Installation of polystyrene foam tiles requires a minimum of tools, time and additional materials, therefore, the fastest and least labor-intensive type of ceiling finishing is an adhesive ceiling. Expanded polystyrene tiles are divided into three types according to the production method: stamped, injection and extruded.
This is the simplest and cheap look products, it is made from polystyrene foam on stamping machines at elevated temperatures. Stamped tiles have the most disadvantages: they are fragile, crumble when broken, and are difficult to clean. But since the adhesive ceiling is practically not subject to mechanical action, this drawback can be ignored. After carefully gluing the tiles and letting them dry, you can paint them with water-based paint. acrylic paint in any color, and then, if necessary, update with new paint.
Prices for stamped tiles range from 39 rubles and above, but usually do not exceed 55 rubles. By successfully choosing a pattern and color, you can create a good design in a room with a glued ceiling from inexpensive tiles, despite a budget option products.
It is also called injection. It is produced in molds by sintering polystyrene foam, and its quality indicators are higher than stamped tiles. It is produced in white, but after pasting the ceiling it can be painted with acrylic paint.
In addition to the smooth surface, stamped tiles are made with a profile relief. The lower the ceiling in the room, the less voluminous you need to choose the pattern on the tiles, otherwise the ceiling in the room will seem even lower. The cost of the material depends on the density of the polystyrene foam sheet and the complexity of the pattern, and ranges from 59 to 100 rubles.
In this photo, pressed tiles imitating stucco are suitable for spacious rooms, such as a living room.
The most expensive and high-quality ceiling tiles are extruded. Its surface is covered with a thin film (laminated), so the surface of the tile is perfectly smooth, easy to clean and not afraid of minor mechanical loads. Another advantage of such a product is the unlimited choice of colors. It is available in imitation stone, wood, or just a plain color, so you can immediately choose a product of a suitable shade and do not have to carry out additional work on painting the ceiling. The photo below shows an example of extruded marbled tiles.
The protective film on extruded tiles creates a water-repellent effect. Therefore, if you need to make an adhesive ceiling in the kitchen or bathroom, it is better to choose a product with laminated coating, since fumes can accumulate in these rooms.
In addition to lamination, extruded tiles can be factory-painted with waterproof paints, which creates a coating that is not inferior to laminated tiles.
The average cost of 1 m2 of extruded tiles is about 100 rubles. Price for expensive options products with beautiful design And high-quality coating reach 170 rubles per 1m2.
The price of expanded polystyrene ceiling tiles varies significantly among different manufacturers. You can buy inexpensive Omsk tiles Format Lagom from the factory of the same name: price from 39 rubles. The product will cost a little more from the companies VTM Holding from Rostov-on-Don and Nitram from Mytishchi, Moscow region: from 49 to 82 rubles.
Seamless tiles have no edges, and when the sheets are joined, the joints between the tiles are almost invisible and the surface appears as a continuous sheet. Tiles for a seamless ceiling come with a wavy edge, and then its surface is especially beautiful.
But the seamless type of tiles is only ideal for gluing smooth surfaces, since at small differences the edges of the tiles are difficult to join, and they look very ugly. Particularly difficult is covering the ceiling with seamless tiles with a complex relief pattern. Some craftsmen install seamless tiles on a pre-arranged sheathing of even slats, but then the device glue ceiling without seams becomes more complicated and expensive, and sometimes the meaning of its design is lost. If the surface cannot be leveled, it is better to use regular tiles with cut rounded edges.
The standard size of polystyrene foam tiles is 50x50 cm, which means there are 4 square sheets per 1m2. This size makes it easy to count the number of tiles for covering the ceiling. The tiles are sold packaged in 2 m2 packs, that is, 8 pieces per package, but if you need to buy an odd number of m2, you can ask the seller to remove the missing sheets of tiles from the packaging.
Rectangular tiles measuring 100×16.5 cm are also considered standard. It is used mainly as a decorative element and is glued to the wall along the perimeter to finish an already pasted ceiling.
Recently, some manufacturers have begun to produce ceiling tiles in a wider selection of sizes. Products of 60×60 cm, 40×40 cm, 70×40 cm, 70×30 cm and 60×30 cm appeared. By gluing non-standard size tiles in a room, you can visually expand or lengthen the ceiling.
