We glue foam on the ceiling: features stages of work

Is expanded polystyrene harmless?

With regard to all products in the chemical industry, the consumer almost always has a negative memory, which in reality turns out to be incorrect.

As for expanded polystyrene, it is based on styrene. For the first time this substance was taken by the German pharmacist Eduard Simon. He conducted experiments with styrax (a type of resin), and their result was the receipt of a new substance. It had the property of changing its structure, forming a denser consistency, similar to jelly.
Then the pharmacist did not continue his research, since he did not see the introduction of styrene, as he called it. Decades later, the property to create a jelly-like mass will be called polymerization, and thanks to the formation of this process, chemists will learn how to obtain polymer materials.
In production, styrene granules are combined with a polymer composition in special forms and heated. As a result, a lot of balls are formed, which, increasing in volume, stick together and fill the entire shape. The resulting slabs are dried and cut. Expanded polystyrene blocks produced using this technology are in good standing with builders engaged in insulation of premises.

In other words, the use of the material in residential premises is not allowed by the construction and sanitary and hygienic requirements. Styrofoam ceiling tiles have excellent reviews, especially when it comes to cheap and quick redecoration.

Advantages and disadvantages of foam as insulation

Polyfoam is a more modern thermal insulation material, and also less picky when compared with analogues. This allows you to significantly simplify the process of insulation, which still depends on the type of roof of your house. In addition, it is he who is distinguished by a rather low weight and low thermal conductivity.

In addition, Styrofoam is so popular because of its properties:

low hygroscopicity of the material allows you to significantly save on the purchase and further installation of vapor barrier and waterproofing materials. However, in the case of finishing a wooden house, it is better not to neglect this;

Foam insulation
this material does not shrink after installation, which is why so-called cold bridges may appear;
thermal insulation properties remain for a long time, about 10-20 years, provided that all installation rules are followed;
especially good for use in rooms with low ceilings, since a thickness of 5-6 cm is enough for complete insulation.

Despite all the advantages, this insulation also has some disadvantages that should be considered when choosing:

this material cannot be used in those rooms that are characterized by poor ventilation, since it has vapor barrier properties, thereby provoking the formation of condensation and a further increase in humidity. This can lead to the appearance of fungus, mold and a decrease in the effectiveness of the insulation. For people prone to allergies, this is unacceptable;
in direct contact with an open flame, the material melts, releasing during the process sufficiently harmful substances that can lead to paralysis of the respiratory tract.

When choosing a material, pay attention to the seller's quality certificates, this will protect you from buying a low-quality product, which can harm your health in the future.

Styrofoam ceiling tiles. Which view is best?

The method of production of expanded polystyrene tiles will affect its properties and appearance. It is easy to distinguish them, here is what will indicate the production method:

If on the counter there is a tile with a width of 5 to eight mm, the sketch has fuzzy outlines and the relief of the pattern is implicitly expressed, then this tile was made by stamping (pressing). Curly squares are stamped from the finished polystyrene foam plates. The surface of the product is loose and pores are clearly visible on it.
The main advantage is cheapness, and the disadvantage is the ability to rapidly absorb dirt and dust. But such a tile, as it gets dirty, can be painted with acrylic compounds, so the ceiling can be quickly refreshed.

The smooth surface and the corresponding shine will give out a product made by the method of warm extrusion. The molten mass is pushed through holes in the profile. It does not have such an obvious porous structure. Usually, this expanded polystyrene ceiling tile is not uniquely colored and imitates marble, wood species or other materials. Some manufacturers create laminated extruded tiles. The cost of this polystyrene foam ceiling tile is low, it is easy to wash it with plain water.
The thickness of the tiles in 10 - fourteen cm allows you to make the sketch deeper and very pronounced. Complex floral patterns or imitation of stucco moldings are often significantly transferred to such material, made by the most expensive method. The mold is filled with watery raw materials and left to solidify at tremendous temperatures.
It is easy to distinguish injection tiles by smooth edges; to obtain the result of a seamless ceiling, you just need to take it. Later, it will not be painted, and it costs more than other types.

There is no need to say about the obvious advantage of one tile over another, and there is no golden mean in this case. In addition, cheap stampings will look great on the ceiling if they are made from high quality raw materials. To make sure of this, when buying, you need to carry out a number of easy manipulations:

During visual inspection, it is important not to see dents and scratches on the smooth extruded tile. On the ceiling, any defect will be noticed by the rally, and it is forbidden to "repair" the warped element. Chips and uneven edges are another excuse to purchase a coating from a different batch (or elsewhere). This requirement is especially relevant if the tile is not square, but abstract, with a wavy edge.
If you carefully take the tile by the corner and just swing it up and down, it should not crumble and break. Of course, foam polystyrene tiles have low fracture strength, but they must withstand a similar load.
Right angles are a guarantee that the process of gluing tiles will not be transformed into an eternal attempt to assemble a puzzle with a missing element. It will not be possible to dock such squares so that they fit perfectly, without gaps, as if the master did not try.
The decorative characteristics of colored tiles are, without hesitation, the highest, but at times you should refrain from purchasing it. The fact is that the paint will burn out from UV rays, so it is better to purchase a snow-white coating suitable for painting in a room with windows facing the sunny side. If, nevertheless, colored tiles seem to be a prettier option, then go to choose products with a uniform color over the entire area.

