The ceiling is often overlooked as a design element, but it has the power to make or break a room. It provides more opportunities for windows, can highlight artwork and furniture, hides ducts, plumbing, and wiring, and has thermal and acoustic insulation capacities.
Ceilings Perth can be adorned with wood panels, tin, medallions, and beams. Lighting can also transform a ceiling’s impact.
Conventional ceilings are the drywall ceilings you’re likely used to seeing in homes. They are flat and smooth and typically fit standard wall heights (8 – 10 feet). Conventional ceilings can be simple or textured. Textured ceilings tend to be made of tongue-and-groove planks or shiplap. They work well in modern and contemporary homes but also add a touch of warmth to older, traditional houses.
They’re affordable and easy to install. They don’t require any structural or load-bearing framing to build, so they can be added to a single room without modifying the entire home. They’re the best choice for rooms where practicality trumps aesthetic, like basements, garages, workshops, retail stockrooms, and office buildings.
However, they don’t offer much visual impact. They recede into the background, so other design elements like lighting and walls have greater importance in a space. They can feel underwhelming, especially when compared to vaulted and coffered ceilings.
For a little more flair, tray ceilings are a great option. They look similar to conventional ceilings but have a recessed section in the middle that resembles a tray. They’re often painted a neutral color, but they can have a texture as well. They’re perfect for smaller spaces with low ceilings or those that need a little extra depth.
Beam ceilings are another way to add character. They’re often carved out of timbers like Douglas fir and give rooms a rustic charm. They can be made of real wood or faux, and they’re usually found in hallways and corridors for commercial settings and living and dining rooms for residential settings.
The one drawback to these ceilings is that they’re not very energy efficient. Because they’re so high, most of the heat rises to them instead of circulating throughout the room.
Many people find themselves gravitating to conventional ceilings due to their affordability and ease of installation. It’s important to understand the benefits of other options, however, so you can get exactly what you want from your space. Talk with an experienced contractor to learn more about different types of ceilings.
Wood Ceilings
Wood ceilings are a popular option for homeowners looking to add a touch of natural beauty to their space. Available in a wide range of styles and finishes, they provide a unique look that complements almost any design scheme. Wood ceilings are also functional, providing a layer of insulation that helps to regulate indoor temperatures and lower energy costs.
Unlike conventional ceiling materials, wood is a natural insulator that traps air between its grains and within its cellular structure. As a result, it has up to 400 times better insulating properties than steel. This natural ability to insulate can help to reduce energy costs by keeping interiors cooler during summer and warmer during winter, and can also help reduce the need for costly air conditioning systems.
Another benefit of wood ceilings is that they are a sustainable choice, particularly when purchased from reputable suppliers that prioritize responsible forestry practices. They also offer a variety of styling options that can be used to add texture and visual interest to any space, from exposed beams to intricate plank designs. In addition, they can be installed on sloped ceilings to add warmth and charm to attic spaces or rooms with unique architectural features.
Like many other ceiling materials, wood can be stained or painted to match any desired aesthetic. Choosing a stain with added moisture protection ensures longevity, as well as protects the material from damage and mold. Regular maintenance and the application of a new sealant every few years will keep your wooden ceiling looking as good as new.
When paired with the right lighting fixtures and accessories, wood ceilings can be transformed into a dramatic focal point that elevates any room. Incorporate recessed or track lighting to highlight the natural variations in grain and color for an effect that is both stylish and functional. Or, choose to keep the space a bit more understated with a paint finish that is subtle enough to blend in with the rest of the room.
Wooden ceilings are also a great way to improve acoustics in any room. Compared to flat, painted ceilings that can echo and increase sound waves, the natural texture of a wood ceiling absorbs and diffuses noise better, which is especially beneficial in large commercial spaces or homes with high ceilings.
Exposed Ceilings
Leaving ceiling structures like ductwork and pipes open can create an industrial-style look that some homeowners crave. However, exposed ceilings may not be a good choice for every space, especially those that need to accommodate MEP systems. They require extra work to keep clean and can increase HVAC costs. Additionally, if a room has a lot of noise, an exposed ceiling may not be the right option.
For a more rustic feel, exposed beams can work well in traditional design styles. They also fit well with Scandinavian, farmhouse, and industrial style designs. The beauty of exposed beams lies in their natural, time-worn appearance. “They contribute to a feeling of honesty and integrity in the spaces,” says Ginn. This is particularly true with reclaimed timbers, which tell multiple stories.
Exposed ceilings are a popular option in artist lofts, but they can work well in commercial spaces as well. They can help make the spaces feel bigger, which is useful for retail settings where customers need to see product offerings from all sides. Plus, they can provide more wall space for display, making them a desirable option for showrooms and offices.
Unlike suspended ceilings, which hide MEP installations, exposed ceilings leave them fully visible. That means that the pipes, ductwork, and other structural components can be seen throughout the space. This is also referred to as an open ceiling or an open plenum.
While an open ceiling saves on materials, it requires more labor to maintain. The “unfinished” look of an exposed ceiling demands more time and skilled labor to achieve a clean, attractive finish. The ductwork and plumbing networks in existing buildings are usually dirty, and they need to be cleaned and painted for an appealing exposed ceiling.
An open ceiling can add an architectural element to a space that doesn’t have the space for a full drywall ceiling. The bare ceiling can be painted in a bold color to create a striking contrast with the piping, or the ductwork and pipes can be left exposed for a more neutral look.
An exposed ceiling can also be a way to highlight MEP systems in new construction. It allows designers to make them stand out, and can add an industrial flair that’s in demand in some commercial spaces.
Microperforated Ceilings
Adding microperforations to our wood veneer products is a subtle and effective way to improve that product’s acoustical performance. From a distance, the perforations are undetectable and provide a solid appearance that works well with any interior design.
At low sound levels, the acoustical energy entering the microscopic holes in the surface is absorbed by the air within the micro-perforations and the surrounding material. This process of acoustical energy absorption, known as jetting, is dominated by fluid friction between the air molecules and the walls of the micro-perforations. The resulting energy loss depletes the energy of the sound wave and makes it unable to propagate through the panel’s acoustic surface.
As the sound wave rises to medium volume levels (50-80 decibels), sufficient energy exists to generate air resonance and vibration through the micro-perforations, but not enough to cause the jetting effect described above. When the sound wave hits the acoustic panel, the vibration of the ejected air causes friction between the redirected air molecules and the compressed air molecules of the oncoming wave, causing a release of the remaining acoustical energy that then spreads outward through the perforations in the form of donut-shaped rotating vortices.
When the vortices exit the perforation, they continue rotating upon exiting the panel’s acoustic material, which also helps to absorb the sound and reduce reverberation. The result is a decorative wall or ceiling that effectively reduces noise and reverberation, while still allowing light to pass through the surface.
Our acoustic panels are designed to seamlessly blend with any ceiling or wall system. The micro-perforations are virtually invisible from a normal viewing distance and are integrated into the overall design of the panel, which can be fabricated as either flat or curved. They can be used in conjunction with any of our real or engineered wood veneers and a wide range of commercial suspension systems.
A microperforated acoustic panel is the ideal solution for modern offices and meeting facilities that are open and require an elevated level of sound control. These micro-perforated wooden panels are the next generation of decorative, high-performance acoustic surfaces. They combine a refined aesthetic with unparalleled performance and can be custom manufactured to fit any project requirements.