The first stretch ceilings were made of woven fabric. Now for this purpose, a polyvinyl chloride film is used, which has a lot of advantages. Whatever the film is (lacquer or velvet), it has sufficient light absorption coefficient for living rooms and good sound insulation.
These ceilings are very resistant to temperature fluctuations. Shrinking and becoming denser at low temperatures, the film does not break and restores its properties at normal temperatures.
Stretch PVC ceilings are strong enough and can withstand heavy loads, and also do not let water through. And even if you are not sure about the reliability of your roof, do not be afraid to install stretch film ceilings – they can withstand flooding. Moreover, the ceiling is mounted in such a way that you will be able to detach one corner to drain the accumulated water. And at the same time, you don’t have to worry that the ceiling will lose its original shape due to the flood, this will not happen. When installing a stretch ceiling, heat guns, electric or gas, are used, it is not so important, the main thing is that they instantly heat up and supply a stream of hot air of the required temperature and strength.
The material from which the stretch ceilings are made is impregnated with special antistatic compounds so that dust and dirt do not stick to them. Therefore, it will be easy to take care of such a ceiling: it is enough to wash it from time to time with a soft sponge dipped in soapy water. If suddenly any spots appear on the stretch ceiling or it stops shining, ammonia can be added to the soapy water (a few drops are enough).
But as an alternative to PVC films, one more modern and practical material for stretch ceilings can be offered – a polyester fabric with a rough structure. Although it is dense in texture, it is quite light. At the same time, it is able to withstand considerable weight.
The disadvantage of polyester fabric can be considered the lack of colors. If PVC film can be found on sale in any shades, then this fabric has only white color. Therefore, such a ceiling is designed mainly for painting with acrylic compounds.