Choosing a suspended ceiling

What do you know the usual buyer of suspended ceilings? As a rule, only that they are rack (made of aluminum slats that resemble battens) and tile that is made up of squares. Manufacturers of more than half of sales volume ceilings on the domestic market accounted for by the company, "Armstrong" What a normal buyer knows about the suspended ceiling? As a rule, only that they are rack (made of aluminum slats that resemble battens) and tile that is made up of squares. Manufacturers of more than half of sales volume ceilings on the domestic market accounted for by the company, "Armstrong" ("Armstrong"). By the way, do not be surprised if one store offers a "Armstrong" made in USA and in the other - Holland: error or no trick here is not just plants that is firm and in the States and in Europe. The rest of the post-Soviet market share a few large and reputable companies, plus those that are smaller. For "Armstrong" rated popularity followed by another American company - "Seloteks" ("Celotex"), behind it - the German firm "Yu-Gi-Es Donne" ("USG Donn"), often referred to in advertisements simply "Donne" , then the Swedish "Ekofon" ("Ecophon") and the Finnish "acoustic" ("Akusto"), are part of a transnational group "Saint-Gobain". Tile ceilings of these firms mainly form the tastes of home buyers today. All these companies operate in the global market for quite some time and you can trust them, but the ceilings are offered by them, vary in quality, purpose and price. Before you decide to buy, be sure to ask the seller a health certificate. If the goods are not "left" - the certificate should be. And this is a guarantee ... Uninformed sellers often give for Russian products Ceilings Baikal production of the same company, "Armstrong". The fact that this model has been developed specifically for Russia after the infamous August 1998 crisis. It is cheap and is not sold anywhere except in the CIS, and therefore in the "Armstrong" is not. How is the ceiling? The kit consists of a suspended ceiling grid system (skeleton) and the plates of hard or soft mineral fiber thickness, typically 1.5 cm and 60x60 cm or 61h61 see difference of one centimeter is not accidental: the first size is designed for Europeans, with their metric system of measures, and the second - for the Americans (61 cm - is 2 feet). On sale you can find those other slab. In the catalog, "Armstrong", there are other sizes of plates: 62,5 h62, 5 cm, 60x120 cm, 62.5 cm h125 free market they are not, but if you need it, such that they can always be ordered. Suspension System - a set of metal rods with a section of the form letter "T" and linked together in a modular lattice. The principle of consolidation is quite simple: in the ceiling or a hammer drill bore holes in which to insert dowels. By dowels attached special hooks on which hung a modular lattice. In the resulting metal frame insert plate. Just as easy to them if needed can be removed. Along the perimeter of a room is finished with ceiling moldings. Nota bene, or What to look for when buying a ceiling pay close attention to the "unity" of plates and grid systems. Unscrupulous sellers sometimes strive to foist "nonnative" suspension system. That is, plates - one manufacturer, and harness - the other. At the head of such a ceiling may be, and does not crash, but can easily be deformed. Difficulties in the repair and maintenance in this case, too, is almost guaranteed - different systems fit together poorly with each other. Despite the seeming simplicity of the process of fixing the ceiling, to entrust this transaction should be professional. Take up the case itself is worth only if you need to do the ceiling in a small room. In all other cases it is better to use the services of the company-seller. Installation of the ceiling with the assistance of professionals - not a cheap. If the ceiling is the cheapest costs about $ 5 per square meter, along with the installation it will be much more expensive. Material Firms "Armstrong", "Seloteks" and "Yu-Gi-Es Donne" produce ceiling tiles from solid mineral fiber with the addition of cellulose, which gives them greater strength. However, if for a plate of good hit with something heavy, then it will dent. Production Concern "Saint-Gobain" soft - in fact it is pressed wool. Under the stress of such plates is less susceptible to deformation than solid. Another advantage of these boards - the convenience of transport: the soft plate does not break down the road. The most common color plates ceilings monotonous white, classic texture - smooth, but may be having a rough surface, "worms" dots, jagged, relief geometric patterns, etc. If desired, plates can be painted with water-based or latex paints. For example, a firm of Armstrong ceilings produces Dune, originally painted in soft pastel colors (green, sky blue, pale pink, peach). Ceilings group of different companies although similar in appearance, but the quality and purpose are different from each other quite strongly. In large firms, there are even their own classifications of ceilings on the appearance and quality. For example, the ceilings "Armstrong" is divided into four groups: Basis (Basis), Prima (Prima), Functional and Design (or exclusive). What is the difference all these groups? And that's a topic for the next material ... Source: Portal Real Estate & Construction »