Is a convenient, fast and aesthetically attractive option for decorating various premises. The possibility of quick and not particularly complicated installation, allows the installation of this type of ceiling, with your own hand.
The aluminum rack ceiling is so reliable that it can serve for several decades without requiring repair.
Due to its strength, moisture resistance, durability, a large selection of textures and colors, as well as various combination options, the assembly of a slatted ceiling becomes extremely relevant when creating a modern interior.
Slatted ceilings are applicable in apartments, offices, residential buildings, gyms, medical and educational premises, cafes and restaurants. Their use is indispensable in rooms with high humidity, and in the inter-ceiling space it is convenient to hide the wiring and communications of climate systems.
Types of structures
Assembly diagram of a suspended ceiling rack.
Rack ceilings are long, narrow panels with a specially designed suspension system. The slatted ceiling panels are made of food grade aluminum, lacquered on top.
The suspension system is a structure of hangers, bearing profiles and an end profile, which is called a skirting board. The bearing profile is a strip with special grooves for fixing panels. Slatted ceiling panels can be perforated or all-metal.
The assembly of this type of ceiling may well be carried out by one person.... Having decided on the choice, color and type of rack ceiling, you need to calculate the amount of materials. To do this, you need to measure the perimeter of the room, calculate the total length of the bearing stringers and determine the required ceiling area, having previously calculated the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe room.
List of materials:
- ceiling kit with accompanying profiles, stringers and panels;
- suspension elements;
- dowel-nails;
- self-tapping screws.
Tools required for:
- punch or drill;
- screwdriver;
- marker;
- building level (preferably 1.5 m);
- ruler and tape measure;
- knife and scissors for metal;
- pliers;
- diamond core bit for drilling (for cutting out the area under the lamps).
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Marking and fixing structural elements
Markings for mounting for a slatted ceiling.
Any editing begins with a markup. The perimeter along which the installation of the U-shaped profile will be carried out is outlined first. With a horizontal ceiling, a line is simply applied in a horizontal projection, at the required height. If you need much more complex calculations.
The indentation from the upper edge of the wall depends on the filling of the interceiling space, if you are not going to place anything above your slatted ceiling, you can raise it as much as possible, leaving a gap of about 5 cm.Installing lamps and other communications will require more space between the false ceiling and the real one.
When marking for stringers, you need to control the parallelism of the lines, relative to the side wall and among themselves. These lines should be perpendicular to the direction of the trim panels and the end wall.
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We fix the supporting elements
Fixing elements for the rack ceiling. They are fixed on the ceiling and on the walls of the room, with dowel-nails and self-tapping screws.
The U-shaped profile is fixed with dowels first. 5 cm recede from the edges and holes are drilled, in the gap where the edge attachment points are located with a distance of about 0.5 meters, the remaining holes are made for fasteners.
To avoid burrs, the profile is drilled from the outside. After you have fixed the profile, prepare the places for the suspensions according to the markings. Adjustable hangers are the most convenient, the ceiling surface is aligned very precisely with their application. The edge points are 30-40 centimeters from the end walls, the intermediate points are 1.2-1.5 meters.
A slatted ceiling in a bathroom or in another room of your home can be easily installed without the help of specialists. At the same time, the costs of purchasing and installing it are quite acceptable for any family budget.
Ceilings made of aluminum and steel slats in the CIS countries began to be sold at the end of the last century. The homeland of such structures is Germany. It was from her that new functional ceilings were supplied to Russia, which immediately fell in love with both the master installers and ordinary consumers.
The first constructions were objectively expensive. But this did not interfere with the conquest of the domestic market for rack and pinion ceiling structures. Which is not surprising. After all, the described coating has a number of advantages:
- elegant appearance;
- versatility (you can install the ceiling in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom)
- environmental Safety;
- resistance to high temperatures and changes in humidity;
- quick and easy assembly and installation of aluminum panels;
- the ability to select rack products for any design style that suits you, including a truly refined one;
- durability
Rack ceiling design
It is also worth noting that the rack and pinion structure is suspended. This means that its installation makes it possible to level the existing ceiling surface without using plaster and similar compounds. In addition, it is easy to hide any apartment communications under such a structure, which is important. Most often, you can see a slatted ceiling in the bathroom or in the kitchen. But this does not prevent you from installing it in the hall or in the bedroom. Trust me, it will look very attractive in any room.
