Slatted ceilings in the bathroom: features, varieties, beautiful examples

Repair of shower rooms always requires a specific approach to cladding - this is due to the features of the operation of this room. Bathrooms have high humidity, the risk of direct moisture on walls and ceilings. In addition, such premises are characterized by frequent temperature changes. Not every material can withstand such harsh operating conditions for a long time, so an ill-conceived finish quickly becomes unusable.

For bathrooms, there is nothing better than ceramic tiles. With the ceiling, the situation is much more complicated. Of course, some owners of the premises and finish it with tiles, but laying tiles on a horizontal ceiling surface is a rather difficult technical task, so it is impossible to do it on your own - most often you have to resort to the expensive services of third-party specialists.

False suspended ceilings show themselves well. However, then you can not do without the services of a specialist.

The models presented on sale are distinguished by a wide variety of models, they can have a variety of designs, shades and are made of different materials.

Despite all the variety of options, the basic design of all rack structures is the same. Every model includes several basic details.

• Bearing elements. They represent a guiding profile (traverses or stringers) of a U-shaped form. The metal profile contains special teeth or cutouts located on the shelves pointing down - they are necessary for the strong fastening of decorative plates.
• Structural details for mounting the ceiling on a horizontal surface. In most cases, they come in a set with specific load-bearing elements. If they are not included in the kit, they can always be purchased separately.
• Ceiling slats. They are the main decorative component of the system. It is usually available in standard sizes of 3 and 4 m. It is these rails that are a distinctive feature of each model chosen.
• The insert, which is also called the layout. It is an additional part that is used in most models, although it is optional. The profile of the element has a form that ensures their reliable fastening between the base ceiling panels, while there can be many options for their design.
• Wall corner. When installing the ceiling, it is very important to close the corners. If they remain open, the overall impression of the ceiling remains unfavorable, since the gaps look unaesthetic. A corner fixed around the perimeter of the suspended structure allows you to hide this dawn, thereby giving the structure a neat and concise look.
• Wall profile. Another functional element, the purpose of which does not differ from the corner, that is, it performs the same task - frames the coating around the perimeter.

Before deciding to install a rack ceiling in a bathroom, you must carefully weigh all the pros and cons of such structures.

The undoubted advantages include the following.

• Lack of need for preliminary preparation of an old covering before decorative finishing. Of course, some work will have to be done - in any case, the surface must be primed and “cured” of fungus and mold, covered with a fungicidal preparation. However, there is no need to level the surface, as any irregularities will be covered by further finishing.
• The design is lightweight, so it does not need powerful expensive fasteners, while you can not be afraid that one day they will bend under their own weight.
• Slatted ceilings allow you to hide low-aesthetic engineering communications: cable, electrical wiring, pipes, and ventilation ducts.
• The rack ceiling is considered the optimal solution for operation in the shower room, that is, in a space where there is increased humidity and sudden changes in temperature.
• A properly installed ceiling will last a very long time. The service life of aluminum models reaches 25 years. The life of steel ceilings is slightly shorter, but it largely depends on anticorrosion treatment. Plastic panels lose their aesthetic properties even faster, but they can be replaced at any time without dismantling the entire structure.
• A wide selection of models allows you to choose products for a specific style of the bathroom, so homeowners can implement even the most daring design projects.
• Slatted ceilings do not need special complicated care: they do not attract dust, and any impurities are quickly removed from them during wet cleaning.

Among the disadvantages of various designs, the following can be distinguished.

• The gap between the slats and the ceiling becomes a part that is especially unprotected in terms of moisture accumulation - this creates an environment favorable for the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms. When installing such ceilings, you need to consider the issue of reliable ventilation.
• The installation of rack structures significantly hides the height of the walls, even in the minimum version it takes at least 5 cm, and if you plan to hang recessed lights or feel the need to hide communications - lowering the height can be much greater.

