When building or renovating a home or a single room, one of the issues to consider is the installation of false ceilings.
False ceilings are increasingly being used in private homes, not only to conceal utilities or provide thermal and acoustic insulation, but also for aesthetic purposes. For example, they can be used to create and play with volumes and recesses, to produce unique lighting effects. The best results are achieved when both requirements are combined.
What is a false ceiling?
The false ceiling can be defined as a lightweight structure, connected to the underside of the floor slab with, as previously mentioned, the function of providing thermal and acoustic insulation and masking of systems and any beams.
The characteristics of a false ceiling
The fundamental characteristics of a suspended ceiling are the following:
mechanical resistance, meaning the ability of a material to withstand various impacts and shocks. Specifically, it can withstand impact, bending, and the application of loads;
thermal insulation, meaning the ability to avoid creating thermal bridges while simultaneously providing good resistance to the passage of hot and cold air currents;
sound-absorbing capacity, meaning the ability to absorb sound and thus reduce volume and vibrations;
durability;
resistance to humidity and liquid absorption.
Types of false ceilings
There are many types of false ceilings on the market, distinguished by the use of different materials.
Wooden false ceilings are distinguished by their elegance, making them stand out from all other materials. A wooden false ceiling certainly offers the advantage of improving the livability of a home, but at the same time, they are more expensive and difficult to install.
They can be made of plastic, metal, or laminate materials.
To ensure greater thermal insulation, they can also be made of mineral fiber materials. In this case, the panels are supported by a metal structure, exposed or hidden, secured to the ceiling, onto which the mineral fiber panels are positioned.
Finally, they can be made of plaster or drywall. Probably the most well-known and used material and composition, it allows and guarantees good ductility. At a moderate cost, they are easy to install and can be plastered or covered with the latest trending decorations.
The structure of a false ceiling
As mentioned in the previous section, suspended ceilings are characterized by a supporting structure made from a frame attached to the ceiling or along the perimeter walls. The structure, made of open modular elements, constitutes a true mesh, upon which the panels rest.
Depending on the type of infill, different types of plasterboard can be created:
continuous, in which the closure is achieved by attaching a metal mesh or sheet metal to the supporting structure, onto which lime mortar or cement plaster is applied. This solution is chosen when a suspended ceiling that can be inspected or is flexible over time is not required;
discontinuous, in which the modularity of the elements is interrupted by easily removable connection joints. This type of suspended ceiling is suitable where there are utility lines running through it, and therefore the need for inspectability.
Practical examples where false ceilings can be used
A practical example where a false ceiling can be used is for ducting a heating system or for a controlled mechanical ventilation system (CMV).
The latter is often necessary in conjunction with energy efficiency improvements to the building envelope, to prevent localized condensation at thermal bridges. Installing ceiling systems often reduces the internal height of some rooms, which must connect the various habitable spaces. Keeping in mind national regulations, which establish the minimum height of rooms (2.70 meters for habitable spaces and 2.40 meters for accessory rooms), plasterboard ceilings can be used in rooms where the additional height is not necessary, such as corridors, cellars, and storage rooms.
Aesthetic potential of the false ceiling
A second practical example of using suspended ceilings is the installation of a lighting system.
Typical lights that are incorporated into a lighting design are hidden strips and recessed spotlights.
The rise and progressive decrease in the cost of LED lights has contributed to the increased demand for these lights, especially in rooms like the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. Imagination can lead to unique ideas and striking lighting effects.
Depending on the room you wish to illuminate, the lights inserted into the suspended ceiling can vary in position and intensity. For example, in the kitchen, shadows should be avoided and the work surface should be directly illuminated. Therefore, it’s best to opt for a suspended ceiling over the entire work and food preparation area, incorporating recessed and oriented spotlights or bands of uniform light.
The situation is different in living rooms, where the required lighting should be diffused and general. In this case, you can opt for openings in the false ceiling to position the light bars, directing the light beam upward, which is then reflected downward. This technique, also known as a luminous cove, can take on different forms to allow for different light diffusion. It relies on the use of reflected light and simulates the presence of an opening that appears, from sight, hidden, thus creating seemingly detached horizontal and vertical planes, which suggest a modern effect of lightness: as if the ceiling were suspended.
The operational phase of the false ceiling
Designing increasingly complex suspended ceilings requires effort that must be supported by 3D modeling programs, capable of controlling and integrating technical and aesthetic requirements.
Finally, graphic drawings must be produced using a CAD program (DWG) to be submitted to the installer. Here too, the installer’s experience can be of enormous help, once they have a clear understanding of the desired final result.