What are false ceiling | What are the types of false ceiling

What Are False
Ceilings
- A lower ceiling or secondary ceiling hung below the main (structural) ceiling is called a false ceiling.
- The false ceiling is usually provided for the temperature control (AC heat insulation), the installation of lights, or the concealment of electrical and other networking cables
- The area above the dropped ceiling is called plenum space
- Due to the versatile nature and other important features, the false ceiling has become an
an essential feature for every commercial place.
General
Benefits Of False Ceiling
The general advantage that everyone is familiar with is that it improves the esthetically appearance and proportion of the interior spaces, but this benefit is only the tip of the iceberg, as there are many advantages that the false ceiling gives to a few of them listed below:
- Hides
ducting and other structural elements under the ceiling - Works
as a heat insulator - Works as an acoustic barrier by reducing echo problems. (Specially in theaters, conference halls, auditoriums, etc.)
- False
ceiling
can also act as a fire separator if the material used in making ceiling tiles
are mineral fiber or
fire rated wood panels
Types of False
Ceiling:
False ceilings can be differentiated into many types based on their use, material used, appearance and visibility.
The main classification based on the materials used is briefly set out below:
GYPSUM BOARD FALSE CEILING
-
As
the name suggests, these are made of gypsum, a hydrated calcium sulfate, has
the quality of withstanding for a long time -
Gypsum is the most widely used false ceiling material. The panels come either with tapered or square edges
-
Gypsum
boards
can be easily fixed either by nailing directly to ply or other plain surfaces
or placing on a galvanized iron
(GI) metal grid -
Gypsum
the board comes in standard sizes of 6 feet X4 feet and 8 feet X 4 feet.
Types
Of Gypsum Boards Available In Market
-
Regular
Gypsum Board -
Fire Resistant
Gypsum Board -
Moisture
Resistant
Gypsum Board -
Fire and
Moisture Resistant Gypsum Boards
Pros
Cons
-
However, easy to install, it can be a difficult
process
to uninstall these boards. Repairing these means that the complete ceiling will
have to be broken down -
With time moisture seeps into gypsum
boards through leaking roofs or air conditioning pipes. This could result in
fungal growth in the ceiling or even cause reshaping of the boards -
Gypsum boards are expensive than POP
COFFERED FALSE CEILINGS
- The coffered ceiling is a group of sunk panels of various shapes in the ceiling.
- Dating back to when they were made
of stone, a coffered ceiling was considered an architectural feat of
construction - In modern times, the coffered ceiling often
refers to a custom wooden frame over ceiling panels to create the look of the
historical design - Coffered ceilings are formed by recessed panels surrounded by sloping beams that create a grid pattern. It’s a classic Greek and Roman ceiling design.
- A coffered ceiling can bring drama or add subtle architectural details to any room
Pros
- Coffered ceilings can be good for acoustics,
absorbing excess sound in an area - A coffered ceiling can increase the resale value of your home by a significant amount
- Because of the height, Coffered ceiling
can create the illusion of a higher ceiling
Cons
- Coffered ceilings are expensive
because ceilings
require
professional installation and advanced carpentry skills - Coffered ceilings make the most sense in rooms
that already have higher-than-usual ceiling heights (say, ten feet
or more). - While the coffered ceilings are capable of creating the illusion of a larger space, they also run the risk of lowering the low ceiling
PLASTER OF PARIS FALSE CEILING
Pros
-
It is light in weight and more durable
-
It is a very good fire-resistant and therefore a very good heat-insulating material.
-
It
does not shrink while setting. Therefore, it does not develop cracks in heating
or setting. -
It blends easily with water and is easy to spread and level.
-
It
gives a firm surface on which the colors can be set -
The plaster of Paris gives a decorative
interior finish. Its gypsum content provides it a lot of shine and smoothness -
It can easily be molded into
any shape
Cons
-
The major drawback of POP is its tendency to crack over time
-
The process of mixing the contents of the on-site POP is messy and complicated. Of course, after installing this type of suspended ceiling, a lot of cleaning is needed
-
During the application process, a lot of POP mixture is wasted
WOOD FALSE CEILING
-
Plywood ceilings are popular for their
visually attractive feature -
It can be used both for domestic and
commercial purposes -
Wood false ceilings are used more commonly due
to its natural textures and patterns -
They are widely preferred as they consist
good acoustic properties, insulation properties, high insulation strength, and
give your house a natural and cool appearance. -
The type of wood used for ceilings is
Barn wood, Faux
wood etc -
They are costly and can be installed in
residential buildings, commercial,
restaurants etc
Wood panels are among the more expensive
panels because of their high cost of material and the higher cost of
maintenance
Pros
-
They are strong and attractive
-
They can be given various finishes or
painted to get the desired look -
They can be easily treated to increase
their lifespan
Cons
-
Wooden ceilings are difficult to maintain
as they are prone to termite attacks -
The room has to be thermally controlled
to reduce the humidity in the air -
Wood is also prone to warping and other
physical changes that happen over time - Wooden false ceilings are costly; therefore, it is necessary to consider the total false ceiling costs before proceeding.