Read also: How to choose ceiling plinth, Ceiling tiles from expanded polystyrene, Buy hanging chair to the ceiling, Self-adhesive PVC floor tiles. Reviews
Repair is an expensive undertaking. In addition, it takes time to completely renovate the interior, which also requires a lot. What to do when resources are limited, deadlines are tightened, and repairs must be carried out, at least temporarily?
It is necessary to choose a relatively inexpensive material that is easy to use in front of the walls, which will occur as quickly as possible.
In this obvious solution, among other things, foam is tiles made of polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) on the ceiling. He has obvious advantages described below.
Polystyrene foam
As the name suggests, foam ceiling tiles are made from a lightweight synthetic material such as polystyrene foam.
Its advantages:
In a pinch, the adhesive will suffer, and then only if selected incorrectly.
The market supply will allow you to imitate high-quality plaster.
Like all other building materials, polystyrene foam has many disadvantages that limit its use. These include:
We must rely solely on the fact that no one will do it intentionally, but it is possible to accidentally touch something by accident, but this is very problematic.
Whatever the design on such a board, it is impossible to create a rich interior design. This is the main quality of foam tiles, which makes repairs using temporary ones.
Foam Types
Foam ceilings are classified according to the technology used in its manufacture. Depending on the production method, some characteristics of the tile vary significantly:
A blank is cut out of a large piece of polystyrene foam, from which tiles can be printed using this or another design. Thickness finished products- up to seven millimeters, color - matte white. Its main advantage is that it is inexpensive, which allows them not to be afraid of high costs both during completion and partial replacement tiles Backsplash tile works well in almost any color. The main disadvantage of this tile is its fragility. Careless handling both during installation and during transportation inevitably causes damage to the material.
Also, in a compressed plate, the edge, if slightly defective, will be very noticeable.
The injection plate is not afraid of moisture and water, but also has good sound insulation properties. On the other hand, greater thickness allows for the creation of an image of great depth, making very small cutting interlocking joints almost invisible.
There is obvious inaccuracy in geometry during installation, so extruded polystyrene ceiling tiles require more care when gluing than any other.
Preparation for gluing tiles
Constructing a ceiling with foam filtration, as already mentioned, is preferable to other materials in the processing process.
This statement also applies to preparatory work, which will not be too spacious and boring.
After all, this latter material hides various cracks, hills, holes and other surface imperfections that do not need to be separated separately.
However, some preparatory work is necessary. If there is chalk or lime on the ceiling, they need to be washed. If all types of clothing are present, they must also be removed. A primer coat is required on the ceiling surface to ensure sufficient adhesion to the adhesive.
For example you can use ready-made solution, which is sold at any hardware store.
Typically, ceiling tiles are made from different types The foam forms a square, with a side length of 50 centimeters. Before gluing, you must carefully measure each side of the ceiling. Each of them is that the difference between seemingly identical sides can be several centimeters.
If this is not taken into account, the holes in the device will be too high and difficult to repair.
After measuring the ceiling, calculate the number of whole tiles. All partial tile inserts must be carefully measured and cut using cutting tools. Large deviations in such preparatory work are also undesirable; for the same reasons, they can lead to loss of installation quality.
To ensure high accuracy of installation, a line must be marked on the ceiling.
For each tile there is no need to precisely mark the surfaces; it is enough to draw control lines every meter, both along and across. It is then almost impossible to make a significant error.
Ceiling tiles
There is a reference line on the ceiling, the tile is ready, there is glue and tools to use it, you can continue with the installation.
If training is carried out on good level, this level will not cause any special problems.
Polyvinyl acetate adhesive (PVA) or special compounds can be used to glue polystyrene foam boards, for example. Glue "Dragon". They are good if the ceiling surface is completely flat. If there is irregularity hidden only for installation, it is recommended to use a mixture of PVA glue and gypsum in water.
This design holds the tiles securely up to the ceiling, and its label can be adjusted to the height of a specific area.
The gluing technology is more than simple.