Finding flaws in slatted ceilings is very difficult. The disadvantage of the structures under consideration is that it is not very convenient to repair them. If any of the panels breaks during operation, you will have to disassemble the entire ceiling covering to replace the defective element. One more point. When installing a rack suspended covering in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, a slight decrease in the height of the room is noted. It is not essential, especially when you are not placing utility lines under the ceiling.
Structurally, the rack coverings are made of steel or aluminum traverses (metal profiles with special teeth). Panels (rails) are attached to them. Installation of the ceiling should be done with traverses and rails from the same manufacturer. In this case, you will be able to correctly and efficiently install a rack ceiling on your own.
Correct installation of a slatted ceiling requires a simple drawing of the room and the type of lighting that you want to see in it. In situations where you plan to install spotlights in a room (kitchen), you should find out the length of the fixtures. It is very important. Based on the height of the lighting devices, you can understand how far you have to lower the suspended ceiling.
Usually, the ceiling surface is lowered 2-3 cm below the height of the used ones. Now you can proceed to calculating the amount of material for arranging a ceiling made of aluminum (steel) panels. Here it is important to correctly choose the length of the slats, with the help of which the coating will be installed. In most cases, consumers are offered products with a length of 4 and 3 m. If you plan to place a slatted ceiling in the bathroom (this room most often has a small width - 1.3–1.5), it is better to buy slats of three meters in length. Then the installation of the structure will be carried out with a minimum amount of waste.
Arrangement of a ceiling structure made of aluminum panels
For a large room, four-meter slats are more suitable. It will not be difficult for you to determine their length and total number if you have drawn up a drawing of the room in advance. In addition, consultants at home improvement stores where rack structures are sold are always ready to carry out the calculation for you. Just show them the exact geometric dimensions of the floor plan. They will tell you clearly how much material you need to purchase.
Important! When you calculate the number of laths, add another 10 percent to the required volume of material. Installation of suspended ceilings is associated with the need to cut off strips and profiles. It is better to play it safe so that later you do not need to buy additional material.
The most common fixtures are used as a tool for installing aluminum panels on the ceiling in a room. You will need scissors for cutting metal, universal screws for fastening structural elements and dowels, a level, a hammer, a marker, pliers, a construction knife, a drill, a hammer drill. All this is available to every home craftsman who is used to making repairs in the kitchen or in another room of his home with his own hands.
At the first stage of work, markings must be applied to the ceiling surface. You will need to draw a perimeter to set the profile. In cases where the ceiling is a strictly horizontal surface, everything is simple. Mark a line in horizontal projection at the required height with a marker or ordinary pencil. The traverse will be installed along it.
If you plan to install a multi-level structure, you will have to perform more complicated calculations. But they will not cause special problems for you. It's just that instead of a regular tape measure, it is better to use a laser level in such a situation. The possibility of applying erroneous markings when using it is excluded.
- cut with scissors for metal to the desired size (note - the length of the profile is determined by the line drawn on the surface);
- drill holes in the profile product with a drill (there are profiles with ready-made holes for fasteners on sale, there is no need to drill them, as you understand).
Installation of the ceiling profile
Holes must also be made in the walls to fix the profile product. Here you will need a hammer drill or drill. After that, you need to plant the profile on. Note! It attaches at a 45-degree angle to the outer corners and butt to the inner corners. The next step is to determine the locations of the tires. From the wall, the very first supporting product is located at a distance of about 4 cm (a little closer - 3.5 cm). All subsequent ones are mounted after one meter. The tires are fixed to the ceiling in two ways:
- By means of a special bracket for adjustable hangers.
- Directly to the ceiling surface with self-tapping screws.
The hangers are fixed with dowels with screws in the holes made by an electric drill. Nuance - it is forbidden to mount carrier rails on the corner profile, since they must firmly hold the rails... Be sure to check the correct placement of the adjustable elements using a spirit level. Now the installation instructions allow us to fix the panels. Cut the slats to the required size. Do not rush to prepare all the panels at once. There are no perfectly flat wall surfaces in any kitchen or other room.