Ceiling tile from expanded polystyrene photo

Types of glue

Ceiling tile adhesives come in many different categories. The main ones are:

polymeric universal; liquid Nails; acrylic putties; polyvinyl acetate adhesives.

Depending on the base, the products are solvent-based, water-based, hot melt adhesives, adhesives-compounds. Water-based products are the cheapest, but they will dry longer than others. Also, such adhesives cannot be used at low temperatures.After installing the plates, fungus and mold often settle in such adhesives, so you will have to additionally cover the ceiling with a special compound.

Solvent adhesives dry very quickly and are liquid polymers. Hot melt adhesives contain thermoplastic polymers, so they must be applied after heating to a certain temperature. Adhesives-compounds are kneaded, applied quickly, as they dry within a few minutes.

Clay Titanium

Glue Titanium is very popular among builders; it is made on a polymer basis. With its help, you can stick polystyrene foam material, plastic coatings on concrete, plasterboard, plastered, other type of ceiling. Among other things, "Titan" glues glass, paper, wood, ceramics.

There are several types of this tool. It is best to buy a universal glue "Titan", which is squeezed out of a strong package with a thin layer of a dispenser. The composition is transparent, has good heat resistance, moisture resistance, quickly sets. The material dries completely in 1 hour, for the initial setting it takes less than a minute. Also on sale there is a glue-mastic "Titan", it is bought if the ceiling has large irregularities.

Product characteristics

"Titanium" is characterized by resistance to stress, it is elastic, not brittle after hardening. It can be operated in conditions of high humidity and temperature. Economical consumption. The product does not contain harmful components, it is safe for humans. Here are the main technical parameters of the all-purpose adhesive:

We recommend: How long does the polyurethane foam dry?

layer thickness - 4 mm; mass per 1 sq. m - 4.5 kg; breaking force in the transverse / longitudinal direction - 400/600 N; heat resistance +140 degrees.

How to breed material

If the glue is too thick, it can be diluted. You can dilute Titanium with rubbing alcohol. Dilution will make the composition more smear, convenient to use, it will better penetrate into small cracks. Do not pour too much alcohol as the drying time will be longer.

The universal composition is applied with a broken line to the tile, after which it is allowed to dry for a minute, the material is pressed against the ceiling. It will dry for about an hour, the final polymerization takes place in a day. How to apply glue-mastic? It is applied with a spatula on the slabs with points - in the center, 3 points on each side. The product will set in literally 20 seconds, dry completely in 12 hours.

Master

When choosing how to glue the tiles, some stop at the "Master" composition. Its characteristics, in comparison with Titan, are worse, but the price is lower. In order not to keep the tile on the ceiling for too long, you need to apply the "Master" to the coating, hold it for a few minutes, and then attach it to the ceiling. Unfortunately, the smell of this material is rather unpleasant and harsh; you will have to carefully ventilate the room. Drafts should not be allowed - they impair adhesion, and the tile can move even after 1–2 hours.

Moment

Glue "Moment" is of excellent quality, very reliably attaches polystyrene to the ceiling, dries quickly. To use it, you need to buy a special glue gun. The increase in the cost of repairs will also occur due to the high consumption, high prices, so it is rather unprofitable to glue the tiles with Moment.

Eltitans

The manufacturer of this tool is located in China. It is highly popular among users. "Eltitance" allows you to glue tiles to any surface - concrete, plaster, wood, you can also use an adhesive for other needs. It perfectly holds parts made of ceramics, glass, leather, mosaics. The product is frost-resistant, waterproof after drying, the seam will be strong and highly elastic.

Polyvinyl acetate adhesive

PVC materials are almost odorless and very easy to work with. But the expense of funds will be high, because both the plates and the ceiling will have to be smeared. Therefore, you will have to buy the material in a large bank, which is quite expensive. Due to the double work, the total waste of time is greatly increased.

Liquid Nails

Adhesives of this type are in great demand for any finishing work. With the help of liquid nails, you can not only glue the plates, but also close up joints, seams. To use them, you will have to purchase a glue gun that will help squeeze out the glue in the right doses. Point strokes are applied to the surface of each square in the center and along the edges. If the base is uneven, an order of magnitude more is applied to level the ceiling. You should step back from the edge so that after pressing the tiles, the glue does not squeeze out from under them.