The slabs at the edges and in the middle should be expanded with adhesive, placed on the ceiling, aligned along the control lines, along the walls and adjacent plates, and slightly compressed. After pressing it, you need to hold the plate for a minute or two so that the glue has time to reach the surface of the ceiling. Everything must be done with care, remember that foams are very light and can be easily moved from the glued area.
If the tiles do not fit close together, the error can be corrected by using the same PVA adhesive mixed with gypsum solution. After painting, such surface preparation does not matter.
Along the edges is a ceiling covered with expanded polystyrene, usually trimmed with a ceiling leg or, as it is often called, a baguette. The edge of the ceiling is made of the same material as the tiles, so it should be glued together with glue.
The last level of ceiling tile finishing is painted with acrylic or another color.
There are no special technological methods for this. If you do not need to remember the relief surface, which cannot be painted with a roller. To work, use a brush, preferably a small width.
How to seal the seams on ceiling tiles yourself?
To be honest, it is not entirely clear from the question which tile we are talking about.
If it’s tiled, then that’s one thing; if it’s made of foam (or foam-like) material, then that’s another. I will focus on both options.
Tile: The seams are grouted in the same way as on the walls or floor. With exactly the same grout, I recommend using Ceresit grout, it has an excellent consistency, plus a huge selection of colors, you can choose which one suits you best.
Grouting tiles begins with cleaning the seams from tile adhesive; I use a specially sharpened screwdriver for this purpose.
The seams have been cleaned, we dilute the grout, the grout should be a little thinner than sour cream, this will fill all the seams better.
Of course, there are special spatulas for grouting (rubber), you can work with them, you can also use iron ones, but sometimes they leave streaks, in general you need to see the tile.
We wipe the seams after about ten minutes, I advise you to use furniture foam rubber, it does not shatter into small pieces and smoothes the seams perfectly, change the water more often, you can pour used water into a sewer with a diameter of 100 mm, but not with a diameter of 50 mm.
The tile has dried, now wipe it with a dry cloth.
The last piece of advice on this topic: Don’t spread a lot of grout, try to grout a couple of squares, not all at once, although the ceiling in the bathroom (if we’re talking about this room) has a couple of squares, a little more, up to 2.5, that’s more accurate).
If the tile is made of polystyrene foam, then you bought an extremely low-quality material, such a tile is glued into the joint and there simply should not be any seams on it.
If, nevertheless, you become the owner of a low-quality material, then there is a way out; I suggest gluing such tiles onto silicone white, first of all damp room silicone is better than any putty, and secondly, you can seal (whiten) the seams with the same silicone.
When working with silicone, use a “gun” and a damp cloth; wipe off excess silicone almost immediately.
First, we clean the seams from glue or anything else they are filled with.
The seams must be deepened by 3-5 mm, otherwise the grout layer will not last long. We dilute the grout in water in small portions and apply it to the tiles with a rubber spatula, trying to completely fill all the seams.
Let the grout set a little and after about 15 minutes wash it off with a sponge and plenty of water. After we have washed it for the first time, we take the plastic socket from the dowel nail and draw it at the same angle along all the seams, evenly deepening them. After you wash the tiles again, you can wipe them dry, I use the second option if the tiles are glossy, fine particles The grout polishes the tile well.
This type of finishing quickly began to gain popularity. The coating looks aesthetically pleasing, beautiful and suits most interiors. Therefore, if you want beautiful finish ceiling, but there is not that much money, foam tiles will be an excellent solution.
Ceiling tiles are, in fact, a skillful imitation of gypsum stucco.
This coating has its advantages:
And the disadvantages can be identified:
Basically, foam coating is used for temporary ceiling finishing, but tiles are also quite suitable as a permanent option. If the geometric pattern does not suit you, then you can opt for a seamless variation of the foam ceiling. Another advantage of the tiles is their small thickness, which is very important if the height of the walls does not allow installing something monumental.
Manufacturers of foam decor are ready to provide customers with a choice of tile patterns, sizes and a huge palette of colors, which will allow the ceiling to be combined with any color scheme interior
But manufacturers also reserve the right for the buyer to repaint the tiles at will in any other color, using a brush and acrylic paint of the desired shade.
There are three types of foam tiles.
