Technical premises are difficult to put in order: too conflicting requirements must be combined in finishing materials. They should be practical and beautiful, and should not be afraid of water, high humidity. It is also very desirable that they are easy to install and inexpensive. Agree, it is not at all easy to find material that meets these requirements. One option is an aluminum slatted ceiling. If you need to update the ceiling in the bathroom, toilet, hallway, balcony or kitchen, take a closer look at this system.
The device of a slatted ceiling and its types
Like any suspension system, the aluminum slatted ceiling is mounted below the ceiling level, therefore the initial state draft ceiling doesn't matter. It consists of a system of suspensions to which the supporting profiles are attached. These profiles have special recesses for fixing aluminum strips, which form the front surface of the ceiling.
Slatted suspended ceiling is one of the options for inexpensive repairs
The appearance of the aluminum ceiling depends on the type of planks. They are made of thin-walled aluminum, then painted and covered with a protective layer of varnish. Color - any from the RAL palette. The most common is white and its shades, beige. They are usually in stock, other colors are available upon request. When choosing a color, you can also choose the type of surface - matte, semi-gloss, glossy.
The slats can be of different widths and shapes. Width - from 90 mm to 200 mm. The front surface of the plank can be flat (German and Russian), rounded (Italian). There are also triangular ones, but they are rarely used in apartments. Separately, it is worth mentioning the perforated strips. They are good for ventilation, but the look is too formal for an apartment or house.
According to the method of fastening, an aluminum suspended ceiling can be:
The most common open option. The gaps are closed with slats of a different color, but you can choose the same one. There is another option - a bar with a side. When used, the gaps close immediately. In private houses and apartments, the scope of application of such ceilings is the bathroom, toilet and kitchen.
System components
The aluminum slatted ceiling consists of:
You can assemble an aluminum slatted ceiling in a bathroom or kitchen in a few hours. Everything is simple, the most difficult operations are installing fasteners, cutting slats and profiles into pieces of the required length.
In addition to these components, you will need to take care of lighting. Most often used Spotlights. Holes are cut in the slats for them. You can also use chandeliers, but you will need to think through the mounting yourself.
Release forms and prices
There are two forms of production of aluminum slatted ceilings: all components separately or in a set. The set is designed to fit specific sizes and includes everything you need. Hangers may be missing as ceiling heights may vary. If you want to make a metal suspended ceiling in a typical bathroom or kitchen, you can easily find the set you need. The downside of this solution is the small selection of colors.
| Purpose and size | Brand | Slat width | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal set 2500*1500 | Cesal | 100 mm | light pink | 2800 rub. |
| Cesal | 150 mm | white marble | 3000 rub. | |
| Bathroom set 1700*1700 | Cesal | 150 mm | mosaic | 3600 rub. |
| Set of slatted ceilings for toilet 1330*900 | Moscow ceilings | 85 mm | white matte | 1800 rub. |
If you buy components for a slatted ceiling yourself, the choice is much wider. The standard length of the slats is 6 m, but there are four and five meter ones. The price depends on the width of the strip, type of profile, metal thickness, length and color. The cheapest ones are white flat ones. They cost from 45 rubles per linear meter(with a width of 100 mm). The price of painted “wood” ones is from 100 rubles/m with a width of 100 mm. The most expensive ones are chrome plated. For them you will have to pay 260 rubles/m or more (with the same width).
The remaining components cost very little:
- guides - 150-180 rubles per 4 m;
- insert - from 56 to 360 rubles per 4 m;
In general, if you need a way to quickly and inexpensively tidy up the ceiling in the bathroom or kitchen, you need an aluminum slatted ceiling.
Installation tools
To install a metal slatted ceiling you need simple tools:
A few clarifications about the tool. Drills are needed to install dowels, select the size accordingly. If the walls are tiled, you will need tile drills. After the holes are made in the ceramics, the drill should be changed to one that is designed for working on concrete.
A crown is not a necessary tool, but it is easier to work with. If there is no crown of a suitable size, you can cut a hole with metal scissors: first make a small hole in the center, then cut in a spiral the right size.
Installation process
First of all, you need to decide on the level of the suspended ceiling. If there are no other restrictions, take into account the height of the recessed lamps that you are going to install: height of the lamp + 3-5 cm. Next, the actual installation begins.
Installation of wall profile
We begin installing the aluminum slatted ceiling by marking the walls - we need to draw a line along which we will align the slats. The easiest way to do this is to use a laser plane builder (level); if you don’t have one, you will have to transfer the mark with a water level.
