The subtleties of the process of removing a stretch ceiling

Those who once decided to install a stretch ceiling hardly regretted it at least once, but there are times when you have to work with it additionally. If your coating cracks, breaks, or you are flooded by neighbors from above, you will have to dismantle the entire ceiling surface, fix the problem, and then carry out the installation work again.

In order for everything to be done correctly, it is important to know the basic rules and subtleties of the process of removing a stretch ceiling

Stretch ceilings are increasingly used for apartment renovation, and therefore, after some time, various problems may arise with them in operation. In order to solve everything quickly and efficiently, it is better to use the services of a professional. If you want to do everything yourself, then you need to clearly know the sequence of actions and features of the process.

• Breakthrough of drainpipes from neighbors from above. Over time, water will reach your ceiling and begin to accumulate on the inner surface of the film. The PVC ceiling will begin to sag, and drops will break through from the fabric surface.
• Stretch ceiling coating damage. If you incorrectly operate the harness and apply too harsh cleaning products to it, then after a while the coating will begin to crack or simply burst. In some cases, you can glue the problem area if it is very small, and in case of global problems, you need to make a complete replacement with a new material.

• In the case of a complete renovation in the room, it is better to remove the ceiling covering so as not to spoil it and have access to the ceiling for all the necessary work.
• If necessary, gain access to wiring or other electrical structures that are hidden behind the ceiling system. Replacing the wiring, partial or complete repair of it requires the ability to reach the ceiling without any obstacles
• .The desire to change the texture, color or pattern on the stretch cover. If you use the same coating on the ceiling for a long time, then sooner or later there is a desire to change it, especially if the house is about to be renovated with a change of furniture, wallpapering and other changes.

To cope with any of the above problems, you need to know how to work with a ceiling and carry out dismantling work in part or completely. If you need to work only with part of the surface, then the profile with decorative elements remains intact, the entire holding structure remains in place. With a complete dismantling, you will need to remove completely all the elements that are present on the walls and ceiling.

Partial removal is required in situations with flooding of your neighbors, when it is important to extract all the water that has leaked to you and the inside of the system. If the coating was damaged in some place, but it can be restored, then you need to remove it from the profile and carry out repair work. They completely remove the ceiling in case of big problems with the coating or when they just want to replace it with a new one, more interesting and suitable for the new interior.

For those who plan to independently carry out the dismantling of a stretch ceiling, it is important to enrich their knowledge on this topic.The first thing you need to know about is the material from which your ceiling is made, because working with different coatings takes place using different methods. The next, no less important factor will be the type of attachment of your cover, on which your actions will depend.

There are three types of stretch ceiling mounts, these are:

• Wedge type - the blade is fixed in the groove using a special wedge. This is the easiest option to dismantle;
• Cam type - the blade is clamped using a moving cam. It strongly presses on the edge of the film when pulled, thereby tightly holding the ceiling. This option is the most difficult to shoot;
• Harpoon type - the canvas has a hook-shaped edging, with which it clings to the inner wall of the baguette. This option is easy to install and remove.

In the case of fabric ceilings, use a cam mount, which is several times higher than the price of a harpoon. This is where the self-clamping system works. The baguette can be mounted to a wall or ceiling. It is important that it be reinforced: the edge of the canvas is brought into it, which is evenly pulled along the perimeter. You can fix it with a glazing bead, which is called a cam. Under the influence of the weight of the fabric, the glazing bead is pressed against the fixed baguette. This system can be used with seamless flooring. This method is very popular because it is relatively cheap and easy to install.

The wedge system is needed for seamless fabric ceilings. This option is also not expensive, but it is convenient to carry out installation and dismantling work with it.

If we talk about the construction of a stretch ceiling, then profiles are used for them. The materials from which these elements are made: aluminum and polyvinyl chloride.

Profiles are divided into the following types:

• fasteners - used only to hold the canvas around the entire perimeter of the room;
• connecting - used to connect the surface of the coating over large areas, which prevents them from sagging;
• corner - these are bars that have a square section type, extend over a long distance. They have only one perforated side. Corner profile type helps to create a wireframe with jagged and curved lines.

Baguettes (profiles) can have different types of fastening:

• ceiling - used in cases where the walls are not so reliable and can not withstand the weight and tension of the suspended structure. The minimum allowable distance from the bearing plates is two centimeters. Of the minuses of this type, only the impossibility of installing spotlights can be noted;
• wall - applied at any height of the carrier from the wall. Having installed the baguette at a height of fifteen centimeters, you can use lamps of any shape and type.

When creating the structure of stretch ceilings, additional elements are also used, such as lamps with shades, spotlights and LED strips. The light can be controlled both using standard switches and using a remote control. With it, you can easily adjust the power of the light, for a comfortable stay in the room, turn on and off certain lighting elements.

For cases of quick and successful removal of the stretch ceiling, it is important to prepare all the necessary tools. If the ceiling is made of PVC film, then the use of a gun will be mandatory. In addition, the main tools for such work will be: a spatula, it is better if it is small, pliers, which will not have chipping, and a knife.If the work will be carried out with seamless polyester ceilings, then the gun will not be needed.