Acrylic putty

This method of sticking the material is used less often, but it is no less effective. The putty is viscous, reliably holds polystyrene products. Even thin seamless tiles can be glued with acrylic putty, the product will not shine through. A thin layer of the product should be applied to certain areas of the square, immediately pressed against the ceiling and fixed in the desired position.

Range of expanded polystyrene ceiling tiles

Styrofoam ceiling tiles have different colors and patterns. Maybe find a suitable pattern for both traditional and modern interiors. As for the dimensions, in addition to that, there are two main shapes in the base of figured tiles: a rectangle and a square, depending on this, elements of the following sizes can be found:

There are also a huge number of tile varieties:

Traditional form and design,
Embossed and smooth
With a convex or sagging pattern,
With perforations and of course a pronounced structure.

In addition to the ceiling made of expanded polystyrene tiles, you can pick up various decorative elements: diamond-shaped, round chandelier places for design, imitating stucco rosettes.

Pros and cons of polystyrene foam tiles

Before completely choosing this option for finishing the ceiling, the tile should be judged by its advantages and disadvantages. She has gained popularity for many reasons:

The ability to make a ceiling with a unique design.

Not a bad value for money.
Security. Styrene releases volatile compounds that are harmful to health only when heated to extreme temperatures. In everyday life, this is an unrealizable condition, unless a fire starts. But in this case, no one remains in the burning room to deliberately inhale the poisonous fumes.
If, nevertheless, there are doubts about the safety of expanded polystyrene tiles, then when buying, you may ask the dealer to present a certificate for the product. If all the technological conditions of the production process have been met, the polystyrene is of high quality and with the addition of fire retardants (not supporting combustion), then there are no excuses for excitement.
Taking care of the tiles can be at least some ergonomic way: vacuuming or wiping with a damp cloth. Depending on the degree of contamination, the water can be diluted with soap or any kind of detergent. Stamped products, at the time when they lose their attractive appearance, are painted in the color you like.
Albeit to a small extent, but a narrow layer of expanded polystyrene on the ceiling will create a heat and sound insulation barrier.

Of course, there are also negative features:

The fragility of the boards requires caution during transportation and installation. Dents and scratches are easy to form, but you will not be able to get rid of them, you will need to use a new element;
Part of the tile located closer to the light source may turn yellow from the light of the chandelier. The closed type of shades almost always eliminates such problems;
From abrupt and constant temperature changes, the ceiling tiles sometimes move away from the base. The task can be avoided if you take high-quality glue from a trusted manufacturer;
Stubborn dirt: carbon deposits, nicotine resins, fat very quickly eaten into the porous structure. Removing their non-uniqueness is very problematic. There is only one advice - to often arrange wet cleaning of the ceiling. It is not recommended to use a rag or brush that has not been perfectly wrung out.

But the statement that expanded polystyrene tiles contributes to the formation of high humidity in the room, that it does not breathe, is erroneous. The porous structure slightly hinders air exchange, but the glue layer, on the contrary, plugs up small holes. It is on this basis that the adhesive is applied pointwise along the perimeter of the tile and in the center, and not entirely over the entire surface.

Preparatory work for gluing plates

Preparatory work should not be discounted. The durability of the cladding depends on the quality of their implementation. The preparatory work includes cleaning the old coating. There may be old wallpaper, whitewash or paint on the ceiling.

The dismantling of such coatings is different:

Wet old wallpaper with warm water, after a few minutes they will swell and can be easily removed. Remains of wallpaper and glue should be removed with a spatula or washed off with a damp sponge.
Old whitewash can be washed off with a sponge and water or removed dry with a spatula. It is better to remove the whitewash, but if you see that it holds well, then prime it with a deep penetration primer to hold the surface together. After that, fix the foam boards, use polymer adhesives.
It is better to remove the oil paint; this is done with a spatula. If it adheres well, the surface must be cleaned of dirt and dust.
Basic requirements for the base: it must be clean, relatively even and free from grease.

Example of gluing ceiling tiles to silicone sealant

Laying on an old whitewash

Foam boards can be glued to old whitewash, provided that it holds well. In this case, prime it well and wait for the primer to dry.

If the whitewash is partially removed, prime the entire ceiling. In the area where the whitewash has been removed, apply a larger coat of foam board adhesive. It is important that the tile is fixed immediately.

If the surface is uneven

Foam boards are also designed to hide surface defects cheap and cheerful. But if the differences are really serious, for example, at the junction of ceiling tiles, then you will need to level the base.

Use finishing putties to remove sudden changes.