First, we mount the panel at a slight slope on the corner profile, after which we straighten the latter (the operation must be done very carefully) to the specified position. Be sure to secure the profile with the clips supplied with the tires. We put the second next to the first rail. The third panel must be installed from the opposite side to the second line of clips. This is due to the fact that the first row is often shorter than the rest. This means that it may well be necessary to adjust the width of the rail. This problem has to be solved quite often.
An additional profile is always placed between each pair of panels. It is called intermediate. Further installation steps are clear. Difficulties can arise when fixing the very last panel. It needs to be fastened very tightly. There is one trick here. You need to put 2-3 small wood pegs between the wall and the last rail. Then the tightness of the panel fixing will be ensured. And then you will hide the pegs themselves under the plinth, no one will see them.
That, in principle, is the whole technology of how to make a rack ceiling with your own hands in any room of your house, for example, in the kitchen or in the bedroom. Enjoy the new design of your home!
When decorating the interior of residential premises, many prefer slatted ceilings. The popularity of such designs is explained by high quality, practical, operational characteristics, a wide variety of textures and textures. Installation will not be difficult even for novice craftsmen. The main thing is to adhere to the technology and work sequence. As an illustrative example, thematic videos are presented, which show the assembly of a rack ceiling.
How to assemble a rack ceiling?
The advantages of slatted ceilings
Slatted ceiling is suitable for interior decoration of bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, office centers, swimming pools, garages. The high degree of moisture resistance of the material allows it to be used for arranging verandas, gas stations, summer areas. How beautiful a slatted ceiling looks in design can be seen in videos on interior arrangement.
The advantages of rack structures:
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- moisture resistance;
- long service life;
- easy installation, quick installation;
- ease of care;
- versatility.
The rack ceiling is not afraid of leaks due to the complete tightness of the structure. Each rail fits snugly against the other. Before starting the installation, the rough ceiling surface does not need to be plastered and putty. It is enough to dismantle the old coating.
The main advantage is the easy installation of slatted ceiling structures, as you will see by studying the video materials.
Important! If you plan to install the ceiling in rooms with high humidity, it is recommended to pre-treat the draft ceiling with an antifungal agent.
Installation / installation of slatted ceilings is carried out after the completion of the finishing of the wall surfaces.
The most in demand are aluminum. Aluminum fits well into any interior concept, has dust-repellent properties, moisture-resistant, it is easy to clean it from dirt. The aluminum panel is easy to cut to the required size if the slats are adjusted. Ceiling installation is shown in the video.
The suspended rack ceiling during installation takes 10-15 cm of height. Correct selection of color, texture, texture will help to compensate for the loss of useful space in small-sized rooms. Preference should be given to light colors and a mirror surface.
Features of a slatted ceiling
The slatted ceiling consists of ceiling panels (slats), which are made of sheets 0.4–0.7 mm thick (steel, aluminum, plastic), 5–30 cm wide, 3–6 m long. You can place an order for the manufacture of a ceiling structure according to individual measurements. They cut the panels to the desired size and on their own using metal scissors.
The composition of the suspension system: supporting tires (stringer, traverse), corner profiles, adjustable suspensions. Stringer is a galvanized steel profile with "teeth" for which the ceiling strips are attached. Each type of panel has its own stringer.
Important! To avoid gaps when installing the ceiling structure, it is recommended to purchase traverses and slats from one company.
The hanger has brackets fixed to the traverse and a rod that will be fixed to the base surface. The most convenient for work is an adjustable suspension that allows you to perfectly level the surface of the ceiling structure. During installation, it is quite possible to determine the distance to the grid system and the main surface of the base base yourself.
The strip is fixed to the basic ceiling slab by means of a suspension system and tires with special fasteners for profiles.
All the main elements of the ceiling rack are made of aluminum using cold stamping technology. The rail is painted with powder paint compounds that protect the structure from negative factors.