You will need to screw the wall profile along the intended line. There are two types - L-shaped and U-shaped. It is easier to work with the first one, and when installing the second one, it will be possible to tightly fix the stringer using the linings. So the choice is yours.
The wall profile is cut into pieces of the required length - according to the width and length of the toilet, bath or kitchen. We apply the cut piece to the drawn line, and mark the installation locations of the fasteners on it. We place one dowel at the edges, then after 40-50 cm. If there are tiles on the walls, the fasteners should be in the middle, so we focus more on this rather than on the distance.
We drill holes in the plank according to the marks, and again put the profile in place. This time we make marks on the wall through the holes we made. We drill and install plastic dowels. They should be flush with the wall surface. To avoid damaging the tile when driving, you can drive the dowel through wooden block. After installing the dowels, we attach the wall profile. We carefully trim the corners. You can do it at 45°, or you can carefully do it straight.
Installation of stringers
Stringers (guides) are mounted so that their edges fit into the installed wall profile. Their length is 1 cm shorter than the distance between the walls - so that they do not rub or creak. The wall profile will not bear any load. All the weight will be taken by the suspensions and stirngers.
The step between the guides is no more than 1.2 m, the installation of hangers is from the wall at a distance of 30 cm, between the hangers - 120 cm. We insert a stringer into the profile, take the selected system of hangers, and install them at the selected distance.
Some ways to attach a springer to the ceiling are shown in the figure above. The suspension can be not only this, but any one you choose. The first option is suitable if you need to lower the ceiling to a significant height. In this case, the height is adjusted using a spring. In the second and third cases, height adjustment occurs by screwing in/unscrewing a screw or dowel. It is clear that the adjustment limit will be much less, but it depends on the length of the screw (you can choose a long one).
If the guide is installed in a U-shaped wall profile, you need to cut out a small section of the top shelf on it and bend it upward. Otherwise, the stringer simply won't work. There is no such problem when using an L-shaped profile.
The installed guides should be approximately at the same level. If a spring is used for adjustment, the plane must be set at this stage; if screws or dowels are used, this can be done after installing the slats. The plane is controlled with a bubble level or level.
Installation of slats
Next, we actually begin to assemble the aluminum slatted ceiling. We remove the planks from the protective film (it can be white or transparent and then you may not notice it), cut it into pieces of the required length. Length - 0.5-0.8 cm less than the distance between the walls. It’s not worth cutting a lot of planks at once - rooms with ideal geometry are rare. You can cut 2-3-4 pieces at a time.
You can cut with metal scissors or diamond blade in Bulgarian. If you are working with scissors, cut the bar along the mark on the edges, draw something sharp along the cutting line, and bend along this line. The rack usually breaks. But the edge is not very smooth. It will be smoother if you cut with scissors or a grinder.
The first rail is usually placed at the door opposite the entrance. One end of it is inserted into the wall profile, turned slightly, and the other end is inserted from the other side. Move to the installation site. At the same time, it must be pulled down a little so that the grooves on the stringers do not catch. Having pushed it into place, the bar is pressed up until it clicks - the protrusions on the bar fit into the cutouts on the guide. We check all connections. We install the other slats in the same way, only the last slats usually have to be cut. You can draw a line along, make cuts perpendicular to it and cut it into pieces. It's easier.
After all the slats are installed, you can check the plane of the ceiling (if you did not do this when installing the guides and use long self-tapping screws). This is done using a screwdriver inserted into the gap between the slats - tighten/unscrew the screws. Final stage installation of an aluminum slatted ceiling - installation of inserts (slotted profile). It is cut into pieces of the same length as the slats, and the edges are also inserted into the wall profile. Then one edge is inserted into the groove. At the same time, the insert clings to the edge of the bar with its protrusion. Simply press the second edge until it clicks. We check the connection along the entire length, and correct it where necessary.
Considering the topic of slatted ceilings, it is necessary to touch upon the concept suspended ceilings generally. The name speaks for itself: they are suspended from the base base with an indentation from it.
Taking into account their decorative function, slatted suspended ceilings are also called false ceilings. Their popularity is based on a number of advantages, which are sometimes decisive:
- quick and easy assembly;
- no need to prepare the base;
- ease of solving the lighting issue;
- opportunity hidden installation communications;
- unlimited choice of design solutions;
- accessibility due to the widest range of options.
The disadvantages include the presence of space between the false ceiling and the base ceiling, which reduces the height of the ceilings in the room.
Advantages of slatted ceilings
Slatted - ceilings assembled from slats, long narrow panels. It is a mistaken belief that such a ceiling is assembled exclusively from metal panels. In fact, the following types are popular:
- eurolining;
- wall panels (PVC, MDF);
- metal slats - aluminum, as a rule.