It is important to properly prepare the tools themselves so as not to spoil the coating. The edges must be smooth, for which they are treated with fine-grain sandpaper. You can also use reinforced tape, which is wrapped around the uneven edges of the tool to avoid damage to the ceiling covering. In the process of removing the ceiling film, it is important to have an assistant, especially when working with the gun.

In order to dismantle the PVC ceiling, you must first remove the decorative rubber inserts. Only after that you can start heating the canvas with a gas gun. In the place where the coating will be removed, it is important to heat with maximum intensity.

With a wedge type of fastening, it will be quite simple to dismantle the canvas. After removing the decorative element, the wedges weaken and you need to slightly expand the edge of the groove with a spatula, then the wedge along with the canvas will easily come out of it. The work is carried out starting from the corner and moving on.

If you use a cam type of fastening, then in the work you need to use a plastic shovel for mounting the blades, which is inserted into the self-clamping mechanism. After such an action, it will be enough to simply push the cam and remove the ceiling cover from it.

With the harpoon version of the fastener, the work is carried out using pliers and a flat screwdriver. To remove the canvas, you need to make sure that the screwdriver picks up the edge of the harpoon edge, after which you can slowly begin to pull it towards you.

If you need to dismantle fabric canvases, then it is important to take into account both the material and the type of fastening. If this is a clip system, then partial dismantling will simply not be possible. If you use the wedge method, then you can disassemble the ceiling only from the middle, otherwise you will not succeed. With the help of a spatula, the profile is opened, the wedge clings and is carefully removed along with the ceiling covering.

If your stretch ceiling has minor injuries, there is a crack or a hole on it, then these problems can be easily eliminated with your own hands. In order to eliminate the cause of the violation of the integrity of the coating, it is necessary to remove only the part where the repair will be carried out.

The instruction here is quite simple, after freeing the cover from the frame, you need to glue it with liquid wallpaper or a piece of the same canvas as yours, cover it with paint and put it back in place again. It is important to use transparent glue so that it does not leave marks on the ceiling surface. The paint is matched exactly to the tone of the ceiling covering to hide all traces of gluing.

If it is important for you to dismantle your ceiling while preserving it and then installing it in the same place, then all work must be done correctly, in compliance with technology, without haste. It is best to work with a partner who will always help and insure, because you have to act at a height, which is not very convenient and not at all safe.

If you want to remove your stretch ceiling for some reason, but then reinstall it, it is important to know some of the nuances of this process. So, if you have a glazing system, then it will be impossible to re-tighten it and you will have to do a complete reinstallation of the coating.

If you have a harpoon mounting system, then you can dismantle the cover and then hang it back in the same place.

The tool for this is the same as for dismantling. It is also desirable to work in pairs, because it will be very difficult to do everything yourself.

When planning to remove a stretch ceiling with its subsequent installation back, it is important to pay maximum attention to the removal process. With careless actions, the canvas can simply break and it will be impossible to install it back.If this is your first experience, then it is best to use the services of professionals who will quickly and efficiently help you both remove the canvas and return it to its place. You can also learn from specialists the necessary knowledge, techniques, and skills.

If the installation process is a familiar thing for you, then there are no problems here. You are familiar with the entire front of work, the main thing is to set a goal correctly, follow the sequence of actions and be accurate.

Along the perimeter of the room, you need to arrange the profiles, and then warm up the room with a gun. Using special tongs, fix the PVC film in the corners, and heat the rest with a gun. When everything is ready, the rest of the film is driven into the grooves of the baguette with a special spatula. At the end of the work, you need to install decorative skirting boards and admire the result.

Installation of a fabric ceiling requires extreme concentration. As soon as you fix the material, its position cannot be changed in any way, therefore you need to act very clearly, accurately calculating your strength.

The next stage is the installation of lighting fixtures. There should not be too many of them, so as not to deform the tension of the web. The place for the lighting fixtures is thought out in advance and is clearly calculated: the hole made can no longer be glued, removed or hidden. The distance from the fitting of the lighting element to the baguette should not be less than 25 mm.

A thermal ring is glued to the place of the future lamp, and only after that a hole is cut, where all the wires are pulled out. After connecting the wiring, a special decorative profile is installed and the position of the object is adjusted along the height of the canvas. The spring elements are pressed, the luminaire is slightly pressed into the hole, after which it finally takes its position.

Installing stretch ceilings is expensive, so you should be fully aware that you have a suitable room that will not need to be repaired every year. Repeated exposure to the ceiling will render it unusable and you will simply waste your money.

If you plan to install or dismantle a ceiling covering, then it is very important to free the room as much as possible from furniture and all that is superfluous. Items made of plastic should be taken to another room, otherwise they will deform and deteriorate when the gas cannon is operating.

In the event that you need to work with a small area of ​​PVC cloth, you can take a good hair dryer and use it to warm up the stretch cover. It is important to thoroughly heat the surface so that the film becomes soft and pliable.

All tools that will come into contact with the film must be prepared so that they do not have sharp edges, otherwise the risk of material damage will greatly increase, which will make it impossible to re-install it. For those cases when work with the ceiling is carried out to remove water that has got to you from neighbors, it is important to turn off the electricity, otherwise the risk of a short circuit increases.

How to remove the stretch ceiling yourself, see the video.