Types of river ceilings
The ceiling panel (strip) can be perforated, rounded, rectangular, matte, glossy, can have a different texture, color, which will allow you to choose a slatted ceiling for any interior style. Panels, decorative inserts of the same color scheme create a harmonious space.
The design of suspended slatted ceilings is determined by the type of panels (open, closed type). In the open version, there are gaps of approximately 0.15 mm between the slats. The installation of the ceiling structure is completed by fixing the decorative inserts in the places where gaps are formed. The installation of a slatted ceiling can be done without gaps. With closed joints, the panels go over each other and are fixed with tabs. No inserts required.
When choosing slats, pay attention to their size:
- The panels are produced in lengths of three to four meters. If it becomes necessary to purchase the required size, check before purchasing if there is a cutting machine.
- The panel can have a width of 10-20 cm. The best option for small-sized rooms is 10-cm slats.
- In order for the ceiling to have sufficient strength and keep its shape well, the rail must be at least 0.5 mm thick.
Installation, diagram of the rack ceiling structure
In order to properly install the rack ceiling on your own, we recommend watching the video before starting work. Installation is not particularly difficult even for novice craftsmen. Detailed instructions and a diagram will be provided that will help to install the rack ceiling in accordance with all the rules.
Before starting the installation, you need to prepare:
- hydro level;
- pliers;
- pencil;
- screwdriver;
- scissors for cutting metal.
Installation of a slatted suspended ceiling can be made at any distance from the base one. Adjustable suspensions are used. Rack suspended ceiling systems can even be mounted back to back. The gap will be 0.4 cm, which is equal to the thickness of the tire.
Installation begins with inspecting the base base, making markings for installing the guide rail. Using the hydro level, the place of the future ceiling is marked along the entire perimeter, stepping back 10-15 cm from the base. Draw a horizontal line, as shown in the video, which is a guideline for attaching the guide profiles. The start and end points of the line must match.
The standard length of the profiles is 3 m. The required length can be achieved with scissors for cutting metal. How to cut the panel is shown in the video. After marking, the profile is installed. Measure the length of the wall, cut the profile to the desired size. If there are no holes in the profile, they are drilled with a drill. The first hole is drilled at a distance of 45–50 mm from the wall surface, the subsequent ones - at 40–55 cm each.
A profile is applied to the marked line and holes for dowels are drilled in all walls. The profile "sits" on self-tapping screws, fixing it end-to-end at the inner corners, at the outer corners - at an inclination of 45 degrees.
Installation of suspensions
Marker using a tape measure mark where the traverses will be fixed. The first mark is applied at a distance of 35 cm from the wall surface, the next - with a step of 80–95 cm. The suspension is fixed with hardware. Check the position with the hydraulic level.
The next stage is fixing, fastening the carrier tires. In order for the design to be perfectly flat, errors must not be allowed. With a small distance from the base, the stringer can be attached directly to the rough surface.
The stringer is installed perpendicular to the panels, flush with the profile, which is fixed around the perimeter. The fastening of the carrier rail to the suspensions is performed with a screwdriver. A gap of 1 cm is left between the stringer and the corner profile. If the stringer is short, the suspension is fixed at the beginning of the traverse. The next stringer is attached end-to-end with the previous one.
After mounting the support rail, especially if an adjustable suspension has been used, check with a tape measure how level the stringer is. All elements should be located horizontally, parallel to the line axes X, Y, Z.
Installation process
Before installing the slatted ceiling structure, prepare the slats of the required length, after taking measurements. Measure the distance between the wall surfaces transverse to the axis where the traverses are located. With a marker, a line is drawn on the inner surface of the strip, along which the strip will be cut. Cut the curved corners with scissors. An extra piece is removed along the notch, bending and unbending the panel.
The panel is freed from the protective film, cut to the desired size. The rail is inserted into the guides and snaps into the traverse clamps until a characteristic click. Each subsequent plank must be installed next to the previous one.
The height of the crosshead can be adjusted by changing the screw-in depth of the hardware, but only if the stringer is fixed to the base base. Adjustable suspension will help to change the height.
If the last panel does not fit into the remaining space, it is trimmed to the desired size. Deep cut marks are applied along the entire length with a knife. Perpendicular cuts are made on the segment to be removed. The panel must be cut very carefully, being careful not to damage it. The strip enters the profile with a cut-off part, the other end of the strip is attached to the tongues of the traverse.
