A suspended ceiling, or dropped ceiling, ordinarily takes the form of a grid of steel supports with rectangular or square tiles installed between them, which is hung below the roof structure or next floor to give a location for HVAC, cables and water lines, and to create an appealing look and feel devoid of visible clutter.
The suspended ceiling was invented in 1958 by an American named Donald Brown and it has changed very little since. Suspended ceilings are infrequently seen in domestic situations, yet are regularly encountered in business office and industrial spaces where building construction techniques are different and a lot of services such as air con, loudspeakers and fire detection are utilised.
Ceiling panels are not devoid of disadvantages, nevertheless, and can grow to be ugly after a few years of being installed. Regularly, the panels can be discoloured as a result of tobacco smoke or water leakage. Panels can sag down, or repetitive removal and replacement for repair may end up in the edges and corners of the tiles getting broken. Once the layout of a building requires changes, suspended ceilings may be modified to go well with the new design but it’s often carried out inexpertly by basic trades-people and may end up in a poor appearance. In humid environments such as swimming pools, mold could become a problem if left untreated.
Stretch ceilings are really a new innovation that may be a superior option to suspended ceilings on many occasions.
A stretch ceiling is a PVC sheet that is anchored at all perimeters to the wall surfaces and placed under tension such that it becomes flat. A stretch ceiling has many of the positive aspects of a suspended ceiling, in terms of covering up ugly roof supports or aged plaster, but provides a more attractive finish and neater installation all around pillars and other irregular features. The ceiling could also be curved or arched to take advantage of the room available, and can be offered in a variety of shades and even lit from above by coloured lighting. They are also resistant to mold and mildew because water just flows off them, making them ideal for use in humid environments.
Stretch ceilings are an interesting contemporary substitute to old fashioned suspended ceilings and so are growing in popularity.