Attic ceiling: the choice of material and design

 Attic ceiling: the choice of material and design

When it comes to the attic, they immediately recall the attic space located on the upper floors with a sloped ceiling. Sometimes they are used as storage rooms, where unnecessary items are stored for years. But you can find a better use for this room and make it a living room.

Design features

The attic space was first used in France in 1630, when Francois Mansart adapted the space for housing. In honor of the architect Mansara, the attic floors under broken roofs became known as the attic, and the poor strata of the population lived in them.In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the arrangement of mansards.

The owners of such premises are often confused, because they do not know how to use it properly and functionally.

To address this issue should be approached responsibly, because the attic has its own characteristics.

Attic can be various forms - triangular or broken, symmetric or asymmetrical. Using this kind of zest, you should properly arrange the attic floor. Here you can arrange a separate room for work or create a nursery or dressing room with the help of the pyramids.

When finishing the ceiling should take into account the quality of its insulation. It is important to immediately warm the ceiling, only then proceed to finish it. You may have to face difficulties due to the broken geometry of the roof, but do not be afraid of bevels, modern materials allow you to work in different conditions.

Choosing the method of finishing for the attic should be considered, what will be the room, its style, shape and height of the roof.

Requirements for the room

Getting started, you should study the requirements of SNiP 2.08.01-89, with particular attention should be paid to the paragraphs in which it is said about safety, compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards.

Attic floor can be placed in any building., although there are objections to arranging it in a wooden house. When using special impregnation for wooden structures and with proper protection, if the height of the building does not exceed 75 meters, it is allowed to use wooden structures.

Working in the attic rooms should be aware that the walls in the room may have a height of 1.5 meters. For a normal room, the optimum ceiling height should be at least 2.5 meters; in the attic, the ceiling may have a lower height. The ceilings in the attic floors have a complex structure, but using certain methods, you can independently arrange a comfortable dwelling.

In the attic rooms there are frequent drafts and blow-outs, and in order to avoid them, work should be done on sealing the seams, insulating the room, and installing coated windows that retain heat in the room.

Materials and Design

Attic floors are different in height, decoration, location of windows, it can be rooms with a ceiling, beveled to one or both sides. For each of these rooms, you should select the appropriate options and sheathe the room with selected materials.

Most often when covering the ceiling using such traditional materials:

  • lining;
  • imitation of a bar;
  • block house;
  • drywall;
  • sanding plywood;
  • corkboard;
  • decorative plaster;
  • stretch ceiling.

The choice may depend on the preferences of the owner of the premises, financial possibilities and on the style in which the design of the premises will be carried out.

Traditional materials for plating is better to use when choosing a classic style, Provence or Country. Making the room in a more modern style such as hi-tech, suitable other materials.

Plasterboard finish

One of the main materials for the decoration of premises should be called drywall. Sheath material can and mansard room. When choosing it to work with the ceiling, you should consider that you need a moisture-resistant material.

The installation of the ceiling of drywall spend yourself or use the help of specialists. Using drywall, it is possible to make multi-level ceilings, divide the room into zones. The material has good sound insulation, fire resistance and easy to use. With this option you can finish finishing various irregularities and insulation.

Drywall has a major drawback - when a large amount of water gets on it, a depressurization may occur and the ceiling will have to be redone. Using it in work, you should make sure of good waterproofing.

Sheets should be fixed to the ceiling lathing.

After work with gypsum plasterboard, finishing work should be carried out:

  • align the joints;
  • paint the surface;
  • paste wallpaper;
  • use other types of decor.

Choice of ceiling plinth

Upon completion, you should choose a ceiling plinth, it will give clarity to the lines and the ceiling will look more beautiful.

The easiest to use and inexpensive option can be called a foam plinth. It is easily cut with a knife, but it should be borne in mind that the material has low mechanical strength.

You can choose foam polystyrene, it will be stronger than foam plastic, but the price of such material is higher, although you can’t rank it as too expensive. Polyfoam and polystyrene foam is fixed with glue or putty. These materials allow you to make a ceiling quickly, without spending significant amounts of material on the material.

Choosing wooden baguettes, you should know how to properly attach them to the surface. Working with wooden baguettes is not as simple as it may seem at first glance.The material is more difficult to handle and adjust the angles, any inaccuracy or blemish will be visible. In addition, the tree can be subjected to rotting, mold, attack of bugs. After applying an antiseptic treatment and a pair of varnish layers, rotting and mildew can be avoided.