Each option is worthy of consideration. But aluminum slatted ceilings are the most interesting. Let's focus on them.
Advantages of aluminum slatted ceilings:
- ease of installation;
- moisture resistance;
- fire safety;
- resistance to chemical and bacterial influences;
- maintainability;
- strength;
- availability;
- exclusivity of design.
Photo of slatted aluminum suspended ceiling.
Installation of aluminum slatted ceilings
The design of slatted suspended ceilings involves the use of several elements:
- Aluminum panels (slats), width from 40 to 400 mm and length from 3 to 6 meters.
- Inserts (narrow slats, 16 mm wide).
- Supporting profile (tire, stringer, comb, 4 m long).
- Suspensions (adjustable spring or universal).
- End edging (wall corner or U-shaped profile).
Species and types
The panels come in different widths, colors, textures, design features: there are open type and closed. This refers to differences in their shape.
Open type panels, with standard assembly, form 16 mm wide gaps between each other, into which a narrow insert must be inserted. If the insert is not installed, then through gaps will remain and the panels will not be firmly secured.
Reiki closed type suggest installation with or without an insert. And their shape determines alternate assembly, since each next edge overlaps the previous one.
There is another type of slatted ceilings - gapless, assembled without inserts. In fact, any panels can be assembled without gaps. Because this does not depend on their shape, but on the characteristics of the supporting busbar.
More details about the design elements,
Support rail
The supporting profile is a rigid steel structure. It has a V or H-shape, in the upper part of which there are holes for a hanging hook. At the bottom there are clamping pins. The panels snap onto them. The type of ceiling being assembled depends on the location of the spikes and the distance between them.
When purchasing a slatted ceiling, it is important to pay attention to the specifics of the stringers. They must correspond exactly to the selected panels and type of assembly (with a gap or without a gap). Typically, the distance between the tenons requires the installation of panels of a certain width, with a gap for a decorative insert.
Suspensions
The comb is attached using hangers or directly to the base ceiling. The choice is determined by the height of the ceilings in the room. If this parameter allows you to “steal” 10 - 20 cm, then an adjustable suspension is used.
Euro hangers are often included in the delivery of slatted suspended ceilings.
This fastening element consists of two steel spokes arranged in parallel. At the top there is a bend in the shape of a ring for a self-tapping screw, at the bottom there is a hook inserted into the support rail. The spokes are connected by a C-shaped plate (spring), the tension of which fixes the adjustment. This type of suspension is easy to install and adjust, but it requires a large space between the base and suspended ceiling.
Universal ceiling suspension - perforated stainless steel strip.
The universal suspension allows you to mount a false ceiling at a distance of 5 - 10 cm from the ceiling. Its disadvantage is the need to screw the profile to the suspension, which complicates adjustment. But if this is not the first time the master holds a screwdriver in his hands, this is not a problem.
Edging
The most important design element is the end edging. It bears no load and performs decorative function. All visual effect is derived from this element. After all, the eyes primarily see the edges, junctions and corners.
The choice between a wall corner and a U-profile is quite simple - experienced master will recommend the profile. It is rigid in itself and adds rigidity to the entire ceiling structure. However, simple corners are often included in the package; they are cheaper.
The U-profile is indispensable where the walls cannot be touched again. For example, tile may lie with voids. This means that drilling and drilling will lead to splitting of the tiles.
In most cases, a wall corner is used. But smooth walls- a rarity, and the aluminum corner does not reproduce their curvature well. That is, it forms cracks that cannot be corrected. These gaps will be between the wall and the corner, and between the slats and the corner. True, sometimes it turns out to bend a corner, reducing the gap. But you shouldn't hope for it. It is better to check how crooked the walls are and proceed from this when purchasing material and installing it. In any case, the U-shaped profile is mounted more tightly to the panels, eliminating unnecessary gaps.
Installation procedure for aluminum slatted ceiling
The assembly of suspended slatted ceilings can be divided into two stages:
- frame installation;
- installation of panels.
Wall corner
The first stage begins with the installation of a wall corner or U-profile. First, you need to beat off the intended ceiling height with a building level along the entire perimeter. If the room is of a decent size, it will be convenient to use a laser or hydraulic level.
Advice: Many people use a bright marker for these purposes, without thinking about the fact that they will have to be washed off. And it’s not a fact that this will be possible to do. It's better to draw light dotted line with a simple pencil.
