To make a private house a cozy fortress, it is necessary to take care of the practical and functional finishing of all surfaces in advance. When renovating, the floor base and walls are usually left for last, and with the design of the ceiling, on the contrary, it is better to finish as quickly as possible.
It only seems at first glance that the ceiling is the most problem-free part of the room, because it does not experience such loads as the floor and is not as susceptible to mechanical impact as the walls. In fact, dust rises up the room every day, condensation, steam with oil and fat settle. All this has an adverse effect on the ceilings.
The modern market offers a huge selection of materials for ceiling finishing. Each of them has its pros and cons. Let’s consider them in more detail.
Ceiling finishing options
The goal of any renovation is to choose a design that will last a long time, will not lose its aesthetic qualities, and will look beautiful and stylish.
The ceiling of a private house consists of floors, insulation and sheathing. The sheathing can be made of plasterboard or boards (if the house is wooden), and if the building is made of stone, brick, foam blocks, the floor itself (previously plastered) can serve as the basis for the finishing material.
Whitewashing or painting
20-30 years ago, whitewashing was considered a universal (and almost always the only) option for finishing a ceiling. And some craftsmen even managed to add blue to the solution; for some reason, it was believed that this way the coating would last longer. But this is a myth.
Today, whitewashing is considered a budget and most affordable option. It is often used in DIY repairs. The application technology is extremely simple, but there is one condition – the surface must be perfectly smooth. This can be achieved using plasterboard panels.
Whitewash is made from lime and chalk. The components are combined and diluted with water to the desired consistency. Apply with a roller.
We have already mentioned the advantages of the method – affordable price, ease of application. But whitewashing also has its disadvantages – after some time it dries and crumbles. This makes wet cleaning almost impossible.
Painting is considered a modern alternative to whitewashing. It is more effective and practical. Depending on the composition, it can form a glossy, semi-glossy, matte coating and even with visual effects. Any color can be added to the mixture, which allows you to implement even the most daring design ideas.
The paint can be:
- water-based,
- acrylic,
- silicone,
- latex,
- silicate.
Whitewashing and painting are ideal for rooms up to 2–2.3 m high. Traditionally, light shades are chosen, they visually expand and “lift” the space. And the most daring can transfer artistic painting to the ceiling.
The paint is applied with a roller, brush or spray gun. This type of coating has only one significant drawback: it requires careful surface preparation, all previous layers must be removed, otherwise the quality of the finish will be significantly lower.
Decorative plaster
Today in construction stores you can see an endless range of plasters of different types and purposes, there are basic, for metal, for wood, finishing, etc. Decorative ones are allocated in a separate category. In general, this is a finishing coating, but after application it forms not a smooth, but a textured coating.
Benefits of the solution:
- Possibility of obtaining a beautiful, aesthetic relief.
- The plaster forms a dense layer that covers all the smallest defects and cracks.
- Plaster can be applied to surfaces made of different materials – concrete, brick, chipboard, plasterboard, etc.
- Durability and wear resistance – the coating is resistant to moisture and temperature changes and will last for many decades.
- With the help of decorative plaster, you can bring to life design projects of any complexity. By combining different application technologies, you can create unique and original reliefs.
There are two types of plaster:
- Textured. Sold as a ready-made mixture, the textured effect is achieved due to the presence of such elements as quartz or granite chips in the composition. The components may differ in granule size, shape, and quantity.
- Structural. Usually it is a thick, plastic mass of white color. The pattern is formed with the help of special tools, for example, a spatula with teeth. And to get the desired shade, the corresponding colorant is added to the mass.
The downside of plaster is the difficulty of application. To achieve a beautiful effect, the master must have certain knowledge and skills; it is not recommended to work with this material on your own. The surface must also be perfectly smooth or close to it.
Wallpaper
And although the usual place for wallpaper is walls, nothing prevents you from gluing them to the ceiling. Naturally, not the entire area is pasted over with them, usually 70-80% of the surface, starting from the center, but there may be other options.
You can choose the same wallpaper that is used for the walls of this room, or, on the contrary, take different, contrasting ones. The main thing is that the finishing means look harmonious, bring coziness. This type of finishing can be done with your own hands. But you need to be prepared for certain difficulties, in particular, the need for long-term work at height with raised hands.
Disadvantages: low durability, wallpaper deteriorates when exposed to moisture and can fade due to ultraviolet radiation.
Liquid wallpaper
Liquid wallpaper is fundamentally different from ordinary wallpaper. This is a new material that is just gaining popularity. It is perfect for finishing walls and ceilings.
Liquid wallpaper is a dry mixture of paper and decorative components, which is mixed with water to the state of a viscous gruel, applied to the ceiling and carefully distributed over the surface. After drying, the mixture takes the form of decorative plaster. It often has a textured base, but at the same time the coating is soft to the touch, like paper.
