How to cut a stretch ceiling for a chandelier

How to make a mortgage for a stretch ceiling

If you plan to make a mortgage panel or ring with your own hands, then the best and easiest way is to use construction wood. The material is easy to process and has a fairly high rigidity. Even after installing a heavy lamp, the suspension will not bend, which often happens with plastic rings and metal bands.

How to make a mortgage for a chandelier under a stretch ceiling

The simplest version of making a mount is shown in the photo.

The wooden platform is easier to level

Structurally, this is a bar sewn with dowels on the ceiling surface or on the side walls. Since there are no adjustment points in the device, it is best to use this technique for arranging a mortgage for a stretch ceiling in drywall. The reference surface must be perfectly aligned horizontally.

For light fixtures, the mortgage plate is most often made in the form of a wooden plank, fixed on metal tape suspensions. In this scheme, the level and height of the installation can be adjusted by folding or cutting the length of the strip.

Embedded platform for square lantern

If the distance to the honey by the attachment points exceeds 15 cm, then instead of a plank, you can use a box-shaped structure assembled on the ceiling from pieces of timber. This method ensures reliable retention of the chandelier on the stretched canvas, even if the diameter of the mortgage exceeds 50 cm.

How to make a mortgage for a spotlight in a stretch ceiling

There are two ways to mount the support for the built-in flashlight. The first is the most famous. To fix the spotlight, a plastic ring with ribbon hangers sewn on the sides is used.

It is important to correctly align the device with the horizon mowing line.

In fact, such a mortgage is no different from a wooden or plywood board used for mounting chandelier lamps on stretch ceilings.

LED lights with a rectangular body are most often embedded in a vinyl sheet using a wooden frame suspended from a embedded frame made of a thin sheet metal profile.

If it is required to mount several lamps in a row, then wooden “shoes” or bars suspended on adjustable bands are used for fastening. To avoid protrusion of the mortgage through the tension web, each shoe is leveled in height using a stretched cord or laser beam.

System for luminaire line

You can install a number of fixtures using a guide profile for assembling plasterboard ceilings, or replace the metal embedded with wooden slats.

On the other hand, the embedded beam for a stretch ceiling is much easier to install, it is cheaper, and there is no risk of making a mistake with the fixing point of the lantern body.

Do you need mortgages for a stretch ceiling

If everything is so complicated, is it possible to do without installing additional mounts. For example, instead of hanging one or two bars of the embedded part, hammer in an anchor hook, on which to hang the lamp. In fact, installing a mortgage under a stretch ceiling is a good way to solve several problems at once:

• Install a pendant lamp using a standard mounting frame or suspension. Fastening the chandelier to the mortgage in the stretch ceiling will allow you to remove, install and even change the light source to a new one an unlimited number of times without any problems;
• A decorative strip covering the suspension point can be rigidly fixed to a foundation beam or a piece of plywood. The appearance of the lamp changes, and at the same time the surface of the stretch ceiling is not rubbed;
• Installing a mortgage under a chandelier in a stretch ceiling, photo, is a good way to fix the electrical wiring with a contact chip.

The wire is fixed on the platform

Do not leave the wire hanging on the metal parts of the chandelier or laid on a stretch canvas. According to the safety requirements, the cable must be fixed on a dielectric, and it is impossible to leave the wire lying on the stretched canvas, this will immediately be seen by the deflection of the canvas.

Types of embeds for luminaires in a stretch ceiling

There are a lot of options and designs for bookmarks for a chandelier or an overhead ceiling light source. over, any master cladder has his own version of the mortgage device, which, in his opinion, best meets the requirements of safe installation on a tension cloth.

Lumber and plywood platform

Among the classic schemes of embedded parts, three universal designs can be distinguished, used to mount a variety of devices, from a lamp to a pipe or a curtain rod for curtains:

• Wooden planks and plywood inserts, 20×20 cm in size, 15-75 mm thick;
• Frames made of wooden laths or beams, usually the size of the edge of square embedded ceilings for a stretch ceiling is 15-30 cm, thickness 10-25 cm, in some cases up to 50 mm;
• Plastic rings and frames, always one-piece continuous, are used as a universal fastening on a stretch ceiling of luminaires with a round or square body of a standard size.