Extruded tiles are produced by polystyrene extrusion. As a result, it turns out to be the shade of dirty spring snow, so the tiles are covered with film on top using a press. Such tiles are the most expensive, but at the same time the most durable. Stamped tiles are also called pressed tiles. Unlike other types, it has the lowest price, but will require a mandatory edging in the form of moldings at the junction of the wall and ceiling. Made from expanded polystyrene. The advantage of polystyrene foam tiles is that they can be painted with water-dispersed paints.
Injection tiles are produced when high-quality raw materials are sintered in a special mold.
This coating is not afraid of moisture. During installation, the boundaries are almost invisible; deep relief can be applied to the tiles, so the ceiling will look like a solid stucco work of art. Usually, additional decor is added to the foam ceiling in the form of fillets and moldings made of a similar material. The result is an excellent imitation classic style with a hint of vintage.
Interestingly, tiles can have different textures. For example, stone, wood carving, fabric and plaster. Laminated tiles are perfect for kitchen area, and finishing with moisture protective coating will decorate the bathroom.
Expanded polystyrene tiles can have not only a strict square or rectangular shape. Designers have long come up with such forms of tiles that after laying and installation the entire ceiling looks like a seamless structure.
Among the disadvantages of this material is its high susceptibility to ultraviolet rays. Over time, the tiles turn yellow, and this can only be corrected by replacement. Therefore, experts still recommend immediately after installing the slabs to cover them with a layer of paint of a suitable shade.
But even if time has been lost, the ceiling made of foam plastic slabs can be refreshed water-based paint. It will be evenly distributed over the entire surface and will not leave stains behind.
The painting technology is as follows:
Installing ceiling tiles is just one of those jobs that is quite possible to do yourself without much physical effort. There is only one huge drawback - if the ceiling is very uneven, then it will first have to be sheathed with some kind of leveling material, for example, plasterboard.
Of course for proper finishing ceiling tiles have their own technology:
You can glue the tiles in one of three ways, at the choice of the residents of the room: diagonally, in even rows and in a checkerboard pattern. The exception is seamless tiles - any method of gluing produces a solid canvas. Adhesive composition They are applied to the tile in the center and along the edges, because this is enough for the pasting to be uniform. If the ceiling has been primed, the tiles will adhere even more firmly.
Foam ceiling tiles – perfect solution for quality, beautiful and budget renovation, where not only money, but also effort is minimally spent. The coating will please the eye with its clear shapes, so you should definitely try this technique to update the design of your room.
Polystyrene foam is a lightweight, cheap and very useful material for the home. If you want to quickly and inexpensively finish the ceiling, then be sure to consider the option of foam plastic. If you do the correct pasting, and also choose the right material, the result can please you for more than ten years! Get to know the types of foam boards and the functional features of each type.
Despite the popular belief that there is only one type of polystyrene foam, in reality there are as many as 3 types of foam plastic, which differ from each other in many respects. Therefore, it is important to know what each of them is.
There are three types of foam boards based on the type of production:
There are three types, the best option in terms of price and quality ratio is injection. Therefore, if you want a durable beautiful tiles, choose exactly this type.
If you decide to use this particular material to decorate your ceiling, then it is recommended that you become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages that this material has.
The disadvantages of polystyrene foam include the following:
All the disadvantages of foam boards are more than offset by the advantages: cheap and lightweight polystyrene foam tiles will hide minor imperfections in the ceiling, and will also decorate the room with the proper approach to choosing a pattern and installation.
In order to paste the ceiling surface using foam boards, you must first check the condition of the original ceiling surface. Remember that slabs are indeed capable of hiding minor defects in the ceiling, but do not trust polystyrene foam with depressions and sagging of more than half a centimeter.
If your ceiling is relatively flat, clean and ready for pasting, then do the following:
To create the feeling of a relief or stretch ceiling, use seamless tiles made from the highest quality materials.
If you have already installed a ceiling made of foam tiles, then perhaps you need help in some issues regarding the operation of such a ceiling. The fact is that often with sloppy gluing one or more slabs may leave their original place. In this case, replacement of the tiles is necessary. If the fallen tile remains intact, then you just need to remove the remnants of the old glue and glue the part again. If a part breaks, you will have to look for the same one.