When marking the perimeter, you need to measure the dimensions of the walls with a tape measure and write directly on them. It is advisable to indicate them to the nearest millimeter. When cutting off the required pieces of the wall corner, the joints in the corners must be made end-to-end. In external corners the edges are connected at an angle of 45 degrees.
The main thing is that there is no overlap, as it will add gaps between the corner and the panels. This means that from each signed size you need to subtract the width of the corner or profile - 20 or 25 mm.
As a rule, the edging is cut with simple metal scissors. But you need to be careful not to wrinkle the edges. They can be straightened with pliers or a hammer, but marks will probably remain. Besides the scissors this work can be made into a “grinder”. However, the paint around the edges of the product will most likely turn black from heat.
Advice: A neat, but not simple, method is to use a hacksaw.
Then, on the surface of the corner that will be pressed to the wall, holes are drilled approximately every 50 cm. Having placed the profile in place, the holes are marked with a pencil on the wall and holes with a diameter of 5-6 mm are drilled for dowels.
Advice: when installing the edging to tiled walls, you can try to screw a self-tapping screw into the seam. Sometimes it's the only way avoid tiles from splitting and speed up the process.
During work, it is important to pay attention to the curvature of the walls, based on which the dowels are placed. By pulling the corner in the places of the depressions, it will be possible to avoid the appearance of gaps between the edging and the wall. The corner will most likely bend and form gaps between itself and the slats. It is possible to do it without any gaps at all if the walls are smooth. Otherwise, you need to look for a “golden mean”.
Support rail
Having secured the edging (corner), install the support rail. It is installed perpendicular to the slats, cut with metal scissors or a grinder - aesthetics do not play a role here. The location of the tenons on the stringer is important. The stringer needs to be cut so that the first panel fits clearly on these tenons.
Having prepared sections of the tire of suitable length, they are laid on the wall corner, inserting a 10 mm thick gasket. If a U-profile is used, the stringer is placed on its upper shelf.
The supporting profile must be placed 30 cm away from the side walls. The distance between the profiles should not exceed 100 - 110 cm to avoid sagging of the ceiling.
The supporting rail is secured with the help of hangers, the distance between which should not exceed 1 m. The frequency of hangers is determined after the fact, based on the resulting rigidity of the structure.
In large rooms, a string is used to check the evenness of the ceiling; in small rooms, this is done simply by eye, since the supporting profile is quite rigid in itself and should not sag.
Having mounted the frame, it is necessary to resolve the issue with lighting and distribute the wires. Installation of lamps is carried out simultaneously with the installation of panels.
Installation of slats and lamps
The panels are always cut to a slightly smaller size than the length of the walls for ease of installation. This operation is performed with scissors or a grinder extremely carefully. Each bend will certainly lead to the appearance of extra cracks. Fixing the slats is easier than dismantling them, so it’s better not to make mistakes anywhere.
Having reached the first spotlight, you need to cut a hole on the panel for it.
Advice: It is more convenient to do this while she is lying on the floor. For this purpose suitable hole drill for wood. Having chosen the desired diameter, the hole is drilled at low speeds of the drill. In this case, you need to be careful, as the drill passes through the metal, it can catch on it and bend it.
The last panel usually needs to be cut lengthwise. You can make it simple stationery knife, the stiffeners will no longer interfere. After passing it along the rail several times, it simply breaks. It inserts without problems. However, you need to take into account that the edge of the panel is not fixed in anything. Therefore, spacers made of a material 10 mm thick, for example, plasterboard, can be inserted on top of it.
When planning a suspended slatted ceiling, it is important to understand some of its features:
- aluminum is a soft metal and requires careful handling;
- uneven walls can ruin appearance ceiling, so it would be good to level them first;
- The aluminum slatted ceiling is not firmly fixed. This means that attaching accessories to it is undesirable.
The slatted aluminum ceiling has come into use quite recently, but it positive sides have already firmly established this product in the market of suspended ceiling systems.
Suspended ceilings made of aluminum are characterized by speed of installation, low weight of the structure and original design.
But, unlike other options for suspended structures, you will have to pay a little more for suspended ceilings made of aluminum panels.
You will be able to appreciate the advantages, get acquainted with the views, learn about the process of installing slatted aluminum ceilings and take note of a few tips. helpful information from the article.
Introduction to aluminum suspended ceilings
Over the past few decades, ceiling finishing as an area of construction and renovation work has undergone a number of varied changes.
In the late 80s, the most common finishing methods were whitewashing and painting. In the 90s, wallpaper and lightweight ceiling tiles began to be glued to the ceiling.
In the 21st century, technologies for installing suspended and suspended ceilings began to be introduced with significant steps.
