In recent years, stretch ceilings have been very popular. They decorate not only apartments and private houses, but also office premises, shopping centers and public institutions. You can give preference to conventional or multi-tiered ceilings of various colors. When purchasing a chandelier for a stretch ceiling, it is important to take into account the fact that the suspended structure is lowered by several centimeters. Therefore, for small rooms it is not advisable to buy a large lighting fixture.
Features of choosing a chandelier for a stretch ceiling
Before installing the chandelier on a stretch ceiling, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for a lighting device. The polyvinyl chloride fabric is susceptible to directed bright light, as a result, the color changes, the fabric may be deformed. In this regard, it is necessary to select lighting devices taking into account the following requirements:
- Lampshades should be directed down or in different directions, but in no case up.
- Do not give preference to too complex and cumbersome designs, as installation difficulties may occur, and the appearance of the room may be damaged.
- It is better to install LED or energy-saving lamps, because incandescent lamps emit a lot of heat, which has a destructive effect on the stretch ceiling canvas. When buying, it is important to ensure that the chandelier and lamp have the same base.
- When mounting a chandelier in the form of a plate, it is important that its base is not made of metal, otherwise strong heating cannot be avoided.
- If households prefer incandescent lamps, for a PVC sheet, their power should be no more than 40 watts, and for a textile coating - about 60 watts.
The chandelier should be an interior decoration. Wrong choices can damage the stretch ceiling and ruin the design.
Requirements for fasteners and types of fasteners
Fastening the chandelier to the stretch ceiling after its installation can be done in several ways. The choice depends on the size and design.
The main types of installation of a ceiling lamp on a stretch ceiling:
- Mounting to mounting plate - applicable only for small lighting fixtures. Often such plates are sold immediately with a lamp.
- Hook mounting is the most common and reliable mounting option. You can use an ordinary anchor hook. A common phenomenon is when the anchor is welded to the plate, and then attached to the coating.
- The installation cross-shaped level is also intended for small fixtures, often attached to them as a set.
- Installation on the I-beam is designed for large chandeliers with impressive weight.
To make it easier to determine the optimal mounting method, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
| Type of fastening | Benefits | disadvantages |
| Butterfly dowel | simplicity and ease of installation, the ability to mount a chandelier of any size and weight | in comparison with other types of fastening, reliability is not so high |
| Hook | quick and easy installation, high reliability | not suitable for all types of lighting fixtures |
| Strap | the ability to mount almost all varieties of lighting devices; the end result is a simple and uncomplicated design | additionally required to purchase a block of wood |
| Spider | mount chandeliers even with impressive weight | the installation process is quite laborious |
Tools and materials
You can install lighting fixtures yourself, the main thing is to familiarize yourself with the requirements for choosing a chandelier and fixtures, prepare all the necessary tools and materials. The master will need:
- stepladder or table;
- for embedded blocks or moisture resistant plywood;
- drill or perforator;
- dowels;
- pliers with insulated handles;
- plastic rings;
- screwdrivers;
- self-tapping screws;
- insulation tape;
- anchor hook;
- VVNg-LS wires;
- mounting strips;
- terminal blocks.
You can buy everything you need in construction stores, before buying, it is better to consult a consultant.
How to choose a place for a lighting fixture
Of great importance in the design of the room is the lighting scheme. To choose the right place for the lighting device, you need to familiarize yourself with the existing schemes:
- Central lighting. A traditional, but already outdated option. A single chandelier is installed in the center. Applicable for medium-sized rooms, corners will be darkened in large rooms.
- Spot lighting located in different angles. There are many options for the location of lighting devices. As a rule, when drawing up a design, specialists pay attention to the shape of the room, recreation and work areas, the number and location of windows. This option is not only convenient, but also economical due to the fact that the backlight is turned on only in the right area.
- Contour lighting is mounted using diode strips, which have recently been popular. For stretch ceilings, this is the most preferred way of lighting due to minimal heat transfer. Tapes are installed in close proximity to the ceiling canvas.
If you combine lighting schemes, you can end up with a beautiful and functional ceiling. But it is important to consider that each room needs an individual approach.
Wiring Preparation
Prepare the wiring must first. To do this, perform the following manipulations:
- Turn off the power to the room.
- Take previously acquired VVNg-LS wires and lay them from the switch to the place where the lighting device will be located.
- The cable is allowed to remain open, but experts recommend additionally installing protection in the form of corrugated plastic.
If the length is insufficient, the cable can be extended using the terminal blocks.
Connecting the chandelier to the network
After completing the installation of the selected fixture, conducting electrical work, wiring the cables to the calculated places, they begin to connect the chandelier to electricity. The work algorithm is as follows:
- On the main panel, turn off the circuit breaker.
- Using an indicator screwdriver, check the absence or presence of voltage in the conductors of the electrical wires.
- Strip the ends of the wires of the network and the lamp, connect them to each other.
- Turn on the switch on the shield and check the operation of the chandelier.
When performing work, it is important to observe personal safety precautions - you must not work near rotating mechanisms, as well as live parts that are energized.
Health Check
After completing all installation work and connecting the lighting devices to the mains, it is important to check the integrity of the ceiling fabric - inspect for tears, scratches and chips.
Unpleasant phenomena due to an unprofessional attitude are eliminated with the help of the following tips:
- The material located in the thermal ring is cut off, leaving it in a radius of 2-3 cm. This will prevent the stretch ceiling from slipping and its deformation.
- If the integrity of the canvas is violated, special thermal stickers are used. As a result, defects are hidden, and the design is not spoiled.
- If you need to lengthen the wiring and, at the same time, protect it from the back of the canvas, use a special corrugation.
You can install lighting fixtures on suspended ceilings yourself, without seeking qualified help. The main thing is to choose the type of fastening for the purchased chandelier, be careful in your actions and observe safety precautions.