When purchasing a stove, be sure to count 5-10 pieces in case the stove is damaged. Perhaps in a few years you will not be able to find the tiles you need.
There is a way to minimize all possible risks and troubles associated with a foam ceiling. This method is to paint the ceiling.
What features should be taken into account if you decide to paint a foam ceiling:
The design of a room largely depends on how the ceiling looks. To make a beautiful surface for little money, you can glue neat, expensive slabs, and use paint to enhance the positive effect. If you want to make the room cozy and well-groomed, then ceiling tiles will allow you to independently transform a boring ceiling into a surface pleasing to the eye.
For the purpose of registration ceiling surfaces there is a wide range of materials. It could be plastic vinyl wallpapers or even regular plaster.
One of the solutions is foam ceiling tiles. They are available in pricing policy, but at the same time practical and very attractive.
The fastest and most cost-effective way to make the ceiling in your home beautiful is to buy foam ceiling tiles. This kind of material will help decorate any room.
It is suitable for offices, living spaces and even restrooms. If a question arises, how to paint foam ceiling tiles, then the answer is simple - any paint.
Is environmentally friendly pure material. The main advantage of tiles is compliance technical characteristics and prices. Designers around the world noted that such tiles good helper in the design of the apartment. She behaves well indoors with high humidity and temperature changes.
Nowadays there are a huge number of tile modifications on the construction market. You can choose an ornament to suit every taste. The big plus is that it lends itself well to painting and visually smoothes the ceiling. Foam ceiling tile size depends on its type.
One of the advantages of ceiling tiles is that the pattern is uniform, but with a large number of seams. The slabs are installed very quickly. All these quality characteristics make this kind of material in demand.
If you don't like the seams on the ceiling, you can use a different type of tile. They are called seamless. The price will be higher, but the result is worth it. Panels of this shape look good in large rooms And office premises. All tiles of this type will only be in snow-white shades.
There are 3 production methods foam tiles:
The pressing method involves compression during the production of foam using a press. Such slabs will have a thickness of about 0.7 centimeters. Subsequently, the products are compacted and a pattern is applied to them.
In order to obtain thicker products, there is an injection method. IN in this case the slabs are cast in a mold at high temperatures. The resulting products will be the most expensive. The thinnest slabs are those produced by extrusion.
The variety of ceiling tiles makes this material very popular. The shape of foam tiles is:
As a rule, the slabs are made square. This is done for comfort in gluing them. But in Lately It is also possible to find rectangular slabs. They are more practical to use when decorating ceilings in large rooms. They will help reduce material consumption.
The size of the slab can be:
The most popular size of slabs is 50*50 centimeters, but there are also slabs - 30*30. Depending on the production method, they are:
The first slabs will be the most affordable. They will be grainy in type and usually white in color. Due to this type of production, the slabs are not very durable and the seams are clearly visible. There are errors in the manufacture of slabs, so cracks may appear when gluing the slabs.
When injected, the slabs are obtained High Quality. The main characteristics of the products will be: correct form, barely noticeable seams and a large number of plate designs.
When produced by injection, the slabs turn out to be off-white in color, so they are subsequently coated special film. This kind of material will be the most durable, but also quite expensive.
When finishing, the surface may look like this:
The most popular of them is laminated. After gluing the boards, the material is covered with film. This significantly increases the quality characteristics of a particular material. Such foam ceiling tiles in the kitchen, will look more than attractive.
Like any building material, tiles have their pros and cons. The advantages include:
Polystyrene foam tiles have high thermal and sound insulating qualities and are also lightweight. This makes it possible to carry out installation without the help of third parties.
It is also distinguished by its own decorative and a large number invoices Every buyer can buy foam ceiling tiles perfect shape. The ceiling, which is covered with such material, is not afraid of moisture and high temperature.
You can glue such tiles yourself without the presence of a specialist. However, despite a large number of advantages, the material has a number of disadvantages:
Over time, such plates tend to turn yellow, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
The disadvantages of foam tiles include their fragility and softness.
Installation of slabs includes a number of stages, namely:
First of all, before you start work, you need to calculate the amount of material that will be needed. To do this, it is enough to understand the length and width of the room.