How to glue expanded polystyrene ceiling tiles

Calculating the right amount of material

The cost of expanded polystyrene tiles allows you to purchase it with a huge supply, but, as experience indicates, later these 7-8 remaining pieces lie dead weight: it is a pity to throw them out and there is nowhere else to adapt. Not every store agrees to reverse the leftovers. Based on this, in order not to buy one or two tiles and not suffer, where to put the excess, it is better to spend some time on calculations.

You won't have to mess around with the ceiling of the correct shape. The calculation takes into account the size of the tile you like and the dimensions of the glued surface.

For example, the ceiling has dimensions of 4.9 m and 3.8 m. For its design, a tile of a standard square shape with a side length of 0.5 m is chosen. We calculate the number of tiles: 4.9 × 0.5 = 9.8. The end result is the desired number of parts. It is directed to be rounded up, 10 tiles come out. At the moment 3.8? 0.5 = 7.6, in other words, eight tiles. We multiply 10 and 8, as a result of the ceiling it will be necessary to purchase eighty polystyrene foam tiles.

This method is suitable for calculating an easy way of gluing, at a time when all the tiles are in rows horizontally and vertically.Some like it more, at a time when the elements are stacked obliquely. At the same time, significantly more material will go to waste, based on this, the number of pieces about the supply needs to be expanded. If, with the standard version, the surcharge on the number of tiles creates from fifteen to 20% of the required, then when gluing obliquely, you need to take 20 5 -30% more, especially if this is the 1st experiment.
To find out the amount of material for ceilings of an unusual shape, it is not difficult to make a cardboard template according to the size of the tiles you like. By applying it to the ceiling, the numbers of interest can be found.

What else will need to be purchased and prepared for work

Apart from tools and tools: a stepladder, a construction knife, a level, a pencil and a tape measure, you will need to buy skirting boards and glue.
It can be purchased "watery nails" or a composition based on watery rubber. The latter option is available, has proven itself well, and is substantially often offered by traders. Consumption for the glue, which has a thick and dull consistency, is indicated on the label. Because it needs to be applied in the form of drops and at a distance from each other, then a huge number of packages will not be needed. An important point when working with rubber-based glue: at the end of its application, it is forbidden to glue the tiles to the ceiling. A pause of 2-3 minutes will ensure the best adhesion of the composition to the tile and the glued surface.

The skirting boards are taken from the calculation of the perimeter of the room with a small supply, since for joining in the corners it will be necessary to cut the ends at an angle of 40 5 °.

Ceiling markings

When placing tiles horizontally, work should be started from the center of the room. If a place for a chandelier is already foreseen on the ceiling, then just take it as a starting point. Otherwise, the center is defined as follows:
Draw stripes obliquely from corner to corner. Do the same with 2 other angles. The intersection of the lines will be the center of the ceiling.
Can be pulled from the corners of the ropes by nailing or otherwise. In the place of crossing, there will again be a point of departure.
Starting from the central point, the ceiling must be divided in half horizontally and vertically, drawing an extraordinary coordinate axis. The first four tiles will be laid, one in each sector that appears. Together with this, their angles will converge at the center point.
It is understood that the markings are applied to a flat ceiling, free of whitewash or wallpaper. The tile will be able to hide minor differences and shortcomings, but it will not mask a very lumpy surface. In addition, it is problematic to glue the squares of expanded polystyrene on an uneven base - large drops will not allow it to stick to the ceiling.

The sequence of actions when gluing polystyrene foam tiles

The first tiles should be centered on the ceiling. It is necessary to apply glue on them and put it off for a while. At the end of a small pause, at least some element is alternately taken and pressed against the ceiling. It is not necessary to press the tile hard against the base, it is quite simple to press along the perimeter and in the center. The protruding droplets of glue can be wiped off with a dry cloth, but this must be done off, then there are no traces on the expanded polystyrene.

At the location of the chandelier, a hole of a suitable diameter is simply cut into the tiles. A construction knife will cope with this. Next, the tiles are glued around the starting square. If you mark the trajectory of movement, then there will be a spiral. The tiles are simply adjusted to size, cut with a construction knife. There is no need to worry if the edge is not torn enough along the cut strip - these flaws will be hidden by the skirting board.
It is comfortable to work together: while one is applying glue, the other is gluing the tiles already prepared in this way.
Pasting work must be carried out with closed windows, not counting drafts.If it was not possible to avoid gaps between adjoining tiles, the voids can be filled with a snow-white silicone-based sealant.
Gluing skirting boards is the final step of finishing the ceiling. It remains to hang the chandelier, wait for the glue to dry and ventilate the room. Pasting with expanded polystyrene tiles is the case, at a time when the preliminary step takes significantly longer than the main work.