When organizing the process of decorating an apartment, a dilemma inevitably arises: when to install a suspended ceiling - after wallpapering or before? An unequivocal solution to this problem does not exist, which is why it will be more correct to choose one or another solution, depending on the circumstances.
The main difficulty in solving this issue is the fact that these works are carried out by different specialists: decorators are invited to paste on the wallpaper, and installers are engaged in tensioning the ceiling. Each of the teams does not want to take responsibility for the possible damage to the already completed scope of work, so the contractors are trying to persuade the customer to complete their task first.
Really, if you install a suspended ceiling after gluing the walls with wallpaper, there is a risk of damage to the trellises during installation, especially during drilling of holes for fastening the profile. At this moment, a large amount of concrete dust appears, which inevitably falls on the wallpaper.
It will be very difficult to clear the textured material from this kind of clogging, without losing the original appearance of the wallpaper. In addition, when tensioning the canvas, it is necessary to create an increased temperature in the room, which can also affect the structure of the adhesive composition and lead to the peeling of sheets from the walls.
You can understand and finishers - they when fitting, it is necessary to manipulate the wallpaper at the junction of the wall with the false ceiling: trim, align, sometimes apply additional liquid glue to dried trellises. It is very difficult to carry out such work near an expensive canvas and not everyone is ready to take responsibility, since the risk of damage to the material is great, and the cost of installation and a new canvas is quite high.
To get away from the problem of when to stretch the ceiling - before wallpaper or after, it is recommended to break down the sequence of processes for completing the tasks of both teams. Installers can begin to fix the profile, waiting for the walls to level and primer before wallpapering, and work with the film after the finishers have time to glue the walls. But, unfortunately, neither finishers nor installers like to break down the stages of their work.
So it remains only to examine the stages of the work themselves and establish what used to be the wallpaper or the stretch ceiling must be fixed, for which it is necessary to evaluate the sequence of actions in both cases.
If the wallpaper first, and then the ceiling
Consider the positive aspects and risks of the option when it is decided to initially proceed to gluing the walls, and then already stretch the ceiling canvas.
In this case, several conditions must be met:
- Before starting the installation of the ceiling, at least five days must elapse from the moment of pasting so that the tapestries are firmly glued to the walls. Otherwise, when using a heat gun in the process of tensioning the ceiling, it is possible to peel off the trellis;
- Before starting work on installing the profile for tensioning the canvas, care should be taken to cover the finished walls with plastic wrap, otherwise the dust that occurs when drilling the walls will ruin the appearance of the wallpaper;
- If you initially start gluing, the upper part of the wallpaper is under the profile of the ceiling. On the one hand, this provides an even line of contact, but, if it is necessary to update the wall covering, it will not be easy to make high-quality dismantling of old wallpapers.
If the ceiling first, and then the wallpaper
If the installers insisted on their own, and it was decided to make the ceiling first and then paste the wallpaper, other problems and positive moments arise.
The positive aspects of the initial installation of the ceiling:
- to start work on pasting the walls do not need a break - you can immediately start work;
- rubbish arising during the installation of the profile is easily removed from the room;
- the thermal effect required to tension the web does not have a negative effect on the non-glued walls.
Negative moments that arise when installing the ceiling in the first place:
- in the process of gluing walls, cuts of a stretched ceiling can be possible;
- the need to fit the trellis along the upper edge leads to contamination of the ceiling material;
- when installing a ceiling molding, which smooths out the flaws in the work when installing the trellis along the upper edge, damage to and contamination of the canvas is also possible.
Which is better at the beginning - the pros and cons
Having considered the negative and positive sides of the priority, it can be stated that the priority is not particularly important, since there are ways to minimize all risks and the possibility of organizing safe work.
First, consider the options for correcting unwanted situations during the initial installation of wallpaper:
- You can protect the surface of the wall coating with plastic film, which is attached with tape on the upper boundary of the wall. After such preparation, it is possible to carry out drilling without loss for mounting the ceiling profile;
- Protecting the surface of a wall glued with vinyl wallpaper is also possible when using a film. The film will protect trellis from active heat exposure when stretching the ceiling.
With regard to problems that arise when the ceiling is installed before gluing, the following solutions can be envisaged:
- It is possible to avoid contamination of matter when working with wallpaper glue by pasting the perimeter of the canvas with masking tape. This material does not have a strong adhesive base, and therefore it is easily detached from the surface without leaving any residue. It is impossible to use traditional adhesive tape for these purposes, since it will not be possible to remove the remaining glue after it;
- To avoid damage to the canvas when cutting the upper edge of the wallpaper, it is enough to take the exact dimensions of the height of the wall, and then mark each sheet on the floor to measure. As a result, no adjustment is required. If you still need to cut off the excess strip from the trellis at the top, you need to use a wide spatula as the base for the cut and a sharp clerical knife. In this case, problems with accurate trimming will not arise, and the ceiling will remain unharmed.
In order not to argue with the builders about the fact that the first is wallpaper or a stretch ceiling, it is better to invite a team that can carry out the whole complex of finishing work. In this case, the master himself will decide what work to do first, in order to prevent damage to the material and violation of the finish.
When performing work by one team, the following algorithm of actions is acceptable:
- The walls are prepared for wallpapering, at the same time the ceiling surface is being prepared (paint residues or whitewash are removed, cracks are putty, primer processing is performed).
- The profile for the ceiling is installed.
- Wall papering is performed.
- The canvas is stretched.
This sequence of actions allows you to avoid any problems when pasting and installing the ceiling.
What can affect the choice of the order of work
When making a decision, the following factors must be considered:
- Gluing tapestries provides for the installation of a ceiling plinth or not.
- What material is the basis for the installation of wallpaper.
- Type of wallpaper and quality characteristics of the adhesive used.
- What profile system is used to install the blade.
- Which canvas is planned to be mounted.
- Estimated date for next repair.
Given all these points, you can decide that first - a wallpaper or a stretch ceiling needs to be mounted, while it is not recommended to rely on the opinion of hired workers who defend their own interests.