By multiplying these characteristics, you get the area of the room. But buy slabs according to this calculation. It is necessary to take about 15% of the total calculation in reserve. The shape of the ceiling in many apartments is not ideal, so the calculation may be incorrect!
Foam Ceiling Tile Adhesive you need to choose carefully. The service life of the slabs depends on it. So, several types of tips when choosing glue:
In order to glue the tiles you need a tool. You only need a little of it, and it is quite accessible to anyone. This:
Before you start gluing the slabs, it is necessary to prepare the ceiling. So, you don’t have to remove the old coating if it is smooth, but if the surface is not smooth, then it definitely needs to be cleaned.
Equally important! If the ceiling is whitewashed, then the whitewashing must be removed; the tiles will not adhere to it! If there are cracks or holes, they are puttied. In order for the slabs and ceiling to adhere, it is primed. The primer must dry for at least 3 hours.
Next, the ceiling is marked and the center is determined. Diagonals are drawn from the corners of the room and their intersection is found. This is done in order to determine the amount required slabs. If the ceiling is uneven, then you need to buy more slabs to fill the gaps.
Wall gluing can be done parallel to the walls or diagonally. Glue is applied to the slab, and installation occurs from the corner of the wall. Press the tile well and wait about 3 minutes.
If excess glue appears, it can be easily removed with a sponge. All subsequent slabs are glued to the joint of the previous ones. It will take about a day for the ceiling to dry. How to glue foam ceiling tiles Of course, all that remains is to disassemble it and paint it.
The following paints are suitable for painting foam ceiling tiles:
All these types of paints dry quickly and apply in an even layer. If the tile has been laminated, then you shouldn’t even try to paint it. The paint will run off and the result is unlikely to please you.
If the surface of the tile is rough, then it is better to use a spray gun so that there are no smudges or gaps. The joints must be sealed with sealant. After that, apply and let it dry.
It is advised to choose paint from well-known manufacturers, and it must meet the following requirements:
As for the choice of color, it should fit harmoniously into the interior of the room.
Foam ceiling tile price varied and varies from $1 per square meter. This applies to ordinary products. If the tiles are produced by extrusion, then the price of the products will be about $12, but the service life is an order of magnitude longer.
Many consumers note that this material behaves very well in any room. And of course, a big plus when choosing is the price. From a wide range of finishing materials, foam tiles are inexpensive. On the negative side: over time it may turn yellow and burst.
Average term services of this material depends on the manufacturer and varies from 5 to 15 years. The room in which the tiles were glued is of great importance. If this is a room with high humidity, then the material will lose its performance properties earlier than in a dry room.
If you want to renovate your apartment, but don’t have a lot of money for materials, then you should pay attention to foam ceiling tiles. A wide selection of textures and colors allows you to find the best option for every taste. Ease of installation will allow you to glue the tiles yourself.
Everyone has been familiar with foam plastic since childhood, the full name of which is extruded polystyrene foam or styrofoam. He is in great demand in construction industry. Today, various building materials are made from polystyrene foam due to its unique structure. It consists of a huge number of small air cells.
Foam plastic is characterized by lightness of construction, ease of processing, and is also distinguished by the ability to create any shape of the product. More important feature this building material is that it retains heat perfectly. The versatility of polystyrene foam is evident in the fact that it is used in the creation of many building materials.
Mostly, foam ceiling tiles come in a square shape. Standard sizes are 250x250, 300x300 and 500x500 mm. You can find it on sale rectangular options, which are usually called panels. This option is used for finishing ceilings in public spaces not intended for residential use. The standard size is 1000x165 mm.
Modern manufacturers foam ceiling tiles offer this material in other forms, sometimes you can even find options irregular shape. This variety allows you to create amazing compositions on different topics.
The polystyrene foam is presented in white color and is complemented by an ornament on the front side. Such tiles are usually used to finish the ceiling for painting using a water-based composition. To ensure excellent paint absorption, this material has a matte finish. This option costs very little, so it is very often used for subsequent painting.
The foam board has a thickness of up to 14 mm, but standard sizes vary from 2.5 to 8 mm. The lightness of the material is one of its main advantages.
So, to cover a ceiling of 20 m², you will need approximately 4 kg of foam tiles.