In the foreign world of construction and renovation, ceilings have long been approached with high functional and technical literacy.
The need for this is related to solving the problems of equipping the premises with engineering equipment and various systems communications, a significant part of which is located under the ceiling.
The emergence of suspended systems, in particular aluminum suspended ceilings, has made it easier to solve such problems.
Russia began to get acquainted with suspended ceiling structures much later than the West.
But the pace of development of the new direction quickly enough made it possible to appreciate suspended ceilings very highly, since they helped solve several problems at once:
- hidden placement of utilities, wiring, sensors and ventilation;
- additional sound insulation;
- thermal insulation;
- installation of a multi-profile room lighting system.
Aluminum is the most common metal on the planet. He has very good quality characteristics, to be one of the most necessary and popular materials in the construction and repair industry.
The suspension system is a frame made of corner profiles, stringers and adaptable hangers, to which aluminum strips are connected.
Today there are two types of aluminum suspended ceilings - slatted and cassette.
Both of these types differ from each other both in appearance and in the fastening system, which is shown in the diagrams and photos in the article for a better understanding.
Features of the slatted ceiling
Aluminum slatted ceiling is suspended structure, the visible side of which includes joined aluminum slatted panels with a multi-layer varnish coating.
Panels may have various options color and size: length can vary from three to four meters, width - from five to twenty centimeters and thickness - up to 0.6 millimeters.
The panels have special connecting elements– such fastening when assembling the ceiling allows the seams between the slats to be invisible, so that after installation assembled ceiling has a solid appearance.
In addition to standard panels with a width of 50 - 200 millimeters, additional decorative elements are also produced, which, if selected correctly, will contrast favorably with the main panels in color and size.
The planks themselves also differ in their structure:
- smooth or perforated;
- glossy or matte;
- textured or with a mirror surface;
- can be stylized various materials, such as wood, leather and others.
According to their shape, the slats are divided into rectangular and rounded, with the help of which you can mount ceilings with level transitions or make bends.
Several types of LED lamps can be built into aluminum suspended ceilings.
In this case, for raster lighting elements, a special screen is purchased - a rail with a ready-made hole for the lamp, and holes for spotlights are cut out manually or with a special tool.
The technical characteristics of the system allow you to install slats in different directions of the ceiling plane, which will allow you to visually play up the increase or decrease in space.
An aluminum suspended ceiling consisting of slats has the following advantages:
- durability. Unpretentious ceiling, slatted aluminum device which can last for decades;
- environmental friendliness. All structural elements are made from environmentally friendly safe material. The formation of mold and fungi on this surface is excluded;
- fire safety. Aluminum is a fire-resistant metal, so an aluminum slatted ceiling is perfect for rooms with high requirements for safety and fire resistance;
- moisture resistance. These ceilings do not react in any way to dampness, so aluminum bathroom ceilings are the most perfect option finishing;
- easy installation. Installation of an aluminum ceiling does not require special training for the technician. If necessary, aluminum panels can be easily dismantled.
Aluminum ceiling structure
Aluminum slatted suspended ceilings, in turn, are divided by profile and fastening technique:
- installation of an open-type aluminum slatted ceiling. In this fastening system, small gaps remain between the slatted panels, which are left open or covered with decorative inter-slat inserts. The gaps left serve to better ventilation, and decorative plugs will improve the design of the ceiling. Slatted aluminum ceilings intended for bathrooms are recommended to be fixed in this way;
- installation of a closed type slatted ceiling made of aluminum. This design is a single flat surface without gaps between panels. The profile strips are installed on top of each other, so the surface is blank. The outer part of the ceiling can be made uniform and smooth by installing gapless panels.
When choosing a specific suspended ceiling system, you need to know what it should include.
IN in this case describes the design of open-type aluminum slatted ceiling systems:
- slatted panels are aluminum strips, the edges of which have a special bend, with the help of which the slats will be joined to the supporting rail;
- tires (stringers). A load-bearing structural element designed to connect slatted panels to them. The ceiling stringer is a U-shaped strip with fastening clamps made on the edges. Tires are made from aluminum or galvanized alloys. The upper part of the stringers has holes that allow you to attach hangers. When purchasing support rails and slatted panels, you need to make sure that they are structurally compatible;
- pendants. That design element is how it got its name. The hanger is a rod that passes through the bracket. The rod itself is attached to the sub-ceiling, and the bracket is attached to the stringer. The suspension should allow the stringers to be aligned vertically so that the surface of the structure is in the same horizontal plane;
- inter-slat decorative profile. Thin aluminum panels used for open-type installation of slatted ceilings, which mask the gaps between slats on the front part of the structure;
- plinth. A decorative element in the form of a corner, necessary for covering the joints of the ceiling and walls.