Plank on tape hangers

Standard product for fixing chandeliers

For built-in models of luminaires specially designed for installation on a stretch ceiling, a whole series of plastic rings and frames of various models has been developed and produced, the internal mounting dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the body of the lanterns and point light sources. In other cases, mortgages have to be made on our own, focusing on the size and weight of the chandelier.

How to make a mortgage under a stretch ceiling for a cornice

In order to ensure the operation of the curtain rail with curtains or curtains, two schemes are used. In the first case, the mortgage is made of plywood or board and is installed before the mowing line for placing the cornice, as in the photo.

Dedicated niche for the cornice

In fact, the curtain rails are installed outside the stretch ceiling, and the plywood board itself is used to accommodate the baguette profile.

Knot for fastening the cornice

The second option provides for the fastening of the eaves strip directly through the tension cloth to several embedded supports. The main problem that needs to be solved as carefully as possible is the exact alignment of the support system to the horizon.

Profile embeds

This can be done either by installing two suspension points from a supporting metal profile, or using wooden blocks on adjustable suspensions. In both cases, a gap of 1.5-2 mm should remain between the tensioning blade and the embedded part. Thus, it is possible to compensate for the subsidence of the suspension system under the weight of the eaves and curtains.

How to make a mortgage for a stretch ceiling under the hood

Unlike luminaires, any exhaust systems, whether it is a regular ventilation grille of a duct, or a whole exhaust pipe, is always a relatively large hole size in the stretch fabric.

Therefore, the embedment is made in the form of a plywood or metal plate, installed on a rough ceiling using wire or threaded hangers that are adjustable in height. A hole is made in the central part of the device along the diameter of the chimney. The lower plane of the device should be 2 mm higher than the back surface of the stretch ceiling.

The most difficult thing is to adjust the suspension height to the level of the ceiling.

After the embedded part and stretch fabric have been installed on the ceiling, you will need to touch, using a marker, transfer the contours of the hole to the front of the vinyl finish. Next, the ring is glued, the hood window is cut out, after which the passage assembly is attached with silicone to the pipe located in the ceiling space.

Preparation for the creation of a fixture for a luminaire in a stretch ceiling

The amount of preparatory work depends on the height of the ceiling space, the size of the luminaire and the selected material. Before planning the installation of mortgages under the chandelier, you will need to check how much the surface of the rough ceiling differs from the horizontal level.

If the distance from the floor slab to the stretch ceiling is less than 5 cm, then the mortgage can be attached directly to the concrete. In this case, the existing damage and cracks are rubbed with a repair mixture so that when fixing the mortgage board, you do not fall into the void with a dowel. It is also helpful to check the slope of the concrete slab to find washers or shims to align with the horizon.

Some models of modern pendant lamps are fixed to the ceiling rigidly on a rod, so if you neglect the level, it may turn out that the chandelier will not hang quite vertically.

The markup can be applied according to the template

Embedment under a stretch ceiling: installation methods, photo

The successful installation of luminaires on a soft ceiling lining directly depends on how correctly the chandelier embedded in the stretch ceiling is assembled. A simple, at first glance, method of installing wooden lining in the ceiling space requires accuracy and precision in work, otherwise the entire mortgage fastening system may appear through the canvas.

Platform made of bar and wire residues

Materials for making

Depending on the purpose, stretch ceiling embeds are made of different materials:

The reliability of the fastening depends not only on the material, but also on the size of the platform for stretch ceilings.

Under the ceiling hood

Not everyone’s ceiling height allows you to hide the corrugation behind the canvas, although this option is quite convenient.

Most likely, the platform of the required size will have to be made independently, based on the weight and dimensions of the hood. This can be done from OSB-board, moisture-resistant plywood, or a wooden bar.

It must be fixed to the floor slabs with hangers, having previously fixed the corrugation with clamps.

What is it and why is it needed?

Embedded for a stretch ceiling are of two types.

The first ones are a kind of platform that is placed between the floor slabs and PVC film or fabric cloth. The platform is rigidly attached to the plates, and lamps, curtain rods for curtains and curtains, hoods, etc. are installed on it.

The latter serve to secure the stretch ceiling itself. Often they are installed around the perimeter of the plasterboard box to give it rigidity.

