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PVC film · fabric · lighting

Stretch ceilings: PVC or fabric, lighting and decor

A stretch ceiling is a membrane tensioned on a profile fixed at the slab. The surface comes out perfectly smooth, with no filling, painting or wet trades. The system takes up about 1 cm of height, and all the fixings, cables and ventilation disappear above it.

GRAF installs both types of membrane: PVC film and fabric. We match the membrane to the conditions in the room: humidity, light and acoustic requirements. Installation in a room up to 18 m² usually takes one day.

White gloss PVC stretch ceiling above an open-plan kitchen and living room

PVC film

Matte, satin or gloss: a gloss finish works like a mirror and makes the room feel taller.

  • Holds up to 100 l of water per m²: after a leak from upstairs, once the water is drained the ceiling returns to its original shape.
  • For kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and commercial premises, because the film is watertight, moisture-resistant and easy to clean.
  • MSD, BAUF and TEQTUM membranes from European production; rolls up to 5 m allow installation with no seam.
See: 40 m² of white gloss without a single seam

Mounting profiles for stretch ceilings: aluminium profiles from 2k-trade.com.

White matte CLIPSO acoustic fabric ceiling in a showroom

Fabric

A matte, textile surface with no reflections; the acoustic version quietens the room.

  • Cold installation; the fabric is stable through temperature changes.
  • For living rooms, bedrooms, offices and meeting rooms, where a matte surface and acoustics matter.
  • CLIPSO and JM fabrics; wide rolls give seamless ceilings even in larger rooms.
See: acoustic ceiling in a showroom

Fabric stretch ceilings in our partner's system: jm-ceiling.pl.

Fabric or PVC film: which to choose?

We install both materials on the same profile system. They differ in how they look, where they work best and how they are installed. This is what customers ask about before the site survey.

CriterionPVC filmFabric
Appearancematte, satin or mirror-like gloss; smooth as plastermatte, textile, no reflections
Where it works bestkitchen, bathroom, damp rooms, easy cleaningliving room, bedroom, office, larger rooms; acoustics and a matte surface
Installationthe room is heated to around 40–60 °C; film with a harpoon edge is clipped into the profile and tightens as it coolscold, no heater; the fabric is cut on site and clipped into the profile with a fitting spatula
Temperaturenot for unheated roomsstable through temperature swings
Seams and widthrolls up to 5 m; in larger rooms a seam, which we discuss before the contractwide rolls; seamless even in large rooms
Acousticsnone (except the perforated version)yes, the acoustic versions are the main argument in offices and meeting rooms

We recommend film for rooms with water and steam or where you want gloss, and fabric for rooms that should be quieter and matte. If the room isn't heated in winter, there is only one choice: fabric.

Which ceiling for a kitchen and bathroom?

PVC film. It isn't bothered by steam or water, holds back a leak, and the surface wipes clean with a damp cloth. We install fabric in a bathroom only away from the shower area and with good ventilation.

Which ceiling for a living room, bedroom and office?

Fabric, if you want a matte surface with no reflections or better acoustics. Film, if you want gloss and a visually bigger room. We show both options on samples during the site survey.

Is fabric installed without heating?

Yes. Fabric is tensioned cold: no heater, no high temperature in the room. PVC film needs heating to around 40–60 °C and tightens as it cools.

LED line along the wall under a white stretch ceiling

What lighting can be built into a stretch ceiling?

LED light lines, backlit profiles, 48 V magnetic tracks and spotlights are planned together with the ceiling, before the membrane is tensioned. We prepare the platforms for the lights and the cable openings in advance, so the fittings land exactly where the design puts them.

Aluminium profiles for LED lighting, LED strips and magnetic tracks we install: LED profiles at 2k-trade.com.

Black stretch ceiling with a star ceiling effect

What decorative effects can a stretch ceiling give?

A fibre optic star ceiling, backlit windows, concealed perimeter lighting, a photo print on the membrane. One strong accent per room, with the rest of the ceiling smooth and matte.

A GRAF installer tensioning a ceiling membrane

What does after-sales service for a stretch ceiling include?

Membrane replacement after a leak, fixing faults, openings for new fittings in an existing ceiling. After installation you have the guarantee, up to 10 years on the membrane and 3 years on the installation work, and our service continues beyond it.

Questions about stretch ceilings

How is a stretch ceiling different from a plasterboard ceiling?

A stretch ceiling puts no load on the slab, goes up dry with no sanding, and gives a smooth surface that doesn't crack. It hides lighting, ventilation and services in a single plane. Plasterboard needs a frame, filling and painting, and cracks at the joints when the building moves.

How much height does a stretch ceiling take up?

About 1 cm with a wall profile. More only where we hide fittings, ventilation ducts or backlit profiles above the ceiling; then we agree the height at the site survey.

Can a stretch ceiling be installed in an unheated room?

Fabric, yes, because it is stable through temperature changes. PVC film in an unheated room goes slack or shrinks, so for a terrace, summer house or unheated garage we choose fabric.

Can it be installed in a finished, furnished room?

Yes, because installation is a dry process: no dust, no mortar. The furniture stays in the room, we protect it and clean up after ourselves, and a ceiling up to 18 m² usually goes up in one day.

Where do the membranes you install come from?

From European production: MSD, BAUF and TEQTUM films, CLIPSO and JM fabrics. Every membrane has a confirmed origin, certificates and technical specifications.

Would you like a ceiling like this?

Send us photos or a floor plan. We'll assess the height, lighting and services, then arrange a site survey.

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