A suspended ceiling, or dropped ceiling, ordinarily takes the shape of a grid of aluminum supports with square or rectangular tiles positioned between them, which is suspended below the roof or floor above to provide a location for HVAC, cables and plumbing, and to create an attractive look with no obvious mess.
The suspended ceiling was conceived in 1958 by an American called Donald Brown and has changed very little since that time. Suspended ceilings are generally infrequently found in domestic situations, but they are frequently encountered in office and industrial environments where building construction techniques are distinct and additional utilities for example air conditioning, public address systems and fire detection are made use of.
Suspended ceiling panels usually are not with no negatives, nevertheless, and may grow to be unattractive after a number of years of being installed. Commonly, the panels can become discoloured because of cigarette smoke or rain water leakage. Panels can bulge down, or repeated removal and replacement for repair may end up in the edges and corners of the tiles getting ruined. If the layout of a building demands customization, suspended ceilings can be modified to match the new design but this really is frequently carried out inexpertly by general trades-people and may end up in a very poor appearance. In wet environments for example swimming pools, mold can become a concern if eventually left unattended.
Stretch ceilings really are a new innovation which is often a superior option to suspended ceilings on many occasions.
A stretch ceiling is a PVC sheet which is anchored at all edges to the wall surfaces and put under tension so that it will become smooth. A stretch ceiling has several of the advantages of a suspended ceiling, in terms of masking unattractive roof beams or aged plaster, but delivers a more appealing finish and neater installation all around columns and other irregular features. The ceiling could also be arched or curved to capitalize on of the space available, and could be supplied in a range of shades or perhaps illuminated from behind by coloured lighting effects. They’re also immune to mildew and mold because water just flows off them, making them suitable for use in damp environments.
Stretch ceilings are an interesting modern alternative to conventional suspended ceilings and they are increasing in popularity.