Under the chandelier

The lighting market provides the widest selection of chandeliers of all shapes and sizes. Not all of them are suitable for installation in PVC film, but there is plenty of assortment that meets all the requirements.

Depending on the individual parameters of the lamp, the platform for the chandelier can be made in the form:

Installation features

Most often, the installation of mortgages for the lamps is carried out by the specialists of the company that is assembling the ceiling. If possible, it is better to leave this job to them.

In case of self-installation, you will need a number of tools:

It is advisable to first draw up a marking scheme on a sheet of paper indicating all distances and taking into account the scale. This will make it easier to carry out calculations and select the required distances. After that, the marks are transferred from the paper to the floor slabs.

Manufacturing steps

Self-production

Self-production is carried out in two cases: if the desired option is not available at retail outlets, or in an attempt to save money.

Most often, platforms for chandeliers are made with their own hands. Various materials are suitable for their manufacture:

What to do before installing a stretch ceiling

Even before you start attaching the chandelier, you need to understand which installation method will be used. To do this, it is worth purchasing a device at the beginning of all work. Before the arrival of the stretch ceiling installers, all the necessary wiring must be routed along the perimeter of the ceiling. The wiring and performance of the chandelier must also be checked in advance. Next, you need to draw a lighting installation plan, so that later you do not forget where which wiring (under the chandelier) will be located.

Installation process

Lighting can be mounted using an open wire laying method. Later, the canvas will hide all the cables. It is important to remember that the wires on the ceiling must be laid in protective plastic. corrugation. This will provide maximum protection for the cable from all kinds of damage. Also, the corrugation will exclude the possibility of a fire from a short circuit. Which is very important when using an open method of laying wires.

How to install a chandelier and what should be done before installing a stretch ceiling?

There are two ways to install a chandelier under a stretch canvas:

Mounting on a special hook.

Fastening the chandelier to a bar or strip.

The second method is the most common today.

Preliminary work is carried out before and after installing the canvas on the ceiling. In the second case, the installation site of the device is marked with a cross, and the marks are cut in the mowing line. Before installing the lighting object by attaching it to a wooden plank, the base for the fastener is first prepared. Chandelier manufacturers always include standard strips in the set of devices. But it is better to use a material made of wood, the plank of which will be a level higher from the stretch ceiling. The beam changes in height and is attached to the base ceiling. You can use moisture resistant plywood as a mortgage when attaching the luminaire to the bar. The volume of the bookmark should ensure a strong fixation of the lamp, and the size should not be less than the parameters of the base of the chandelier.

How to hang a chandelier on a stretch ceiling

Cleverly designed lighting will add sophistication and focus on the sheen of the stretch fabric. The correct choice of lamps and a plan for the installation site of the chandelier will help to avoid some unpleasant moments.

What to consider when choosing?

When choosing a luminaire for installation on a stretch canvas, you need to take into account several features:

• capabilities in ray scattering. All colors and patterns transmitted by the lamp are very well reflected on the surfaces of stretch ceilings (especially glossy ones). For example, a chandelier with filigree shades will scatter light across the entire surface of the ceiling through its holes.
• a material such as PVC film (of which the stretch fabric is composed) should not be constantly heated. Therefore, a chandelier should be selected on a long leg, and not on a ceiling;
• lamps should also have a low breaking point. Better to use energy saving or LED. The lamps themselves should be directed downward or to the sides. Plafonds are placed at a distance of more than 0.2 m from the ceiling.

Fixing the chandelier to the mounting bar

Having fixed the beam to the ceiling, it is worth noting the center for mounting the thermal ring on it. When this work is done, you can proceed with the installation of the tensioning web, if it has not already been installed. In the presence of a stretch ceiling, a volumetric protective ring is inserted into the installation area, capturing the edges of the soft surface. So what is next. everything is simple. The chandelier is fixed to the ceiling in a standard way.

Selection and description of the installation method

Depending on the type of chandelier and the characteristics of your ceiling, the pendant lamp can be mounted in several ways:

• With a metal hook. suitable for relatively light chandeliers;
• For anchor parts and dowels. if the chandelier weighs more than 5kg;
• On a metal strip or the back cover of the chandelier itself. it is used regardless of the weight of the lamp, if provided by the manufacturer.

