Homes: Create lasting impressions with ceilings

Have you ever imagined how bare rooms with no ceilings would look like? That’s just one reason for one to consider a ceiling when beautifying a room. However, one should note that different ceilings enhance rooms in different ways depending on the purpose. From this, one is able to realise that ceilings give the room a regular shape.

“Ceilings act as a cover in the house to protect an individual from harsh weather conditions or disasters such as fire,” Says Ms Leona Tura Buhenzire, the director of Entourage Interiors. In other words, ceilings are the main shield within one’s home. She adds that they restrain noise and facilitate light reflection.

Apart from that, ceilings control heat in a room. Ms Rutiba Patricia, an architect with Dream Architects, says, “Most room finishes have a lot of heat and the ceiling acts as an insulator.” Additionally, ceilings make the room more vibrant because they give it an aesthetic appearance. Not only does it add value to your room, but also creates a good ambience.

Ceiling types
According to Ms Rutiba, the type of ceiling depends on the material and structure, The material may be wooden, plaster, glass, metallic or cardboard. In other words, ceilings are categorised according to the way they are constructed.

Suspended ceiling
This is also known as a down system. It is a flat ceiling built underneath an existing one. “The ceiling is either mounted in, but in case of a flush suspended ceiling, it is screw-fixed to a metal grid that might be exposed in the room,” Ms Buhenzire explains. According to Mr Peter Bbumba, the project engineer at Jomayi Construction Company, this type of ceiling is constructed in such a way that one leaves space of about one foot between the concrete. This space usually facilitates repairs such that one can easily alter the wiring and plumbing in a room besides absorbing noise. “During repairs, the surrounding material can be demolished and reconstructed easily,” Ms Rutiba says. Mr Bbumba further explains that this system is efficient in case one wants to fix air conditioning or electric wires. Houses on sale in Kampala Uganda

On the contrary, such ceilings may be hazardous to the owner in a way that the builders may hide unfinished work there, or there may be structural damages and loose wirings. The furniture may also be damaged in case of leakages in conduits and sewerage pipes. Additionally, if not well fumigated, it may become a habitat for rats.

Concrete ceiling
You have certainly seen that ceiling which could also resemble the exterior finish of a house. This is one of the commonest types on the market because of its flexibility. “It is a wall laid on its side and covered with plaster but also eight feet high to fit with standard construction material sizes,” Ms Buhenzire says. Mr Bbumba explains that concrete is normally cast on floor slabs with the aim of covering up ceilings in buildings. He further says concrete usually leans on an expanded metal.

Tongue and groove
Ordinarily known as the wooden ceiling, this is usually attached to a timber frame during construction. According to Mr Silva Gidongo, a resident of Ntinda with a wooden ceiling in the living room, wooden planks are tightly fitted together for decorative purposes using either mahogany or pine wood. “I first purchased timber, which the carpenter smoothened. Then rabbets were put at the edges of the timber,” he says. This is relatively more expensive but has gained popularity. Ms Buhenzire says it has an aesthetic appearance that attracts people into a room. However, this ceiling system requires a specific framing design because of its weight. Mr Bbumba also explains that this ceiling is not fire-resistant and can easily cause sparks in case of rats. Nevertheless, this can be avoided through proper conduiting.

Gypsum ceiling
Eng. Wilson Kasole, the managing director at Hardware World, Ntinda, says these ceilings are built in such a way that they easily detect fire. He attributes this to the fact that they have powder in between them that is fire-proof. In addition to being highly susceptible to water damage, this ceiling is not favourable for one who is looking out for a sound-proof ceiling. However, it is relatively simple to install.

Stretched PVC System
This ceiling is made of a strong material that makes it durable and washable. “It is a unique alternative to the standard ceiling systems for both construction and repair, it can have a flat surface as well as a curved surface which visually increases space and is available in more than 140 colours,” Ms Buhenzire says. She adds that its surface does not crack and is completely fire-proof.

Acoustic ceilings
This is a true breed of a suspended ceiling with a gridlock system. Mr Geoffrey Ndugwa, the site manager at Shammy Glass & Aluminium Trading Company, says the grid system is laid and suspended on hangers. Subsequently, the boards of a standard size, 600×600 mm squared, are then interlocked. These are made in such a way that suspended wire grids are fitted with acoustic tiles that can absorb sound. He adds that they are light and heat-resistant. However, they easily absorb dust.

Basic considerations
The height: This can enable one to decide on the suitable lights to use. Ms Rutiba says a chandelier may not work in a room with a low ceiling, yet a flat spread light would.

Room size: In case of a big room, one should ensure that the ceiling is artistic but not over done. She adds that a small one should have adequate artistic designs which are not excessively done.

The purpose: The ceiling selected should depict the function of the room. Finishings in homes should not be the same for commercial buildings such as conference halls where the acoustics are highly emphasised. Ceilings in public places need to absorb sound such that there are no irritating echoes.

Your budget: One should select a ceiling that is proportional to his/her budget. This includes selecting professional personnel to fix them.
Lighting strength: This should enable one to determine the colour for the ceilings. Ms Rutiba advises one to select soft colours in case of a bright room because these will sufficiently facilitate the lighting.

Owner’s taste: Different people have different tastes and each one should be able to determine what is desired. However, with the help of colleagues, one can also decide on the ceiling to use.

Fungal attacks: This is necessary for the ceiling support system which is usually timber. Ms Rutiba says timber is painted or soaked in chemicals before it is installed to make resistant to these attacks.
Adaptability aspect: You wouldn’t want to have a clashing room. Therefore, whatever colour you select should blend with the other colours in the room.

Materials used
This will depend on the type of ceiling selected, ranging from paint, wood, wallpaper covering and soft card board to cement. Ms Buhenzire adds that each house requires some kind of modification depending on the type of the existing ceiling.