This group includes lighting devices - lamps.
To give the aluminum slatted ceiling a complete look, there are already prepared panels with built-in spotlights. After purchasing, all that remains is to install and connect them.
Aluminum cassette ceiling, in turn, has some design and fastening differences, which is clearly visible in the photo in the article.
Installation technology
Installation of a slatted aluminum ceiling will have to begin with an inspection necessary materials and installation tools.
To make installation of profiles and panels easier, you will need a drill, a building level, a ruler, a marker, dowels and screws, a knife, metal scissors and pliers.
The installation process should be divided into stages for the correct sequence:
- Marking the perimeter is the first step on which depends correct installation ceiling. Using a marker, we mark the level of the future suspended ceiling. If communications and lighting fixtures are not hidden behind the new ceiling, then the maximum distance from the main ceiling is five centimeters. If the ceiling structure will include lamps, then the indentation must be increased. Using a building level, you need to transfer marks to the corners of the room and connect all the points into a single line;
- Using the resulting line, you need to measure the length of each of the walls and use metal scissors cut the corner profile to appropriate sizes;
- Following the markings in 50 cm increments, make holes in the walls and baseboards using a drill. It is better to prepare holes with outside so that this part of the profile surface remains flat for a tight fit to the wall. Then the entire profile is attached to the wall along the same line with dowels and screws. At corner joints, the profile is cut at an angle of 45 degrees and fastened tightly to each other;
- Marking base ceiling under suspensions is carried out using the stringers themselves. They are placed on the shelves of the corner profile evenly along the length: the outer elements are applied at a distance of 0.3-0.4 m from the walls, and all intermediate elements are applied after 1 m. The mounting locations for the hangers are indicated relative to the mounting holes located on the support rails;
- Holes are drilled at the points for anchors that will attach the suspension rods to the base ceiling;
- The rods are secured with anchors so that they lie in the same plane. The stringers are attached to the suspension using brackets with the same spacing. The bracket moves easily along the rod, which allows you to quickly level the stringers;
- If the ceiling provides for the presence of lamps, then first you need to make holes of the required size in the designated places of the slats and immediately attach the lamp body;
- Removed from the slats protective film and each of them is cut to the required length with a deduction of 1 cm to facilitate installation. This gap can be easily closed with a corner profile;
- Each rail snaps easily into the tabs on the stringers. It is better to start installing slats from the ends to the middle, so that the last installed rail does not cause unnecessary hassle. The lamps are connected immediately as the aluminum strips are installed under them;
- The last step is to install the inter-rack inserts.
The end result can be seen in the photo in the article.
So, having understood the design, materials and how to assemble a slatted aluminum ceiling, it will be easier to choose a design option.
The main thing is to remember that when choosing slats you need to approach the quality and compatibility of structural elements as carefully as possible.
Slatted ceilings have firmly occupied their niche in construction market, displacing some species ceiling decoration. Modern aluminum suspension systems have a wide range of applications. Due to their excellent technical and operational qualities, such ceilings are used not only indoors, but also outdoors. Various shapes and textures, a rich range of colors allow you to realize any design fantasy.
Not the last argument in favor of narrow metal panels is their ease of installation. Even an inexperienced craftsman can install a suspended ceiling.
Aluminum slatted ceiling: technical characteristics and operating features
Hanging ceiling systems have been used in interior decoration for 60 years. In Russia, this type of ceiling cladding is only gaining popularity. Many experts and consumers have already appreciated the practicality, decorativeness and other advantages of aluminum coatings.
Let us note the main technical performance characteristics aluminum slatted ceilings:
Most often, aluminum suspended ceilings are installed in public spaces: swimming pools, gyms, offices, medical institutions. This cladding looks impressive in the halls of large administrative buildings, hotels and restaurants. In apartments and private houses, it is advisable to place them on loggias, balconies, bathrooms and landings.
Types of aluminum slatted ceilings
Aluminum slatted ceilings differ in the color of the slats, its width, profile and method of fastening. Based on the type of device, there are two types of ceilings:
Constructions open type. The principle of installing ceilings of this type is to install the slats in such a way that there is a small gap between the elements. Subsequently, this gap is closed with inter-slat inserts.
The main advantages of “open” ceilings:
- excellent ventilation of the ceiling space;
- play of colors - by combining inserts of contrasting or harmonious shades you can create original design ceiling.
Dropped ceilings closed type. The slats are fixed tightly to each other, forming a continuous smooth surface without breaks. To avoid monochrome, you can use frames of different textures and colors.