Now let’s look at the features of each mount in more detail.

Hook.

Chandelier attachment hook

The hook mount is used in hard surfaces (concrete, wood, etc.), but you should not install it in drywall. The hook will rip out the place of fixation in the drywall, as soon as you hang a more or less massive chandelier on it. For heavy ceiling luminaires, anchor hooks must be used.

First, you will need to drill a hole in the concrete for the dowel. If you want to hang the chandelier in wood, then you can screw the hook directly, use a screwdriver for this or first make a hole with a thin drill.

If the ceiling is concrete, then a dowel or plug is installed in the hole, in which the hook is then fixed. As a result, the embedded part expands and provides the necessary strength. After checking the reliability of the fixing in the ceiling, you can attach the chandelier.

Bracket.

Bracket for hanging chandeliers

The bracket is a rigid metal structure that allows the luminaire body to be removed from the ceiling surface. The metal anchor can be supplemented with wood or plastic elements to fix the chandelier. Brackets are either factory-made or home-made; any materials at hand are suitable for this. a metal profile, an anchor, etc. In some models of lighting fixtures, the function of the bracket is assigned to the rear wall of the chandelier.

When fixing the chandelier to the ceiling using a bracket, you must select the points farthest from the wiring and fix it in the center relative to the wiring outlet. Dowels are installed along the edges of the bracket, as a rule, four pieces, but depending on the design, their number may differ. The most relevant anchorage has become for stretch ceilings that have a distance from the base.

Mounting plate.

Mounting plate

The mounting plate is a flat strip of metal with profiling along the edges, ready-made holes for fixing on the ceiling and fastening nuts for fixing the chandelier. By type, mounting plates are linear (for two dowels) and cruciform (for four dowels). They provide a good adhesion to the surface and an even load distribution. The more attachments there are, the heavier the chandelier can be hung on the bar.

To install the fastening strip, you need to attach it to the ceiling sheet, you can choose an old suspension unit for the center or measure the middle on the ceiling. Next, mark the points on the ceiling slab where you plan to screw the dowels. Drill holes according to the marking, first check the absence of wiring in these places, otherwise the chandelier will not work. Then remove the wiring from under the strip and attach to the ceiling, be sure to check that it is securely fixed.

Training

Any work should begin with preparatory activities, especially if a beginner takes on the work, who will have to do everything for the first time. This will avoid many mistakes and save you time. Before starting to hang the luminaire, you should prepare in detail all the necessary tools and devices, take care of observing basic safety rules.

Wiring connection

To connect the electrical wiring, first of all, disconnect the voltage on the terminal board.

Then follow this sequence of actions:

• determine the power supply system. three-wire or two-wire;
• then mark the separation of the wires at the point where the chandelier is connected to the wiring, the phase wires should have red, brown or black insulation, and the neutral wires should be blue or blue;
• connect the phase and neutral conductors to the corresponding terminals of the chandelier, if there is a grounding conductor in the wiring, connect it to the luminaire body;
• if the chandelier has several lighting circuits or each LED lamp has a separate pair of leads, then the cartridges are connected to the wiring through special clamps.

After connecting to the wiring, the lamps are closed with a luminaire cap, and decorative elements are installed. If the design of the chandelier provides for a decorative cup near the ceiling, then it is also put in place.

Safety engineering

Hanging a chandelier on the ceiling in a 220 V household network is a work of increased danger. First, there is the danger of electric shock, which can lead to very dire consequences. Secondly, you will be working at height, which can also lead to falls, bruises and even fractures. Thirdly, there is a danger of damage by glass and other sharp elements of plafonds, bugles and other details.

Therefore, if you undertook to hang a chandelier, be sure to adhere to these rules:

• Before hanging the chandelier, be sure to turn off the power to this section of the circuit using the machine, do not rely on the key switch, it may not be enough.