The best quality option is aluminum rails. The integrity of the material will not collapse under the influence of moisture and elevated temperatures, therefore aluminum retains all its aesthetic qualities for a long time.

Suspended steel profiles are very popular. They have relatively low cost, while being produced in a wide variety of designs. The polymer coating of iron panels can have various colors and textures, while simultaneously performing the functions of protecting the material from rust in high humidity. However, keep in mind that it is quite difficult to eliminate the risk of damage to the material by 100% - one way or another, the panels will be cut and their edges will remain unprotected.

Repair in the bathroom requires the most moisture-resistant materials. That is why many homeowners prefer a mirrored ceiling. The basis of such structures is glass. As you know, neither temperature changes, nor water, nor hot steam are terrible for this material. In addition, the mirror ceilings look very impressive and harmoniously fit into the modern interior of the bathroom.

Very often you can see the slats made of wood. There is probably no need to explain that for a bathroom, such a solution should not even be considered. If the owner of the home has an intention to decorate his space "under the tree" - it is best to take plastic or aluminum models with the necessary imitation. Wood under the influence of moisture loses its operational parameters, on the surface of the panels conditions are created favorable for the propagation of fungus and mold.

The most budget option is the polymer panels - they are not afraid of moisture, they are not afraid of rust, However, such designs do not differ in long service life, their surface turns yellow over time and loses its decorative appearance. In addition, similar reiki can be exchanged relatively new for new ones at a time when their appearance will no longer suit owners.

In terms of design, there are several interesting options for rack ceilings. For instance, German profiles called panels made in compliance with the faces, the complete absence of any curved surfaces, as well as angles and chamfers. The complete opposite for them is italian profile, which is characterized by pronounced smooth transitions and a rounded shape. Some intermediate link, the so-called "golden mean", is considered french profile.

As a rule, the choice of the color scheme of the rack ceiling in the bathroom does not present any problems for the owners of the premises, since in shops you can find models of any shades. Traditionally, the ceilings in the bathrooms were decorated in blue, light green, as well as turquoise shades - They harmoniously fit into the popular marine or Mediterranean bathroom decor. Eternal classic is considered blue.

If you plan to design a room in any other shades, then a win-win option will be white ceiling. The ceilings lined with white slats are universal, they visually raise the height and make the space brighter.

Special attention should be paid to bathroom lighting. Of course, you can not complicate and try to hang traditional wall lamps in the bathroom. However, this option loses significantly to the usual ceiling lighting for us. Therefore, in most cases, home owners prefer to equip rack ceilings with built-in light sources.

Lamps with incandescent lamps have significant advantages over other options. However, in addition to it there are a number of minuses, namely:

• large dimensions;
• reduced efficiency;
• short term of operation.

Slatted ceilings are a suspended structure, therefore they have to be lowered very much, and when installing incandescent lamps, the loss of height is even more significant, which often brings discomfort to the owners of the premises.

According to the principle of operation, halogen lamps can also be referred to as incandescent lamps, but somewhat more modified. The lamp bulb is filled with vapors of iodine and bromine, the so-called "buffer gas". Due to this, it is possible to obtain the following effects:

• the dimensions of the lighting device are reduced, therefore, between racks and floor slabs, you can leave a distance of no more than 5 cm;
• the efficiency is increased, since halogen lamps consume 3 times less electricity than ordinary ones with the same brightness parameters;
• increased term of use;
• halogen lamps give diffused light, which is considered more comfortable for humans.

LEDs are recognized as the most modern version of luminaires for rack structures in the bathroom. The efficiency of LEDs is so high that these lamps consume 15 times less electricity, the equivalent to them in terms of the power of an incandescent lamp. LED lamps have a large working resource - it lasts for 50 thousand hours of glow. At the same time, manufacturers give a 2-3 year warranty on all their products. LEDs carry any voltage drops characteristic of Russian power grids.

All rack designs are performed in open or closed versions.