Pros
-
Minimal maintenance
-
Acoustical performance achieved through
perforation -
Fire and water-resistant
-
They do not crack or warp with time and retain
their shape. So, peeling is unheard of. Metal ceilings need almost zero
maintenance and repair -
They can also be easily removed for
any kind of maintenance purpose
Cons
PVC false CEILING
-
Polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) is the perfect plastic material for false ceilings. -
PVC ceiling
panels are a highly cost-effective alternative to other costlier panels -
PVC ceiling tiles solve the problem of dirty and unhygienic ceilings because they are easy to clean and maintain
-
It is one of the few types of false ceiling that are easy to install, lightweight, waterproof, termite-proof, and require very little maintenance
-
They
do not get affected by UV light and hence are colorfast -
They
can also be finished in a variety of ways giving flexibility in design
Pros
-
PVC ceilings are inexpensive to make and
install -
They are mass-produced and available
through a wide variety of distributors. You can get almost any color you
desire -
PVC false ceilings are durable and
sturdy. They last for a very long time and need very little maintenance
Cons
-
One of the biggest arguments against PVC
as a material is that it makes use of chlorine, which is hazardous and toxic
gas in its natural state -
Of course, PVC ceiling
material do
not generally contain vast amounts of free chlorine. However, over time they
may break down in such a way that minute traces of chlorine are introduced into
the air. -
PVC is not the most attractive ceiling
covering. Many people consider PVC to be inferior in appearance and choose to avoid it for esthetic reasons
glass FALSE ceiling
-
One of the types of false ceiling used in
construction is of glass -
It is a non-crystalline material with the
property of brittle and transparent. But this can be altered to make it nonbrittle and non-transparent using some admixtures -
Because glass is a good insulator of heat, it
can be used for false ceilings. This type of false ceiling improves the aesthetical
appearance of the building -
Glass
ceiling panels can be a suitable roofing solution in establishments such as
libraries, restaurants, book stores, and jewelry shops -
Their
transparency can be used effectively to make small spaces look
bigger
-
It allows the eyes to travel and explore
the space without obstruction -
Glass can be colored,
patterned, or laminated to create an interesting focal point for a room
Cons
GRID FALSE CEILING
-
Fibre ceiling tiles are developed by natural or
synthetic minerals -
This type of drop ceiling uses mineral tiles
that are ceramics, reinforced with natural stone, wood, vegetable fiber,
bitumen, and tars. -
These elements increase the insulation capacity of the product. Therefore, they are perfect for areas where heat and
sound insulation is needed -
Fiber ceiling tiles are available in a range of sizes, shapes, and designs. They ‘re cheap and easy to install!
Grid False Ceiling is one of the most common styles of false ceiling used in commercial office spaces
Pros
-
They have high insulation against sound and fire
-
The fiber increases the hardness and the toughness
of the material -
The material can be decorated with paint
or other finishes that improve the aesthetics of the room -
Easy to install and tiles
can be replaced with no
effort -
Easy to keep as you can remove the ceiling
tiles whenever you want
Cons
-
It cannot be used for residential areas as
they are appealing for home interior -
They are highly susceptible to water
damage
fabric or cloth false CEILING
-
They
are not highly recommended as they collect dust over some time. The light diffused through the fabrics gives the room a comfortable intensity and a warm mood -
This kind of false ceiling is not as
functional as others but definitely raises the look of a room
Pros
- Installation is quick, easy, and does not
require a highly skilled professional - Very few styles of false ceilings can
equal the aesthetic value added by high-quality fabric
Cons
-
If you are staying on the top floor of the
the building or any other where heat is transmitted on your slab, then thermocol
the ceiling will for sure reduce your heat -
You can apply thermocol on the ceiling and then you can do a false ceiling in it also. From this method you get
more heat insulation -
Heat can’t be reduced fully but to
50%-80% -
It’s very cost-effective
-
It’s easy to install and maintain
Pros
-
Installation is quick, easy, and does not
require a highly skilled professional -
Mostly used for heat insulation
Cons
-
It gets dusty easily
-
This cannot be used as a permanent feature of home decor
Advantages and disadvantages of
false ceiling
Pros
-
It provides
a smooth homogeneous surface to the roof -
It
provides fire protection as it creates compartmentation -
False
ceiling helps in acoustical treatment -
It
conceals all the non-pleasing elements and hides it from the viewer’s eyes -
It
also hides the pipelines and the electrical cables running in the room. All the
ducts of air-conditioning can be hidden under it
Cons
- The most worrying part of making a false ceiling will be insects. They will get into space and continue their own breeding, which might lead to a lot of problems in the future
- Always, be careful when putting up decorations or hangings when you have a false ceiling in place. Make sure you know the power and durability of your roof, do it, and don’t.
- Finally, the false ceiling would significantly reduce the height of the ceiling and therefore do not install a false ceiling unless you have a decent ceiling height.
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