To fix the wooden plinths, it is required to work with a perforator and fix them to the fasteners. It should be noted that the wooden baguettes - the most expensive option for ceiling moldings, and is usually used in rooms with appropriate framing.

Reed cloth

To decorate the ceiling in the attic, you can with cane. This material trim walls, ceilings, it can be the basis for the manufacture of various curtains and blinds.

This material is universal, which allows to lay it on any surface. Reed cloths can be used indoors with high humidity. The material absorbs excess moisture, which contributes to a good microclimate in the room.

Apply liquid nails, glue to installation of a reed cloth. The product can be easily cut with a sharp knife or hacksaw.Such a canvas can last for a very long time if cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or wiped with a wet paint.

Chipboard Sheets

As an alternative to drywall for the ceiling use sheets of chipboard. It is used if you plan to further paint the surface or wallpaper will be glued. Using sheets of chipboard in the repair work, you can complete the work as soon as possible.

Open beams

With open beams, you can give the attic a certain style. The work will require from the owner of the premises financial investments, so before starting work it is better to study the features of working with the material.

Conifers logs are used for ceilings, which are cleaned and treated with special means that ensures their durability and gives the product a beautiful appearance.

It is possible to overlap the entire ceiling with open beams or combine them with various materials using textiles, stone, and ceramics, which will make it possible to decorate ceiling structures in different styles.

For the attic it is worth using false beams, they are empty inside, so they weigh a little, it is much easier to work with them than with ordinary beams.

Laminate

Initially, laminate was used for flooring, but gradually began to be used for interior decoration. Even a beginning builder will be able to decorate the ceiling with laminate; you should only prepare a hammer and find an assistant for yourself.

To finish the laminate ceiling should be carried out preparatory work and clean the ceiling from the remnants of plaster. Next, make a ceiling layout, taking into account the size of the laminate. Crate begin with laying lags, then put the cross. Under the ceiling of the laminate is placed a metal profile or wooden frame. For the attic space, it is advisable to use a wooden frame.

Clapboard

For lining the ceiling in the attic may be suitable lining. The material is affordable and has excellent characteristics, it is recommended to use in residential areas. Using the clapboard, you can achieve imitation of natural wood, which will make the attic stylish and beautiful with the least cost.

For finishing of a ceiling use usual liningwhich is pre-sanded, or sanded eurolining. It is necessary to choose light colors, then the attic room will immediately become visually larger, more spacious and brighter.

Imitation timber

It is possible to decorate walls and a ceiling using imitation of a bar. This is a finishing material that consists of wood.

To finish the ceiling with imitation of timber, one should:

  • carry out the preparatory work and make the crates;
  • fix the imitation of the beam on the ceiling with the help of screws or clamps;
  • At the final stage of the work, a special coating, impregnation, paint, varnish and wax are applied.

Tension cloths: pro and con

When installing stretch ceilings in the attic, all their positive and negative sides should be examined. Using tensioning canvases, you can make an interesting design of the room, make it in a certain color scheme, stretch it from different angles, make different shapes, set at different levels. Thanks to this coverage, the room will immediately become richer and brighter.

Positive sides when installing suspended ceilings:

  • material is safe, has no unpleasant smell;
  • not subject to burning;
  • long service life - up to 15 years;
  • Stretch ceilings are installed very quickly, without dirt and dust.

Negative sides when installing suspended ceilings:

  • the material is afraid of sharp objects, when handling them you should be careful not to spoil the surface;
  • with temperature drops the material may be deformed.

Lighting

It depends on the correct lighting of the attic how comfortable it will be. Using lamps, you can not only achieve optimal illumination of the room, but also emphasize the chosen style.

With low ceilings, original lamps, wall lamps and floor lamps are the best choice. A chandelier in such a room would be inappropriate. In the attic, you can opt out of the general lighting and stay on the local, while you should focus on a particular place in the room.

To achieve the best effect, you should direct the spotlights to the wall, so the room will visually become more spacious. The same effect can be achieved if the lamps are located around the perimeter. A large attic mirror will maximize the room.

Beautiful examples in the interior

  • When making the ceiling should be determined for what purpose the room. In the attic floors, a wardrobe room with many cabinets, shelves, and boxes can be a good option.Here you can store things that will be neatly folded and hung in good order.
  • Thanks to modern technologies and materials, it is possible to transform an attic into an ordinary living room. The children's room, located in the attic, will allow the child to spend time with his friends, without disturbing adults. Here you can create a special fairy-tale world for children. Every day spent in the nursery will be interesting and amazing.

How to make a suspended ceiling in the attic, see the video below.

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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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