How to drain water from a stretch ceiling yourself

Stretch ceilings are becoming more and more popular with the population every year. This method of decorating the ceiling space in an apartment is affordable due to the great competition of construction firms-executors, guarantees a fairly quick result, implies many design options through the use of spotlights and different colors of the material.

An important advantage of this type of repair in a residential building is the ability of the material from which the stretch ceiling is made to hold back water. Sometimes there are situations when you need to drain this water yourself.

One of the clear disadvantages of living in an apartment building is having neighbors over your head. Few people managed to live in the same apartment for decades and never be flooded due to the carelessness of neighbors or a breakthrough in water pipelines in a residential building one floor higher. Unfortunately, even living on the very top floor does not guarantee the absence of the possibility of a flood, since roof structures also tend to wear out. In this case, flooding may occur due to heavy rainfall.

Modern stretch ceilings are made of various materials, which can be divided into two groups:

1. Polyester fiber fabrics. Such ceilings are considered more environmentally friendly, most often they are not very affordable, but their water resistance in the event of a flood will be significantly lower.
2. Ceilings made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are more popular with customers. Such ceilings are able to hold back a colossal amount of water between floors due to the hyperelasticity of the material.

If the flooding of the apartment touched you personally, then the best way to get rid of the water above the stretch ceiling would be to contact the company with which you entered into a contract for the installation of ceiling structures. If the company no longer exists or you are unable to contact its representatives for any reason, you can contact other specialists.

However, unfortunately, water leaks often occur in the evening or at night, or on weekends, when it is difficult to contact the contractor. In this case, it makes sense to drain the accumulated water on your own in order to prevent large volumes of water from breaking through to the floor. It is necessary to drain the water following our recommendations.

The PVC stretch ceiling is quite elastic and durable. Upon contact with water, no irreversible changes in the properties of the PVC film occur. Color and elasticity can be maintained even for a long time. If a leak is noticed and repaired in a timely manner, the probability of a breakout is practically zero.

When quantifying water volumes, you should rely on the following figures: on average, a square meter of ceiling material is able to withstand the pressure of 100 liters of liquid. This figure will fluctuate, depending on related factors.

The grade of the material is of particular importance; different manufacturers guarantee different tensile strengths.In addition, it must be borne in mind that the larger the size of the room where the flooding occurred, the smaller the volume of liquid can hold the canvas.

The fabric stretch ceiling has good strength, but its elastic properties are minimal. In addition, the woven polyester fabric is water permeable. To reduce permeability, the fabric of the ceiling sheet is pre-coated with a special varnish, but it does not guarantee complete water resistance. Most likely, water will still seep through the fabric.

At the same time, upon contact with water, the polyester thread loses its properties and appearance, so there is a high probability that the ceiling will have to be replaced after the flood. If there is a lot of water, due to the low elasticity, the fabric cloth will simply jump out of the perimeter fasteners and the entire volume of water will be on the floor.

Procedure:

• Make sure you and your family are safe before proceeding with the flood relief. Remember that tap water is an ideal conductor for electrical current, so first de-energize the living area by turning off the apartment's main circuit breaker or unscrewing plugs to avoid short circuits. Notify neighbors of the trouble that is occurring and make sure they turn off the taps so that no more water will come.
• If the apartment is empty, contact the main entrance, the concierge or the representative of the management company for the keys to the basement to block the access riser. After that, you will need to prepare all the necessary materials and tools in advance.

• In no case do not try to drain the water all alone, this is unrealistic. You will need additional workers and more than one. Seek help from friends, family, and immediate neighbors.
• Next, collect as many water containers as possible. Take everything you have - buckets, basins, you can use large bottles for drinking water. It's great if you have a long rubber hose at home, if not, ask your friends, it will facilitate the process of removing water and save time and nerves.
• Remember that there is always a risk of water spilling onto the floor. Therefore, remove personal belongings, documents and money from the room in advance, cover the furniture with cellophane wrap, take out all household appliances and electronics, and ask someone to look after small children and pets.

• When everything is assembled and all the preparatory work is completed, you can begin to assess the situation. If there are ceiling lights in the room where the water bubble has appeared, the water can be removed through the holes for their installation. Select the hole closest to the pool of water if there are several of them on the ceiling. To drain the water, unscrew the de-energized lamp and dismantle it. For this, use only stable furniture or a working ladder. Take a hose and place one end of it in a basin to collect water, and carefully insert the other into the hole for the lamp.

• Pull the mounting ring gently inside the hole to bring it closer to the bottom of the water bubble. Ask a friend to gently lift the fabric with his hands at the center of the water bubble so that the liquid flows smoothly towards the hole. Water will flow from the hose. When you see that the reservoir is about to fill, pinch the bottom of the hose and change the container. It is better to work together and with several large cans for water prepared in advance, then the process will go faster and there is less risk of spilling water. If there is no hose, you will have to carefully bring the container directly to the hole in the ceiling and change it in time so as not to wet the floor.