Installation of aluminum slatted ceilings
The suspended aluminum slatted ceiling has enough simple design, consisting of the following elements:
Important! To avoid fastening errors and the appearance of cracks during ceiling assembly, the slats and stringers must be from the same manufacturer.
Thanks to the convenient fastening system, aluminum slats can be easily dismantled and reinstalled if access is required. engineering communications, hidden behind the ceiling.
Calculation of slatted aluminum ceilings
Before starting installation, it is necessary to correctly calculate the components. To do this, the room is measured - the area of the room is determined (the length is multiplied by the width). This value should be used as a starting point when calculating the number of slats.
Important! If the calculations yield a fractional number, it must be rounded up.
Installation of aluminum slatted ceilings: step-by-step instructions
To implement the project you will need following materials and tools:
- set of aluminum slatted ceiling (rail, suspension, plinth, slats and lamps);
- electric drill;
- building level and tape measure;
- metal scissors or grinder;
- screwdriver;
- water or laser level;
- perforator;
- dowels/screws.
The first stage of the work is applying markings. The evenness of the ceiling largely depends on the quality of the application of landmarks. For this work, you will need a water/laser level, a pencil/ruler, and painting thread.
Important! The level of placement of the suspended ceiling depends on the type lighting fixtures. To install spotlights, the height of the structure should be lowered by 12 cm (body height). When using a chandelier or surface-mounted lamp, the distance from the base of the ceiling can be reduced.
The procedure for applying markings:
Subsequent installation of a suspended slatted ceiling:
Installation sequence of aluminum ceiling slats:
At the end installation work You can place spotlights on the ceiling. To install them, you will need to make holes in the aluminum slats. IN in the right place the panel needs to draw a circle, and from its center make radial cuts towards the outer line (you should get “petals”). It is convenient to make all cuts using metal scissors. Bend parts of the circle inside the rail. The circle for the lamp will be of better quality if the cuts are made with a small distance from each other.
Installation of aluminum slatted ceiling: video
Aluminum slatted ceiling: photo ideas for use in the interior
Aluminum slatted ceiling in the kitchen. The versatile direction of the slats gives volume and visually expands the space of the room.
Two-level ceiling with built-in lamps and chandeliers. The ceiling fabric is made of matte aluminum lamellas.
Aluminum suspended ceilings - best option for swimming pools. A multi-level slatted ceiling made of straight and curved slats reflects the shine of the water and resembles an imitation of sea waves.
A relief aluminum slatted ceiling (price starts from 1,500 rubles/sq.m.) with glossy and matte inserts changes the perception of space and the room as a whole.
Combining a slatted ceiling with plasterboard multi-level structures - interesting option For office premises and administrative buildings.
High performance characteristics, presentable appearance and ease of installation - these are just a few positive properties, testifying in favor of aluminum slatted ceilings. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the features of this design and the technology of its installation. In this article we will tell you how to properly make an aluminum ceiling with your own hands, show photos and video instructions.
Slatted ceilings are one of the types of suspended ceilings. The suspension system allows you to attach slats made of different materials, including aluminum. They are made from plastic, aluminum or steel tape having a thickness of 0.4–0.7 mm, a length of up to 6 m and a width of 50–300 mm.
If you order blanks for a slatted ceiling at custom sizes, then you will be given the length of the slats with an accuracy of up to 1 mm.
Installation of the aluminum slatted ceiling is carried out only after completion of plastering and subsequent complete drying of the walls and floor finishing.
If you decide to install a ceiling made of aluminum panels in your bathroom or kitchen, then you will not regret it one bit, as it is not only reliable and durable, but also fits into almost any design. A large assortment of slats is able to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding customers. The slats come in smooth and perforated, matte and glossy. They imitate the texture of wood and even leather. As for the shape of the slats, they are rounded and rectangular. The huge number of colors and shades is simply amazing. The slats are installed lengthwise, across the ceiling and even diagonally. Thus, you can visually reduce or increase the space.
Such ceilings also differ in their inter-river joints. With open installation, small gaps of 15 mm remain between the rails. A decorative profile is attached to them. With a closed joint, the aluminum panels overlap each other. There are also slats that are joined closely, resulting in a blind joint, that is, without gaps.
A comb or universal support rail, a corner profile, as well as an adjustable suspension are the main components suspension system. The comb is a galvanized strip with special clamps into which the slats are mounted and secured.
