is undesirable to use more than two colors for cladding. White, beige shades are appropriate here. Ivory tone will look good. It is better to choose a texture without reflectivity. For such rooms, it is better to choose seamless varieties.

3D stripes can give an original effect. However, their use must be deliberate. Typically, such items change perception, creating a three-dimensional illusion. Sometimes it takes a lot of space to see it. In a small room, this can create a negative atmosphere.

After installing plastic ceiling panels, sometimes the covering needs to be dismantled. The reasons for this lie in the violation of technology, the use of materials unsuitable for the frame and the use of low quality counterfeit blanks. Experienced craftsmen strongly recommend paying great attention to the frame material when installing panels in the bathroom and kitchen.

Let's highlight the main points that cause installation errors.

• It is undesirable to use wood for these purposes. It needs to be replaced with an aluminum frame. It will not sag and rust, so the lintels will not change their original shape.

• Correct fastening involves the use of self-tapping screws. The brackets with which such structures are sometimes fastened by would-be installers will not give a solid foundation. Such a ceiling will not be durable.
• Sometimes stucco molding is the cause of deformation. Thinking over each finishing element, you make the frame not only lightweight, but also reliable. Choose the right screws.
• If the design is intended to be an L-shaped profile, the use of a level is a prerequisite for working.To keep such a frame better, you can put it on a rotband.
• Installation of plastic strips is performed starting from the wall. At the same time, we must not forget about wiring and internal communications.

The appearance of the panels in the store sometimes seems more attractive. Once installed, coloring can change perception and visually split the ceiling into pieces. For these other reasons, too, the choice must be solid.

Let's consider the main nuances to which you need to pay attention.

• Approaching the panels, he will pay attention to the smell. Quality material does not have it. The presence of a specific aroma indicates that this is a material containing toxins.
• Visual inspection concerns shape and geometry. Pay attention to its correctness. There should be no curved edges and irregularities around the perimeter. Inspect each item you are giving money for.

• Reliable brands supplying quality goods to the market supplement it with documentation. Ask the seller for a certificate of quality and compliance with safety standards.
• Inspect the clarity of the coating. If there is a drawing on the surface, its lines should be expressive. Any smearing of the contours indicates a low quality of the panels.
• Pay attention to color. Harsh acid colors indicate toxic constituents. They will not stay on the surface for a long time.
• Bending resistance is important. A good product does not leave marks on multiple bends. If the seller is confident in the quality of the product, he will demonstrate this.

• Ask your salesperson what the panels are for. A good seller will definitely emphasize the variety of plastic panels, indicating whether they are for walls or for a ceiling, indicate the type of installation technology.
• Look at the panels from the side: they should have a lot of transverse stiffeners. Notches and sharp edges are faults. In this case, it will not work to connect the locks neatly.

Having clarified the basic requirements for plastic panels, he will pay attention to the aesthetic component. Eliminate cheap gloss with a visual synthetic base. It is better to choose panels with imitation of natural materials (for example, wood, stone, marble). If panels are needed as an accent on the ceiling, start from the main interior and the purpose of the room.

Gloss and cheerful colors are appropriate for the kitchen. For the most harmonious effect, do not overload it with prints. Green, olive, sandy soft tones of colors will bring positive to the design of the ceiling.

When decorating panels in the hallway or corridor, you can use white or milky monochromatic coatings. Ivory panels will look good here. Patterns are excluded: it is undesirable to overload the space limited in footage with an abundance of variegation.

Plastic panels look great in the interior of a kitchen combined with a living room or a cooking zone and a place for a dining room. In such cases, they try to highlight the dining area with an insert of panels. Sometimes they are connected with a golden strip, adding elegance. In other cases, they put an emphasis on the texture, choosing a matte finish with an imitation, for example, of wood painted in white.

If you want to decorate the bedroom ceiling with plastic panels, try to use a matte seamless material.

To better understand what the ceilings made of plastic panels look like, let's turn to the examples of the photo gallery.

• An example of allocating a dining space. The matte texture and white color create a pleasant atmosphere.
• The successful accentuation of the dining and dining areas with wood imitation material brings harmony to the atmosphere.
• The white color of the panels with the seam technology will dilute the boredom of the interior, bring light spots and a feeling of lightness into it.

• A small accent in bright colors is appropriate in the design of the kitchen. The dynamics are softened by the light tone of the contrast.
• An original way of connecting corners. The matte texture of the surface fits well into the environment.
• The low level makes the dining area stand out. Built-in luminaires make up for the lack of lighting.
• The embodiment of the Provencal style is possible when using a light shade of panels and a matte texture.

• A laconic solution in a village theme. This decor option can be completed in no more than a day.
• The use of panels together with drywall allows you to create unique solutions.
• Reception of imitation of a board against the background of the dining area looks interesting and stylish due to the combination of brown and gray tones in the interior.

For information on how to install a ceiling made of plastic panels, see the next video.