Stretch or drop ceilings, which is best?

Drop ceilings and stretch ceilings – this is, first of all, a mechanism that is installed for the solution of the ceiling design and hiding the imperfections of the basic ceiling. The principle of ceiling installation for these two designs is the same, but they are still two different types of ceilings. The stretch ceilings are stretched along the construction length, while the drop ceilings are fixed on it.

The key differences between drop ceilings and stretch ceilings:

The installation of a drop ceiling is classified as labor-intensive work; it will take much more time to install. The period of installation of the drop ceiling takes from 3–4 days to a couple of weeks. Basically, drop ceilings are made of plasterboard, which in turn causes a significant accumulation of dust and debris during the installation. Therefore, it means that you will have to clear the entire room of furniture and belongings. The advantages of such a ceiling include the fact that if you already have a little experience in the construction industry, then you can easily handle its installation.
The installation of a stretch ceiling will take from 2 to 4 hours. The only exception will be if you wanted to install a complex construction with a lot of decorative elements and lighting fixtures. In this case, the work takes several days. After the installation of the stretch ceiling, you will not find any dust or dirt, and the only thing you will need to do is move the furniture to the center of the room. The truth is that the installation of stretch ceilings should preferably be performed by qualified specialists, because it is impossible to do without specialized equipment. The experience of installing the stretch ceiling also matters.
The drop ceilings take up between 11 and 15 centimeters of the room’s height. At first sight it may seem that this is not so much, but when it comes to a room with a height of 2.5 meters, then every centimeter is important.
The stretch ceiling, in turn, will take up only between 3 and 5 centimeters of the height. This space is necessary for fixing the crown molding. Even with the minimum height of the room, it is possible to visually enlarge it and make it higher by selecting the proper shade of the ceiling.

As for the maintenance of such ceilings, it can be said unanimously that stretch ceilings are more waterproof, but the canvas of such a ceiling can be easily damaged by sharp objects. The drop ceilings are more durable and can easily withstand strong impacts.

The service life of a stretch ceiling is up to 15 years, while drop ceilings provide a service life of up to 9–10 years at most. And the last point is the price, of course! The price is varied; it all depends on preferences, decorative elements, the texture of the canvas, and the features of your room.

Each type of ceiling has its pros and cons, so it is always up to you to make a choice.

This article was prepared with the support of Brilliance Ceiling, a company that installs stretch ceilings in the UK. Brilliance ceiling – stretch ceiling in UK!