Choosing a ceiling in the kitchen

When repairing the kitchen installation of a beautiful and high-quality ceiling plays an important role. In order for this part of the interior to please the family’s eye for a long time and not be subject to wear, there are the following requirements for the future kitchen ceiling:

• high durability in the kitchen - high temperature and humidity, possible contamination and coating with bloom;
• environmental friendliness and safety;
• ability to hide all possible defects of building floors and paved parts of communications;
• attractive appearance, combination with other interior details;
• Reasonable price and affordable installation method.

Much in the choice of ceiling for the kitchen depends on the preferences of the owner, everyone wants to make a beautiful and fashionable design. But it is not always possible to carry out the desired project, for example, very stylish and popular suspended and multi-level ceilings can take a lot of space from low spaces,and simple painting or sticking with polystyrene foam is impossible on the surface, even with minor irregularities.

The main determining factors in choosing a ceiling are materials and installation costs. It is with these two criteria that it is necessary to determine in advance the total cost of future repairs and the peculiarities of the kitchen floor.

Modern renovation in the kitchen includes the following options for finishing the ceiling:

• painting;
• whitewash;
• sticking wallpaper;
• batten ceilings;
• plastic coating;
• tile;
• installation of drywall;
• stretch ceiling.

You can paint the kitchen ceiling with different materials, which paint is better, you can decide by examining the properties of its possible varieties:

• Acrylic paints are protected from moisture and durable. When finishing, they dry quickly and do not emit odor, so that the room after the work performed almost immediately can be used. On sale there are a huge number of glossy and matte acrylic paints of different colors.

• Water-based varieties can independently change the shade by adding the appropriate pigments. They are hygroscopic, breathable and harmless to health.

• Water dispersion paints have the same advantages as water-based paints, but they can be washed with a damp cloth when dry.. Therefore, for kitchen conditions, they are most preferred.

• Silicone varieties have a high cost, but are very resistant to moisture. They can be washed regularly, without fear of breaking the coating. If there is no hood in the kitchen, then this is the best option.

Painting the ceiling can be done independently and manually, it does not require much experience and expensive tools. Items needed are: a roller with a long handle, a painting bath and a ladder. Before covering it is necessary to clean, level and prime the ceiling. The quality of putty for painting the surface should be higher than for paper wallpaper. It is optimally implemented in 2 layers: the first draft, the second - finishing, for it even has a special kind of dry mix. Before painting, it is necessary to securely cover all kitchen space with plastic wrap.

Painting the ceiling with an electric compressor and sprayer is good because the paint is evenly distributed over the surface, and the material itself is saved as much as possible.The disadvantage is in expensive equipment (it can be rented), the complexity of the maintenance of the unit, the high cost of electricity and noise during work.

Whitewashing is a way to exterior trim the ceiling, which was used for a long time, it has recently been used less and less. It lost its popularity due to its low durability due to humidity and temperature changes, the inability to hide irregularities, the need for frequent renewal, the appearance of cracks and stains from soot. Instead whitewash came more practical materials that are devoid of these shortcomings. Nevertheless, this is a cheap way to update the ceiling in the kitchen, which even an amateur can easily cope with in matters of repair. The main advantage of whitewash over other technologies is high porosity, due to which air exchange is ensured.

Updating the old whitewash occurs only with chalk on chalk or lime on lime, you should not interfere with two types of material.To clean the ceiling from the old layer of finishing, it is necessary, first of all, to close all the furniture and coverings in the kitchen with waterproof material (plastic wrap) and to prepare a soap solution with a cleaning rag. Then, with a damp roller or sponge, the old surface is wetted and scraped with a spatula as much as possible. If major irregularities are noticed, then it is worth leveling them with putty, and after it dries, go through the treated places with emery paper. Then the entire surface is coated with a primer, and after drying it is bleached.

For chalk whitewash 10 square meters. m. of the ceiling should be thoroughly mixed in a bucket of warm water 3 kg of sifted chalk, 30 g of PVA glue or primer and 20 g of blue. Another option for the same area: 1.7 kg of lime, 40 g blue.

To finish the ceiling in the kitchen, you must choose moisture-proof washable wallpaper. For kitchen walls, this type of coating is often used, but the ceiling coating has its own characteristics: it is the top that accumulates heated air, and all the soot goes there. Therefore, over time, the wallpaper may become dirty or begin to lag behind the surface. Optimal use of the vinyl look, even when stained, they can be painted over, cleaned with a damp cloth from dirt.

The surface under the ceiling wallpaper is cleaned the same way as under the whitewash, you can use a thin layer of liquid draft putty. Many recommend using the same wallpaper glue as a primer. Before sticking, it is necessary to prepare a free area of ​​the floor for spreading with glue, to protect the furniture from the ingress of stains. In the process, the marked and cut rolls are applied to the ceiling and smoothed. During and after work for 6-8 hours, it is undesirable to cook something in the kitchen or air it.

Liquid wallpaper is the most successful version of the paper covering for the kitchen ceiling. They are protected from moisture and heat, do not lag behind the surface, do not form stains. Even with the resulting defect, it is easy to cover it with a new layer in a small area. There are various types of colors and textures in the form of a dry mixture, which is diluted with water on site, stirred until a homogeneous mass, and after keeping for several hours (the period for a particular variety is indicated on the package) are applied to the leveled and primed surface with a spatula. Of the disadvantages of this method of finishing can be noted only the high cost of raw materials.

