By Zack OSOLO
How do you pick the “right” ceilings for your home? Well it all comes down to making the most sensible and informed decisions regarding your climate, your aesthetic tastes, the amount of maintenance you’re willing to commit to, and the standard you can afford. There are a surprising number of different types of ceilings to choose from, each with its own advantages, uses, and shortcomings. Let’s look at each type in detail shall we?
Stretch ceilings
A stretch ceiling typically consists of a piece of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material ‘stretched’ across an area, and held in place by an aluminium frame called a ‘perimeter profile’. The perimeter profile can be curved and shaped as required, and the PVC can be coloured or painted to suit just about any taste.
As a result, stretched ceilings offer a great deal of freedom in terms of shape, colour and lighting. The PVC can be finished with high or low gloss paint, or printed/painted with images or patterns.
For this reason, stretched ceilings are popular in shops and displays. It can disguise the poor condition of an existing ceiling, conceal wires, pipes or ducting can be installed in home theatre or music rooms to soundproof them or improve their acoustics though it can prove to be quite costly.
Hollow core slab ceilings
A hollow-core slab ceiling is made from precast, pre-stressed concrete slabs which have tubeshaped tunnels running through them. The surface of a hollow-core slab ceiling can be finished by polishing or painting the concrete, or by spraying it with a soundproofing material.
Hollow-core slab ceilings are often used in multistory apartment buildings as a cost-effective method of creating floors and ceilings over large spaces. As long as the interior voids are correctly aligned, they can be used to carry wires for lighting, heating and communication.
Although a hollow-core slab weighs far less than a solid concrete slab, it is still a considerably heavier arrangement than the typical timber and plasterboard installation. Generally speaking, if you’re planning on installing a concrete slab ceiling, the rest of the house should be designed and reinforced accordingly. With inadequate reinforcement, the walls are likely to buckle, and at best you can expect the weight to crack plasterboard interior walls fairly rapidly.
Some advantages of hollow core slab ceilings is that it is a cheap option for large spaces & the hollow interior can be used for heating, wiring, and communication cables but it does have the potential to amplify and transmit noise and neither does it incorporate well into a timber framed house.
Beam ceilings
A beam ceiling is one which features exposed joists and beams. They are normally made from timber, but other materials or a combination of materials can also be used. Beam ceilings create visual interest and bring individual flair to your home.
It can also increase the re-sale value of your home but the materials and workmanship must be of a high standard and cost.
Coffered ceilings
A coffered (or lacuna) ceiling is a decorative ceiling style, formed out of recessed panels framed by beams. A squareshaped pattern is used in most coffered ceilings; however other geometric patterns can be created.
They are mostly used to add a personal touch to ceiling design, add value to a home, and to improve a room’s acoustics. Installing a coffered ceiling is naturally going to be more expensive than installing a simple plasterboard ceiling, however the result is infinitely more interesting and impressive.
Gypsum ceilings
In the past, the labor-intensive installation of plaster walls and ceilings was the only available option but since the advent of gypsum board, homeowners can now cheaply and quickly replace their old interior surfaces. Gypsum board is the most commonly used product for walls and ceilings in newly constructed homes.
Gypsum is a common mineral found in sedimentary rocks on every continent. Its use goes back thousands of years to the great pyramids of Egypt. But in modern times, it is used to make wallboard and plaster products for both residential and commercial buildings. Gypsum is often white or clear, but it can also appear in shades of gray, brown, yellow, pink or red when it contains impurities.
It generally comes in sheets 4 feet by 8 feet. There are other sizes as well, such as 4 feet by 12 or even 16 feet.
Pros of Gypsum ceilings
For a minimal investment in shillings and time, you can totally transform any space with gypsum ceilings. Don’t settle for a boring white soft board ceiling!
Although experienced professionals will deliver the best quality, it is possible for homeowners to install and finish gypsum themselves. The drywall process requires less labour and drying time. Gypsum can be fastened to either metal or wood studs.
The drywall panels are cut to size and attached to the ceilings using drywall screws. The joints, or lines where two separate drywall panels meet, are then filled with drywall compound and covered with drywall tape. After drying, the tape is coated repeatedly until it is hidden. Tool marks or ridges are sanded smooth. Finally, a coat of primer paint is applied to ensure a uniform surface for final painting.
Gypsum is not flammable. In its natural state, gypsum contains the water of crystallization bound in the form of hydrates. When exposed to heat or fire, this water is vapourized, retarding heat transfer. Therefore, a fire in one room that is separated from an adjacent room by a fire-resistance rated drywall assembly will not cause this adjacent room to get any warmer than the boiling point (100°C) until the water in the gypsum is gone.
Disadvantages of using Gypsum
It is susceptible to moisture damage. For areas that have high moisture content, such as bathrooms or dank basements, you will need to use a chemically treated gypsum wallboard that is moisture resistant.
Gypsum does not absorb sound very well, so other types of material may be preferable if soundproofing is a concern.
Freedom of choice
Homeowners today have many options when it comes to their ceilings. Ceilings that suit you and your needs will make a huge contribution to your comfort and quality of life. Whether you’re looking for a contemporary industrial look or something more old-world, it’s worth investigating what kinds of ceilings will suit your taste and budget.
The writer is Senior Marketing Consultant, Laxcon Hardware & Spares Ltd. Laxcon offer
specialized products and services in roofing among other building and construction segments.