As for the suspension, it consists of a rod and a bracket. In this case, the rod is attached to the main ceiling, and the bracket is attached to the supporting comb. The suspended ceiling is installed at a distance of 5–12 cm from the main one. This distance is determined individually, depending on the communications located on the ceiling and personal preferences.
If you have already decided on the color and type of ceiling, then you need to calculate the amount of materials:
- Measure the perimeter of the ceiling. This measurement will indicate required amount purchase of a U-shaped profile fixed to the walls, which will facilitate the neat connection of the ceiling to the walls.
- Calculate the length of the combs. To do this, mark the ceiling perpendicular to the direction decorative panels, in increments of up to 1 m.
- Determine the area ceiling covering. To do this, calculate the total area of the room.
After this, you can buy the necessary set of materials for arranging an aluminum ceiling, according to the calculations you made.
Before you begin installing an aluminum slatted ceiling, you will need to collect the following tools and materials:
- Ceiling kit with profiles, panels and stringers.
- Hammer.
- Dowel-nails and self-tapping screws.
- Suspension elements.
- Construction level, tape measure, marker and ruler.
- Screwdriver.
- Pliers.
- Drill.
- Knife and scissors for metal.
If you mark the ceiling correctly, the installation will proceed without any difficulties. So, first of all, mark the perimeter. This is necessary for attaching the U-shaped profile. If you are dealing with a perfect ceiling, then you are extremely lucky. In this case, you simply need to draw a line on required height from the ceiling.
In the process of marking the perimeter along a ceiling that has different level, you will have to spend more complex calculations. The distance from the edge of the wall in this case will depend entirely on the filling of the inter-ceiling space.
If no communications are hidden in the ceiling, then the distance from the rough ceiling should be minimal, namely 5 cm. But, before making the markings, decide whether you want to install lighting devices in the ceiling. If so, a 5 cm indentation will not be enough.
Now make markings for the stringers. All lines you mark should be parallel to the side wall and to each other, and perpendicular to the end wall and the direction of the individual panels.
Using dowels, secure the U-shaped profile. Make indentations from the edges of 5 cm, and then make holes using a drill. The step between them for fasteners should be approximately 0.5 m.
Holes should be drilled with outside profile. This measure will allow you to avoid the formation of burrs that will subsequently prevent the profile from adhering to the wall. Prepare places for hangers in accordance with the existing markings. Adjustable hangers make it possible to level the ceiling. The extreme points should be located from end walls at a distance of 30–40 cm. Make intermediate points in increments of 1.2–1.5 m. Fix the stringers to which the aluminum slats will subsequently be attached. There should be a small gap of approximately 1 cm between the profile attached to the wall and the stringers. This condition is important to comply with so that the finished ceiling does not deform during temperature changes.
Before installation ceiling structure, cut the panels to the specified length. It is important to make them 3-5 mm shorter than the distance between the profiles into which the end sides of the panels will subsequently be inserted. Now it's time to assemble the ceiling surface. Insert the panels into the stringers until there is a characteristic click, indicating that the slats are fixed to the comb.
If the last panel does not fit, then there is nothing left to do but cut it. Mark the cutting locations, then make perpendicular cuts on the side of the panel to be removed. Panel sections formed by cuts should be broken off by bending/unbending the aluminum. Tuck the rail into the profile screwed to the wall with the cut side off, and fix the other edge to the stringers.
To make this process faster, install the cut panel next to last, and last panel shorten by 14 mm.
When installing slats in series, you must insert them diagonally into profiles screwed to the wall. In contrast, the last panel must first be moved to the side, bringing its first edge into the profile as much as possible. This way, both ends of the panel will be evenly positioned in relation to the wall. Now you can fix the panel on the support rail.
Spotlights harmonize better with slatted ceilings. To do this, holes for them are made in advance. Draw a circle required diameter at the place where the lamp is installed. From the center of the circle to the outer line, make cuts along the radius. To do this you will need metal scissors. Bend the resulting petals inner side ceiling. The installation of the lamp will be of better quality if you make narrow petals.
When installing an aluminum slatted ceiling, make sure that the integrity of the finishing layer of the panels is not compromised during the process. Scuffs, scratches and other mechanical damage will only worsen the appearance of the finished ceiling.
Anodizing panels provides the most stable and durable coating, as opposed to other types of decorative finishes.
Aluminum ceilings get dirty faster in the kitchen. However, they are quite easy to care for. They are not afraid of water. This means that the surfaces of such ceilings can be washed with a sponge in a soapy solution.
Slatted aluminum ceilings are environmentally friendly, so they can even be used in the bedroom and children's room.
Video
We invite you to watch step by step instructions on how to make an aluminum ceiling yourself:
