Stretch ceilings - film ceilings in an apartment

What to decide about the film and the lights

You choose a matt, satin or gloss film, and the choice affects both the look and the price. Decide the positions of lights and curtain tracks before installation: each light and curtain track is part of the price, and the cables must be laid before the film.

A ceiling on a single level is simpler work than a multi-level solution or a combination with plasterboard. If you want levels, write which ones.

Stretch ceiling or plasterboard ceiling

A plasterboard ceiling still has to be skimmed and painted after installation, and it has a price per m² (from €15/m²). On a stretch ceiling the surface is the film itself, so skimming and painting are not part of its price. The walls are usually painted before the ceiling is installed; see wall painting.

The profile along the walls lowers the ceiling. How much depends on the profile and the lights; in Soviet-era buildings the ceiling height is generally around 2.5 m, so measure the room before choosing.

The ceiling finish is part of the apartment, while the floor slab is common property; a stretch ceiling does not change that. In a bathroom the ventilation grille must stay open, because bathrooms are ventilated through natural extraction ducts.

How a stretch ceiling is installed

1. Measuring The room, the corners and the positions of the lights are measured; the film is usually made to measure.
2. Cables The cables for the lights are pulled in before installation.
3. Profiles Profiles are fixed to the walls around the perimeter of the room on a single level.
4. Fixings Fixings are installed where lights and curtain tracks will go.
5. Stretching the film The film is stretched and secured in the profiles.
6. Lights Openings are cut in the film and the lights are connected.

Stretch ceilings in a kitchen and a children's room

In a kitchen, the cooker hood duct and the ventilation grille are near the ceiling, so their positions must be planned before the film. A natural ventilation duct must not be used to remove flue gases. If the kitchen has a gas hob and no constant air exchange, it is prohibited to connect a mechanical ventilation unit to the natural ventilation duct.

In a children's room, decide the positions of the lights so that they will still suit when you rearrange the room later; see children's room renovation.

What to prepare before you submit the form

• the room dimensions and the number of corners;
• the type of film;
• the number of lights and curtain tracks;
• whether the electrical wiring is changed beforehand;
• whether the walls are painted before the ceiling.

In the form, write the address and the room dimensions; you can send photos or a plan of the ceiling to the specialist when they contact you. If the cables are being changed, see electrical wiring replacement in an apartment.

How much stretch ceilings cost

Stretch ceilings: price by estimate. It is determined by:

• the room area in m² and the number of corners;
• the type of film (matt, gloss, satin);
• the number of lights and curtain tracks;
• whether the ceiling is on a single level.

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. Light points have their own line: a socket, switch or light point from €12 per point. Example: 6 lights in the ceiling, 6 × €12 = from €72 for the points; the film itself and the installation are by estimate.

An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment. We agree the price and the list of work before the job starts.

What the stretch ceiling price includes