Important! The penultimate panel (rail) should be 13 mm shorter than the others.
Installation of rack suspended structures involves the installation of inserts, if they are included in the kit. The skirting boards will give the complete look of the structure. They hide the joints between wall surfaces and the ceiling. For uneven walls, use wide skirting boards, as shown in the video.
The suspended structure of a slatted ceiling consists of suspensions (clamps with knitting needles), an end profile, stringers for fastening strips (strips) and the aluminum strips (strips) themselves.
Markup
Before marking the attachment points of the suspensions, the following rules for fastening the suspensions must be taken into account.
1. The maximum distances between stringers, stringers and walls, between hangers should be no more than indicated in the figure. When installing, please note that the stringers must be strictly parallel to each other.After marking the rough ceiling, we proceed to its installation.
Attaching stringers
2. Options for attaching stringers to the base depends on the planned distance to the ceiling. Or with a long self-tapping screw with an expansion dowel (lower the ceiling to 5 cm), spring mount (lower the ceiling by 6-12 cm) and spring mount with a spoke (lower the ceiling by 10-40 cm).All stringers must be fixed strictly in the same horizontal level and strictly parallel.
After fixing the stringers, we proceed to the installation of panels (rails)
Installation of panels (rails)
Installing the first panel
3. The panel is cut with metal scissors. The panel length should be 3-5 mm less than the actual distance between the walls. 4. After preliminary measurements, the first panel is mounted on the supporting stringer system with the remaining space for the outer panel to be trimmed. 5. Accurately measure the distance from the first panel to the wall. Due to the geometry of the wall, it can be different. We will trim the panel to this size. 6. On the next panel, set aside the distance measured above and mark the panel for cutting. Make all markings from the inside of the panel.Panel undercut
7. Using a metal ruler and a sharp knife, the panel is cut along the mark line. Hold the knife several times, trying not to tear the blade off the surface. 8. If you cut the panel across, using metal scissors, the panel will warp (worry). To avoid this, you need to cut the cut off part into pieces of 30 cm and break them off. We proceed to the preparation of the end profile. 9. In the corners where the end profiles are connected with pliers, through a soft gasket, they must be pressed in (1.5 cm) so that they can be easily connected later. Cut and bend the upper flange of the end profile at the interface with the stringer. 10. Put the prepared end profile on the cut panel and fix this structure on the stringers. Press the cut edge of the panel with spacers inside the end profile. This will completely remove the gap between the profile and the panel. Install a decorative insert between the first panels.Important! This is the correct instruction for installing a slatted ceiling. Please note that you do not need to assemble the ceiling panel by panel. After installing the first two panels on one side, go to the opposite side of the room. If the room is wide, then you can insert one, two additional strips in the middle of the structure.
11. On the opposite side, do the same. The connections of the end profiles in the corners can be seen in the figure. 12. Re-level the suspension structure. Use a building level. After the final leveling and fixing of the hangers, install the remaining panels and decorative strips between them.Important! If the installation of recessed luminaires is planned in the ceiling, holes for the luminaires are cut on the ground.
Note! These installation instructions for slatted ceilings apply to ceiling types in which decorative thin strips (16 mm) are inserted between the main panels (86 mm). A slatted ceiling without decorative strips (solid) is not mounted with end profiles, but with edging corners.
Especially for the site:
A slatted ceiling can decorate both residential and public premises. This is a rather versatile finish that has been popular in recent years, which is in a hurry to make it due to its excellent operational properties.
The slatted ceiling belongs to the category of suspended ceilings. The structure consists of panels - usually metal, steel, plastic panels still belong to a different variety. The set also includes a suspension system for slats.
Today it is not a problem to install a custom-made ceiling, where the length of the slats will strictly correspond to the dimensions of your ceiling.
The slatted ceiling is installed last, after the walls have been finished, etc.
The slats are different: glossy or matte, with a perforated surface or smooth, they also differ in texture. For example, you can assemble a structure from "leather-like" slats, or from "wood-like" slats.