Advantages of liquid wallpaper:
- Easy to apply. This method can be easily implemented even by a person without experience.
- The mixture forms a dense coating that covers cracks and minor defects.
- Repairability. Damaged coating is easy to restore, just wet the area with water, remove a piece of material and reapply.
Liquid wallpaper has virtually no disadvantages, but it does have its own peculiarities. Firstly, the texture is too soft, which can damage the surface. But, as we have already said above, a chip or hole can be repaired without additional costs. Secondly, some people note that they look “cheap”. But this factor depends on the material itself. Budget compositions may not look very aesthetically pleasing, but they are practical and durable. There are also more expensive samples on the market.
Ceiling tiles
Much to the relief of most designers and firefighters (!), ceiling tiles are gradually going out of fashion. In the mid- to late 00s, this material was found everywhere – in offices, kindergartens, residential buildings, apartments. Today, it is less common, but can be considered as an option.
Foam tiles can be uniform or textured. They are sold in the form of cells of the same size, attached to the ceiling with glue or liquid nails. The advantages are ease of installation and low cost, but there are more disadvantages. Solid plastic coating and toxic glue poison the surrounding atmosphere, do not allow air to pass through, and provoke the formation of mold. In addition, plastic is flammable and emits hazardous substances when smoldering.
The good news is that this does not apply to all lines, mainly super budget series are guilty of such characteristics. For finishing the ceiling of a residential building, it is better to choose more expensive models, and carefully read the description before buying.
Suspended ceilings
A universal method of finishing the ceiling. Suitable for installation in any type of house – frame, brick, foam concrete and other materials. The design consists of a fastening system, which is placed around the perimeter of the room, and a sheet of PVC or synthetic fabric. The material is heated, as a result of which it acquires plasticity. This allows you to stretch the sheet to a perfectly flat state.
Today, there are many variations of suspended systems. It can be a simple straight, classic ceiling, a two- or three-level system, a structure with shadow, hidden or decorative lighting.
Advantages of the technology:
- Quick implementation. Installation takes several hours, without dirt and dust.
- To install suspended ceilings, there is no need to pre-prepare the surface; the canvas can be attached over any old finish.
- This method allows you to hide any defects in the ceilings, including crumbling plaster and cracks.
- PVC fabric does not allow moisture to pass through, can be matte or glossy, and has protection against static electricity.
- Another non-obvious but quite useful advantage of suspended ceilings is their repairability. If pipes start leaking on the second floor of the house or there is a flood, the first floor will not be damaged in any way, the PVC sheet will hold all the water (fabric ones do not have this ability). After draining the water, the sheet can be stretched again and continued to be used.
The disadvantage of PVC ceilings is poor air permeability. To prevent condensation and stale air from accumulating in the room, it is necessary to increase air exchange using forced ventilation or other methods.
Installation must be carried out by experienced craftsmen using safe equipment; it is extremely dangerous to conduct such experiments on your own.
Drywall
With the advent of plasterboard, there are almost no limits left for builders and designers in the matter of implementing ideas. The material is affordable, easy to process, has excellent performance qualities, and allows you to implement almost any project.
Drywall is a multilayer material, consisting of two cardboard sheets, in the middle of which there is a gypsum filler. Such sheets have a fairly high degree of thermal insulation, withstand loads well, to impart moisture resistance, some models have a special coating.
The material is used for surface finishing – with the help of slabs it is easy and quick to level the ceiling, floor or walls. Drywall can be used as a means for constructing new objects, for example, multi-level ceilings. With its help, smooth curves, geometric shapes and even non-standard figured details are created on the ceiling.
Laminate finishing
Laminate is traditionally considered a floor covering, but this has not stopped designers. Today, the material is used to finish almost any surface – doors, walls and even ceilings. This solution is bold, but if implemented correctly, it will bring coziness and a special, rustic atmosphere to the house.
Laminate is highly moisture resistant, does not accumulate static electricity, and does not form condensation. The boards are attached to the ceiling with special glue or liquid nails. However, you should not completely cover the ceiling with laminate; it is better to play up the center in an interesting way or add contrast to a multi-tiered structure.
Wooden ceilings
If you have a wooden house, you won’t even need any additional manipulations; it’s enough to cover the flooring materials with a mold protection agent, good varnish or wax.
But such beauty can be arranged in any other house. Thick, most often wide, deck-type boards are used for cladding. The solution looks very impressive, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly.
When choosing a material for finishing the ceiling in a private house, consider the overall style of the interior, the type of ceilings and, of course, your own preferences. The main thing is that you and your family feel comfortable and calm in the new design.