• It happens that in the material of the canvas there are no holes for connecting lighting fixtures.In this case, the best option is to drain the water over the edge of the ceiling material. Usually choose the corner of the room closest to the water bubble. Climbing onto a stepladder or sturdy table, gently peel back the decorative frame around the perimeter of the room that holds the edge of the PVC film. Using a rounded spatula or other non-sharp object, carefully and without haste remove the edge of the panel from the perimeter aluminum profile. Release a small amount of material, pull slowly. If you act too vigorously, you will simply spill all the water.

• Substitute a water container. Control the flow by tensioning the material. Work smoothly, gradually lifting up the sagging section of the ceiling to direct the water to the edge of the canvas, but do not overdo it and hold the material firmly to avoid spillage.
• When you are sure that you have collected all the water above the stretch ceiling material, be sure to take steps to dry the canvas. If this is not done, mold will quickly begin to grow on the film. An improperly dried ceiling can also cause a musty, unpleasant odor in your home. Also, pay attention to the water you collect.

• The same applies to soapy water and water containing cleaning agents, for example, when washing machines or dishwashers break down. It is also recommended to treat the surface of the material with antiseptic solutions after thorough drying. It is better to choose aerosol application options, as it is more likely to successfully cover the entire area of ​​the contaminated canvas with an antiseptic. No droplets should remain on the ceiling.
• One way or another, as soon as the nearest opportunity arises, call a wizard from a suitable installer. Firstly, he will be able to carry out a professional drying of the surface of the ceiling material to ensure its further normal operation. Secondly, with the help of special heat guns, ceiling specialists will be able to eliminate the consequences of excessive film tension and remove sagging, returning the ceiling to its original appearance. If you want to level the canvas yourself, do not forget that you are acting at your own peril and risk. Nobody will reimburse you for damages in the event of damage to the canvas or loss of its characteristics.

• To level the ceiling material on your own, use a construction or household hair dryer operating at high temperatures. Bring the outlet of the hair dryer as close to the surface of the film as possible to smooth it, but do not keep it in one area, but move it smoothly so as not to melt the material with excessive heat. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to consult a specialist. They will do the job more professionally.

If the flooding was not immediately detected and stopped, there is a high probability that a large volume of water will get between the rough ceiling and the stretch material.

Despite the mentioned positive characteristics of the elasticity and tightness of the PVC film, there is still a risk of breakage:

1. Elasticity has limits and weakens over time.
2. There is a danger of damaging over-stretched material from sharp corners of room furniture or carelessly used household items.
3. Rupture can also occur from contact with the pointed edges of a chandelier or sconce. If the ceiling covering is joined from several canvases, at their junction the likelihood of rupture and outpouring also increases.

Sometimes frightened pets can accidentally bite a sagging canvas with sharp claws, jumping, for example, from a cabinet.This rarely happens, but if you have pets, then this scenario cannot be completely ruled out.

Proceed with caution and attentiveness. Too much haste can lead to mistakes and will cost you the cost of a new stretch ceiling. Never try to pierce the PVC sheet yourself with sharp objects. Such a torn hole will then be almost impossible to patch. And if the volumes of water are really large, then with a sharp movement of the flow of liquid, a small hole will instantly burst to a huge size, and the whole stream will rush down.

In addition, in this case, it will be impossible to restore the appearance of the canvas, and replacement is inevitable. For the same reason, do not use knives or other sharp objects when freeing the edge of the ceiling material from under the decorative molding.

Do not squeeze the ceiling bubble too actively and drive water towards the hole for the chandelier. If you accidentally overdo it, you simply will not have time to collect it, then a leak is inevitable. Do not smooth out the sagging section of the panel with improvised devices. Carelessness can lead to the spread of water over the entire area of ​​the room, and its accurate drain will be impossible.

Do not start removing water yourself, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to call professionals provided with the necessary tools. Do not start draining until helpers arrive. Remember that there can be a lot of water, which means that a pair of large five-liter pots will not be enough for you, and in the process of removing the water that has accumulated, there will be no time to look for new tanks.

Helpful hints:

• The best way to preserve the appearance of your ceiling, and the interior of your apartment as a whole, is to prevent possible flooding. Ideally, if your upstairs neighbors are busy renovating their living quarters. If you manage to agree on how they will waterproof the floor, then the probability of flooding will subsequently tend to zero. These measures imply the laying of rolled roofing material or fiberglass and are performed only during major repairs.

If the flooding has already occurred, do not hesitate to discuss with the perpetrators the procedure for compensation for material damage. After all, most likely, you will have to spend money on eliminating the consequences of someone else's oversight or poor-quality plumbing maintenance.

• After draining the water, do not rush to install and turn on lighting devices. It is required to wait at least seven days before final drying to eliminate the possibility of short circuit and electric shock.
• If the flooding occurred as a result of a breakthrough in the heating system using a process fluid-heat carrier, then the only way out would be to replace the ceiling. Self-removal of the bladder in this case is strictly prohibited and dangerous to health.
• If, despite the precautions, the PVC film is still damaged by a sharp object, try covering the hole with a masking tape patch. But in the future, it is better to replace such a ceiling, so that the apartment and personal belongings do not suffer with a new flooding.

As you can see, with proper preparation, proper attitude and the presence of reliable assistants, you can drain the water from the stretch ceiling without negative consequences on your own.

How to drain water from a stretch ceiling, see below.