The slats themselves can be placed both traditionally - along the floor, and across the floor and diagonally.
How to make a slatted aluminum ceiling in a bathroom (video)
How to install a rack ceiling yourself
The first thing to do is collect the necessary tools.
To work you will need:
- Drill;
- Perforator;
- Dowels;
- Metal scissors;
- Roulette;
- Marker;
- Ruler;
- Building level;
- Self-tapping screws;
- A sharp knife.
Installation technology
How to mount the ceiling? First, you mark where the new ceiling will begin. The distance should not be less than 5 cm from the base ceiling. This mark is transferred around the perimeter of the room, for this use the building level.
Draw a line, and according to the marks made, measure the length of the wall, cut off a piece of the corner profile. It is usually cut with scissors for metal.
Next, attach the profile along the drawn line to the wall and make a hole with a drill. Screw in the screw and dowel there. The profile must be fixed in steps of 500 mm, and check its evenness with a level. What is important, at the inner corners, the profile is attached end-to-end, and already at the outer corners, an angle of 45 degrees is needed.
How to install a rack ceiling correctly
Using a tape measure, mark the attachment points for the support rails. Make the first mark at a distance of 300 mm from the wall, and the subsequent ones should be 90 cm apart, while parallel to each other.
The hangers are fixed with screws and dowels, the holes are pre-drilled with a drill. The level of the suspension is checked.
Fastening support rails:
- The spacing between the support rails should not exceed 1-1.1 m. The tires are installed perpendicular to the rails, and, this is important, flush with the profile, which is nailed along the perimeter.
- The tires are screwed to the suspensions with a screwdriver. To ensure that the structure is perfectly flat, make sure that there is no error anywhere.
- The distance between the corner profile and the tire is one centimeter. If the tire, for example, turned out to be shorter, it's okay - just put it on. For this purpose, the suspension simply needs to be fixed at the very beginning of the next tire.
Installation instructions for rails
The slats need to be freed from the protective film and cut to fit your ceiling. Its length should be half a centimeter less than the inter-wall distance (opposite).
- The slats must be carefully inserted into the guides and snapped along the entire length onto the bus clips. A further rail is installed next to the previous one.
- If necessary, the height of the tires is adjusted, and this is done by changing the screw-in depth of the screws.
- If the last rail does not fit in width, you simply cut it. Mark this distance along the length of the rail, draw a line with the knife, and bend until the rail breaks.
- Install this cut strip and secure it with wooden spacers or pieces of corner profile.
The assembly of the ceiling also includes a plinth. This is an important decorative element, and it will definitely give it a complete look, as well as hide the unattractive gaps between the walls and the structure.
There is one more nuance - kitchens often have uneven walls, and they require a wide plinth that visually aligns the structure.
How to wire for luminaires on a slatted ceiling
Typically, spotlights are installed on a slatted ceiling.
There are two ways lighting works:
- When all lights are turned on at once. In this case, one two-wire wire is pulled from the switch. And already from this wire, bends are made from the installation site of the lamps.
- When the lights are turned on in groups. In this case, the central wire should have as many cores as you select groups. Usually we are talking about two or three groups. It is used, which is logical, a two-key and three-key switch.
To connect the luminaire, you need a wire with a cross section of 1.5 square meters. And this is quite enough for standard lamps.
For luminaires with high power, a special heat-resistant wire is needed. High power means more than 50 watts.
Do-it-yourself rack ceiling repair
Of course, you need to watch according to the circumstances, but usually the repair involves the dismantling of the ceiling, that is, the dismantling is most likely partial.
First, you disassemble one of the edges - you need to pry the wall corner profile with a knife. And then bend it so that you can easily pull the end of the extreme rail. The end module is released from the stringer locks and carefully removed.
With other ceiling slats, the reverse works - all locks are released, and the released panel moves to the edge. Then it can be easily removed from the overall structure.
The process of installing a rack ceiling (video)
A rack ceiling can decorate a bathroom, kitchen, balcony, and in fact - any room. It decorates both square and rectangular ceilings. Therefore, do not hesitate to "install / not install", do everything according to the instructions and enjoy the result.
Happy repair!