Disable vending machine

• Check the absence of voltage with an indicator screwdriver or multimeter. Note that trying by pressing the switch does not give one hundred percent guarantee that the phase does not come to the cable cores.
• Climbing to a height should be carried out only with the help of a reliable, stable base, an ideal option would be a stepladder that someone from the household will hold for you.
• When drilling the ceiling, it is better to use glasses to protect your eyes from debris, concrete fragments, dust, etc.
• When hanging the chandelier, it is necessary to remove from it all unnecessary glass parts that may fall and break or not install them.
• They also do the same with lamps, especially fluorescent ones, they cannot be installed before hanging the chandelier. The latter contain mercury and, if the integrity of the flask is violated, they will lead to the ingress of harmful substances into the air space of the room.

If the chandelier has flammable parts, then it is strictly forbidden to use incandescent lamps in them, as they can lead to overheating and fire.

How to hang a chandelier on the ceiling?

Central lighting in the room requires the installation of ceiling lights for each room in the apartment. In view of the presence of a number of nuances when connecting, most beginners do not dare to do it on their own, but turn to specialized specialists for help. In order to figure out how to hang a chandelier on the ceiling on our own, we will consider the whole process in stages.

The nuances of fastening depending on the material of the ceiling

In practice, there are various types of ceilings on which you want to hang a chandelier. Their type and bearing capacity must be taken into account at the stage of fastening design and installation work. The most relevant are plasterboard, stretch and concrete ceilings. Sometimes wooden finishing or suspended structures are used, but they are quite rare and fastening to a tree is not difficult.

Concrete.

Concrete ceiling is most commonly found in apartment buildings, offices and industrial plants. It is the most durable material, but also the most difficult to work with. It is not possible to do the work directly to install the chandelier on concrete. A hole is drilled in concrete for a dowel, plug or anchor.

The hole is drilled with the same diameter as the embedded part so that the latter fits snugly into it. The depth is selected according to the length of the same dowel or plug. Self-tapping screws or quick installation for fixing the chandelier are installed in ready-made attachment points.

Plasterboard.

Plasterboard ceiling is quite easy to drill and process, however, it is a very fragile material. Therefore, no matter what method of fixing the chandelier you use, special dowels must be installed in the drywall. The best option for drywall is a butterfly dowel, in which there is an expanding mechanism driven by a self-tapping screw. If you need to hang a hook in the suspended ceiling, an umbrella dowel is used.

Fasteners for drywall

Tension.

There is an air gap between the stretch fabric and the base, so it is impossible to fix the chandelier on the film. The base of the chandelier should be mounted on a special bracket that provides additional surface for the stretch ceiling. The mounting of the bracket must be done before stretching the ceiling, if the ceiling is already stretched, then the hole for the bracket will turn out to be quite large and it will have to be covered with a decorative bowl.

Installation under a stretch ceiling

Required tools and materials

As with any work, the installation of a chandelier requires preliminary procurement of consumables. Most often, materials are required for connecting wires. terminals, sleeves, soldering, bolted connections, etc. It is important to know that the use of twists to ensure electrical contact is strictly prohibited. To fix the chandelier to the ceiling, you will need fasteners. strips, hooks, brackets, dowels, which are selected depending on the type of ceiling covering.

From the tools prepared in advance, you will need:

• Perforator, screwdriver or electric drill. depending on the material to which you will attach the chandelier;

Hand Drilling Tool

• Locksmith tools. pliers, screwdrivers, pliers for stripping insulation, stationery knife, electrical tape;
• Measuring instruments. indicator, multimeter, non-contact tester;
• Height lifting device.

You will not need all of the above tools to connect a chandelier. Therefore, in each case, the list is selected individually.

• Phase indicator and wire phasing

Indicator screwdriver

The indicator screwdriver can have several designs, but their main task is to show the presence of potential on the current-carrying conductor. To use it, you need to turn off the power supply to the output under the chandelier and strip the edge of the wire. If the ends are covered with electrical tape, then simply strip off the insulation. Then touch the phase indicator of the terminals of the electrical wiring, if the screwdriver does not light up anywhere, then there is no voltage.

Note, before starting work, be sure to check the performance of the indicator on those parts that are known to be energized. You can also take a wireless indicator, it is safer and there is no need to touch bare wires with it.

Control check

After you have hung the chandelier on the ceiling, carefully inspect the structure from all sides so that there are no protruding wires. Manually test the reliability of the installation of the chandelier, it should not stagger from side to side. Then apply voltage to the lighting device, as a result there should be no sparks, burning smell and other signs of malfunctions.