When calculating required quantity tiles measuring 500x500 mm, the ceiling area should be rounded to a larger number, which is divisible by five. Because in the last row the tiles will have to be cut. If diagonal laying is used, then another 15% should be added to the total number of tiles.
Extruded polystyrene foam, like other materials, has advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantage of foam ceiling tiles is that they can be easily glued to any surface. The low weight of the material, as well as the ease of cutting, contribute to quick and easy installation.
This material is characterized by excellent heat and sound insulation properties. It can even be used for arranging children's rooms, since it is safe, because it does not contain harmful substances.
Many people prefer this finishing material because it is inexpensive, and the installation adhesive is affordable. If you choose the right one finishing material for the ceiling, then it will last for many years. When using tiles big size Ceiling cladding can be done very quickly. Since foam tiles are thin, the ceiling height remains virtually unchanged after installation.
Foam tiles can be painted. White material can take on any shade. Tiles can be painted up to seven times.
Simplicity of installation allows you to do everything yourself without special skills.
But besides its advantages, foam tiles also have some disadvantages, which you should familiarize yourself with before deciding to work with this material.
The main disadvantages of polystyrene foam include its fragility, so you need to be very careful with it. A significant disadvantage is vapor permeability. The ceiling can no longer absorb excess moisture. It is quite difficult to mask the seams between the tiles. You should not buy very cheap polystyrene foam, as it is prone to yellowing quickly.
Modern manufacturers offer three types of foam plastic boards, which differ in properties and manufacturing method.
Produced from polystyrene blocks using the stamping method. Its main characteristics are light weight, low density, and the presence of a relief print. Its thickness varies from 6 to 8 mm.
This tile is the cheapest, so its properties are significantly lower than those of other types of foam tiles. It does not have a protective coating, is susceptible to exposure to water and is characterized by fragility. This ceiling cannot be washed, so for cleaning you can only use the dry version or wipe the surface using a damp sponge.
This type of tile cannot boast of a clear shape, so gaps of different sizes may appear during installation.
It is made from polystyrene mass using a pressing method. It is characterized by high density. Its thickness is generally only 3 mm. It has a protective coating, so it can even be washed with water. Since extruded tiles have a smooth surface, they can imitate the surface of wood, marble or other materials.
The main advantages are long service life, beautiful appearance and excellent strength. If we talk about the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting that the tiles cannot be painted and have uneven surface from the inside, as well as during installation, noticeable connecting seams are formed.
It is of the highest quality. It is produced using the method of baking polystyrene in molds. Its thickness is 14 mm. The peculiarity of this type is the increased strength and clarity of the geometry of the relief print. The joints of the tiles during installation are of high quality, which guarantees the creation of a complete surface.
Injection tiles are fireproof because they do not burn. It can be washed using various detergents. If desired, it can be painted.
This option is even suitable for finishing a bathroom.
To make the ceiling look beautiful and even, you need to follow the advice of experts when choosing it:
First, you need to pay attention to the condition of the ceiling surface, onto which foam tiles will be glued in the future.
It is necessary to carry out preparatory work:
To glue tiles to the ceiling, you can use one of the following methods: parallel, diagonal, offset (reminiscent of brick laying) and combined (implemented by using tiles of different colors).
To ensure that the elements are arranged evenly and in a certain order, you should first make markings on the ceiling:
The process of gluing foam tiles to the ceiling is quite easy and simple:
Ceiling tiles can be cleaned of dust using a vacuum cleaner or a soft fluffy brush. But sometimes you just need to wash it.
To clean foam tiles, you can use whatever detergents you have on hand, but it is better to give preference to liquid detergents. It could be liquid product for washing or washing dishes.
The powder usually contains abrasive particles that will not damage the surface of the tile, but may leave streaks after washing.
You should be very careful with stamped tiles, because they have a low density, so they can only be washed as a last resort. Injection and extruded tiles are not afraid of contact with water, and mechanical impact, which appears during washing.
Foam tiles are cleaned in the same way as suspended ceiling. You need to take a soft cloth or sponge, first moisten it in a soap solution, which consists of detergent and water. The solution must be distributed between the relief depressions. To wash the foam, you can use a damp sponge or flannel.
