Ceiling tiles made of foam are an excellent way out of the impasse, when you want to make a beautiful repair, and money for it is enough. They are not expensive, and to choose the right colors and texture will not present any difficulty. This finishing material is very undemanding to the quality of the repaired surface, as well as easy to install. Therefore, for high-quality ceilings in low-cost repair options, it is indispensable.
Ceiling tiles from foam: general information, types and their characteristics
Extruded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), and in everyday use foam – a very versatile material. From it make a huge number of different products and building materials. Due to its structure with millions of small cells filled with air, it has properties that are very necessary for finishing materials:
- low thermal conductivity, which allows you to retain heat inside the room, decorated with foam;
- the possibility of giving the product any shape;
- flexibility for handling;
- incredible lightness.
Ceiling tiles from foam in most designs are square. The sizes of squares are 500×500, 250×250 or 300×300 mm. Sometimes there are rectangular specimens of 1000×165 mm, which are called panels and used for finishing public non-residential premises. There are tiles and other geometric shapes, even irregular ones. From it you can upload the whole composition of various subjects.
The simplest tile options are plain white foam plastic with a simple ornament on the front surface. They are intended for finishing of ceilings for painting water-based structures. For this reason, they do not have a glossy surface, which ensures good absorption of paint. The cost of ordinary tiles is minimal, so the cost of its acquisition does not exceed the cost of painting the ceiling of the same area.
The thickness of any foam tiles does not exceed 14 mm, and more often is in the range from 2.5 to 8 mm. Due to this, given the specific weight of the foam, the mass of 1 m2 of the coating does not exceed 400 grams. That is, a room of 20 m2 can be covered with a material whose total weight is only 4 kg. In addition to the tiles themselves, the industry produces a large number of related products from the same polystyrene foam: moldings, cornices, sockets, and plinths. This allows the ceilings to give the finished look in the same style.
Helpful advice! When buying expanded polystyrene tiles of 500×500 mm, after measuring the area of the glued surface, it is necessary to round the result to a larger integer multiple of 5. Indeed, along one of the walls you will have to cut the tile. When laying diagonally, the amount of material required must be increased by 15%.
Today, there are 3 methods for producing foam ceiling tiles.
- The method of pressing and stamping involves the compression and compaction of large foam plastic plates using an industrial press. Such products have a thickness of 0.7 – 0.8 cm.
- The injection molding method is a casting at high temperature. In this case, very thick products are obtained, about 1.4 cm thick.
- The tiles obtained by extruding have the smallest thickness from 2.5 to 3 mm. It is on them stick decorative film coating.
In the manufacturing process, the manufacturer applies various industrial technologies to give the front surface of the tiles of the required type: smooth or embossed, laminated or not, white or colored.
Particularly noteworthy tiles that use seamless technology laying. They have standard dimensions of 500×500 mm, but their edges are provided with a special relief formation, and the material itself is very malleable and soft. For this reason, the tile can be so combined that the seam simply will not be visible. Such tiles require special gluing technology and special quick-setting glue.
Like any material for interior decoration, tile has properties, both positive and negative. If we talk about the undoubted advantages, it is:
- thermal insulation properties;
- resistance to moist air;
- immunity to fungi and various types of mold;
- lack of possibility of rotting;
- very low price.
In addition, foam ceiling tiles successfully cope with masking the small surface irregularities. For sticking this material to the ceiling does not require any special tools, knowledge and skills.
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It has tiles and serious disadvantages:
- The fire hazard of foam tiles does not allow its use in children’s institutions. Even those products that are made using a special fire-prevention technology can melt with the release of toxic volatile substances.
- Bad soundproof qualities of expanded polystyrene.
- The presence of a significant number of joints, which create the impression of incomplete ceiling. This drawback was eliminated by creating seamless tiles.
Helpful advice! In the foam with long-term exposure to sunlight begins irreversible processes. They develop gradually, but lead to its deformation and destruction of the structure. For this reason, such tiles should not be glued on open spaces, terraces or light verandas.
As it was already said earlier, pasting the ceiling with foam ceiling tiles is not a complicated and high-tech process. This work can be done by anyone with sufficient care, patience and care. This should be done according to a specific instruction in several stages.
- Preparatory work includes the complete cleaning of the ceiling surface from old coatings and various contaminants. At the same time, significant drops and irregularities need to be corrected. For installation you need to buy the right glue. The one that is sold specifically for such tiles, having a transparent color, is not very convenient, as it is designed for perfectly flat ceilings. Tiles when using it you need to strongly press to the ceiling and hold for a long time until the glue grabs. This is very inconvenient, as long and tired hands. At the same time, after a while part of the tiles may also fall off. Therefore, it is better to buy white quick assembly or any finishing putty.
- It is necessary to prepare the tool: a stationery knife with spare blades, a ruler, a beating, a tape measure, a pencil and a rag to clean the glue.
- We make the correct marking of the ceiling. To do this, we draw diagonals and mark their intersection. Next, connect the segments of the middle of opposite sides. All resulting lines must intersect at one point. This is the very center of the room. You must take care that the chandelier was here, otherwise the ceiling will look ugly. Through the central point, the painting cord beats perpendicular lines along which the first rows of tiles are oriented.
- The first two tiles reduce the corners in the center and pass in the corners of the cord from the lamp. For this, the corners of the tiles can be cut. This place then close the glass chandeliers. Glue the remaining tiles around the first two. At the same time, it is strictly followed that all rows and columns are parallel. The walls of the tile with a knife cut to size, without fear of leaving a small gap, which can later be hidden with a plinth. If there is a picture on the tile, make sure that it matches to form the desired composition.
- Seal the seams produce silicone sealant. In the case of using putty, the seams are filled by themselves when sticking.
Helpful advice! If the glue does not set for a long time and your hands get tired of holding the ceiling tiles from foam plastic, then you can make special props that look like long mops. Their length should strictly coincide with the height of the ceiling minus the thickness of the tiles.
The use of foam tiles for finishing the ceiling allows you to make a very inexpensive and high-quality repair of the room. Additional elements in the form of baseboards and outlets under the chandelier will help to give the interior with such a ceiling a more attractive and complete look. Moldings and columns will further emphasize its features.