Open-type structures are mounted from rails, which are placed at a small distance from each other. The gap between the panels is left blank or the gaps are closed with decorative layouts, thus the effect of a continuous coating is visually formed.

Well, finally, the option is popular in which the slats have at a distance from each other, but the additional horizontal shelves present on the profile partially overlap adjacent ones.

Among users There is no consensus on which option is preferable for use in wet rooms. Some experts insist that the surface must be closed, so that steam can be prevented from entering the gap between the rails and the ceiling. However, in response to this, it can be objected that even the most snug fit of the slats will not be able to retain water and steam - they will always find their way.

The best option would be a solution in which the area between the panels and the overlap becomes ventilated - under these conditions, the likelihood of mold and mildew is much lower. Of course, in any bathroom, a quality hood or natural ventilation must be present, otherwise you do not need to contact the rack structures. Experts recommend giving preference to rack ceilings with perforated rails. In this case, the space above will be "mothballed", and all the dampness from there will be completely removed along with the ventilated air flows.

We mentioned above the material of manufacture, Aluminum rails are considered the best choice for a bathroom, but if the budget for repairing a room is limited, you can always purchase panels made of iron or plastic. But note that the term of use of such designs will be much lower.

Before you go to the store for a purchase, you need to measure the room of the bathroom and plan the placement of slats correctly. This is important in order to correctly determine their desired amount and thereby avoid illiquid waste. The direction of the rails, you can choose absolutely any, but keep in mind the following.

• If you intend to install a monochrome ceiling, it is better to give preference to placing parallel to the line of sight from the entrance, so the gaps between the rails will be almost invisible.
• If you intend to hang a ceiling with a geometric structure, remember that the location of the tiles can visually change the boundaries of a small room. With longitudinal mounting, they lengthen it, and with a transverse mount, they make it wider.
• The diagonal arrangement of the panels looks quite original, but such a design is not always appropriate and is not suitable for every interior. In addition, the installation on a diagonal requires a certain skill and skills, so it is not possible to do it yourself.

The location of the panels is one of the fundamental factors determining the choice of panels. We give a small example. Suppose you buy a ceiling rail in the bathroom with a size of 1800x1300 mm and plan a longitudinal arrangement of panels. If the store has 3000 or 4000 mm panels, then there are no difficulties - you need to take a 4-meter panel and simply divide it in half, then only 20 mm will go to waste from each cut, and this is quite a bit. But if there are only 3-meter panels on sale, there will be 1,200 mm of each rail, this balance cannot be used in any way.

Anyway, It is necessary to plan the purchase of a set of equipment so that the entire ceiling is assembled from parts of the same length and the amount of waste is minimal.

Before the purchase Be sure to check purchased designs for deformation and surface damage. Quality products should not contain uneven edges, the presence of scratches, peeling off the protective layer, the presence of corrosion and other defects is not allowed.

Keep in mind that such products should be sold exclusively in film, it is removed immediately before installing the ceiling already in place.

As in any other field, in the manufacture of roof ceilings have their own authority, that is, enterprises that set recognized quality standards.

From the very moment the industry was born, the leaders in the quality of rack structures remain French brand Cesal and the Dutch company Hunter Douglas.

Not so long ago, a domestic consumer got acquainted with the products of Russian companies.

Geipel produces iron rack ceilings under a German license. Products are characterized by high quality coating. These rails are not afraid of moisture, they retain their performance properties even in the most adverse conditions of use.

Company Albes uses aluminum for the manufacture of rack structures. Thanks to the original design of stringers, the owner of the premises can experiment with the installation of multi-level ceilings.

River systems of the brand are in no way inferior to European brands "Bard". They are distinguished by increased strength, durability and environmental friendliness.

We offer you a photo selection of the most spectacular metal, plastic and mirror rack ceilings. We hope it helps you choose the best option for any bathroom design.

See how to install a rack ceiling in the next video.