Rack ceilings for the kitchen are mounted on a rectangular frame on a horizontal level using aluminum slats, covered with protective colored layers. Their length is 3 and 4 m, which allows them to fit completely into the width of a standard room. Colors depending on the surface can be shiny, matte, monotonous or with different textures. It is possible to choose any color for the existing interior. The advantages of river ceilings in the kitchen:

• they are durable, waterproof, protected from temperature extremes;
• easy to clean, easy to clean with a damp cloth;
• the niche between the slats and the ceiling can be used for laying communications;
• Inside you can install built-in lights;
• no need to level the base of the ceiling;
• dust does not stick to the surface of the rails;
• installation and material for this type of ceiling is cheaper than for stretch.

Plastic ceilings are practical and reliable, and prices for polymer parts are relatively low. This material is lightweight and easy to install, and thanks to the thread with an ordinary knife you can make the required shapes and holes for built-in lights.Plastic panels have a standard length of 3 or 4 m, width from 100 to 500 mm. There are suture and seamless options, the latter are more expensive, but they create a flat surface without visible joints.

For installation of plastic panels create a horizontal frame made of metal profiles. Aluminum frames are fixed to the wall with dowels-screws using a perforator. When the frame is ready, it is not difficult to fix plastic on it. The advantages are that the damaged sheet can be easily replaced with a new one; the material does not bloom, does not rot, and is not susceptible to moisture.

Instead of plastic for interior decoration, some people use siding in outdoor kitchens. This may be due to its rigidity and durability, immunity to moisture and high temperatures, a variety of colors. But siding ceilings will have their drawbacks: large visible seams at the joints, it is possible health hazards when using exterior material inside the apartment.

Instead of plastic, you can use lightweight plates of polyurethane, foam or other polymers. They do not require the installation of the frame, fixed on a special glue, but the surface must be leveled.Tile ceilings can be easily mounted in the kitchen in 1 day, and they will last a long time.

Drywall is widely used when installing multi-level ceilings. For the kitchen, you should choose only a moisture-resistant variety - it has a green color sheet. After mounting the frame, the material can be decoratively processed in many ways: painting, sticking wallpaper, tiles or mirrors, installing built-in lamps. Sheets of plaster can be easily cut with a stationery knife to give any curved shape, they can be fixed to the metal frame with self-tapping screws with a screwdriver, and if it is absent, then with a conventional cross-head screwdriver. Despite the relative lightness of drywall sheets, they are able to hold a lot of weight.

Stretch ceiling perfectly smooth, without the smallest defects, easy to clean and very impressive looks. But its installation is not easy, it requires stretching the synthetic fabric in the presence of special equipment and at high temperatures. To conduct such work can only experienced professionals. When installing, you need to immediately take care of the location of the built-in lamps, replace the space for them in the future will not work.But when flooded from above, all the water will be retained by the canvas and will not be spilled on the kitchen furniture, the floor and the walls. It is possible to create multi-level ceilings in the kitchen, the upper layer of which will be tension, and the lower level of plasterboard with finishing.

Ceiling lamps for the kitchen can pick up the traditional - incandescent, fashionable recently energy-saving with daylight and recessed: LED, fluorescent and halogen. If the ceiling is painted, plastered with wallpaper or tiles, whitewashed, then due to the lack of a niche there is no possibility to embed lamps in it. In this case, an ordinary suspended ceiling is chosen with a chandelier of your choice and lamps from the 220 V network. The advantages of this method are obvious: low cost of lamps, ease of replacement, no need for complicated installation.

In the case of suspended and suspended ceilings, recessed spotlights are often used. They have the following advantages:

• high level of illumination with low operating power;
• the ability to set any number of lighting points anywhere;
• easy replacement of luminaires in the installed socket;
• due to low power they emit little heat, so the surface around them does not deteriorate due to high temperatures;
• If 12 V light fixtures are used, this will significantly save energy.

Spot lighting requires separate wiring and a junction box for connected luminaires. Usually, she hides under the ceiling or wall trim, but so that convenient access is provided.

For the kitchen, you should choose a ceiling covering that is combined in color with the rest of the interior and furniture. If the method of finishing is painting, then the universal option is white acrylic or very light colors. They are, as contrast, suitable for black kitchen and the same home appliances. To create a single merging image of the walls and the ceiling, you can use the same paint - matte or glossy.

In modern kitchen, as in other rooms, it is possible to install suspended multi-level ceilings with spot lighting. Lamps can be hidden in the transition between levels or arrange them in a row above the stove and tabletop.Stretch and suspended ceilings have a different effect on the visual effect in rooms with low and high ceilings. If the height is small 2.2-2.5 m, then it is even more capable of selecting coatings of this type.

In a private house it is best to use a coating with a frame of refractory drywall. A decor made from paint that is not exposed to moisture, temperature extremes and deformation, such as metal or plastic panels. In a wooden house you can install river kitchen ceilings with natural wood textures.

Unusual ceiling décor in the kitchen is achieved by creating several levels with curved curves and mirror inserts with additional spot lighting. The mirror visually adds space, and the extra light creates a cozy atmosphere.

Stretch ceilings that create a modern and impressive look will suit the trendy interior of the kitchen. You should not be afraid to use them for a room where food is constantly prepared, they are heat-resistant and are easily washed off any stains. It is best to choose glossy varieties of light shades.