Bathrooms are a demanding area which is why easy to install ceiling panels came about.
These rooms ask a lot of the wall and ceiling coverings used in them. Steam, condensation, and direct contact with water all mean problems. Especially for products that are not specifically designed to operate in such conditions.
A painted plaster ceiling is a perfect example of this. It looks immaculate when freshly painted and can stay looking good for a few years. But as time passes moisture will start to take its toll. Mould spots can appear. Damp patches are visible. Paint starts to flake off.
This is when it starts to become a problem for you.
So what do you do?
You need a solution that is effective. But one that lasts and doesn’t cost the earth.
You don’t want to rip it all down and start from scratch. But you don’t want to re-apply the same products and end up in the same position in a few years time.
Well, there is a solution: install ceiling panels.
Easy to Install – Straight Over Your Existing Ceiling
This is the big advantage of ceiling panels over other forms of wall and ceiling covering. They can be installed straight over what is already there.
The photo above shows the finished bathroom while the following photos show what the room looked like before installation. You can see part of the existing ceiling in the second photo with the panels going straight over the lot..
Ceiling panels are very flexible when it comes to installation.
There are quite a few different methods for installing ceiling panels. And they can even be combined if necessary depending on the situation.
Let’s have a look at the different options in a little more detail.
Sticking The Panels
PVC ceiling panels can be stuck to a ceiling with a high-grab, cartridge adhesive like Nail Power for example.
Adhesive has a decent initial grab but gravity can sometimes get the better of the bond before the adhesive is full cured. So it is best to use some props to hold the panels in place while the adhesive sets.
Alternatively you can use adhesive in conjunction with a staple gun. The staples will help hold the panels in place while adhesive sets. Or, you can use it in conjunction with screws.
Use a “snake” of adhesive on the back of the panel if the ceiling is flat. Or use blobs of adhesive if the ceiling is uneven (for example if it is covered in Artex). You can then push the panels home and it will find it’s own level over the uneven surface.
Stapling The Panels
This is a very fast method of installation using a staple gun.
The panels are stapled through the thin tongue so there is no need for very long staples or a high power gun. A basic cheap and cheerful staple gun will work just fine.
The success of the process will depend on the substrate into which you are fixing, but the panels are quite light so they should hold in most circumstances. Again, you can use a combination of staples and adhesive.
Screws
There is no real advantage in using screws to fix panels – their main advantage is that they enable the panels to be removed (but it is possible to remove staples if you are careful which have the advantage of speed of installation over screws). By screwing through the tongue the screw head will be covered by the next panel so they will not be visible. This is a much slower method of installation.
Fixing To Battens
If you have a very uneven surface on your ceiling you might need to use battens to level the area before you install the panels. Once these are screwed in place (usually fixed directly into the joists) the panels can then be fitted using one of the options described previously. Another reason for using battens is if you are looking to lower the height of the ceiling or provide a gap to enable sunken lights to be fitted. There is no hard and fast specification as to how close these batten have to be to each other but we would suggest a maximum distance apart of about 16 inches/40cm
Lighting
If you are completely remodelling your bathroom then you might be considering replacing the lighting as part of the makeover. Modern recessed spotlights work really well with ceiling panels as it is easy to cut an aperture using a hole saw on a power drill.
The panels will also enable you to run cables behind the surface so that they are hidden (either chasing a groove in the existing ceiling or use battens). LED spotlights work best and also eliminate the possibility of heat damage as halogen spotlights can get quite hot and cause problems with the panels (they are only plastic after all and will start to deteriorate if they get to hot).
Remember that there are different regulations that apply to lighting in bathroom especially over baths and showers. There is an article on this here.
Ceiling Panel Trims
You do not have to use a trim around the edge of your ceiling where it meets the wall. Bbut there are trims available and they can make cutting a little easier as you do not have to be quite as accurate.
If you have uneven walls or sloping sections then this has to be taken into account as not all trims will work in these circumstances. If you opt to not use trims then you can simply seal around the edge of the room with a good quality silicone sealant.
Further Information
Easy to install ceiling panels are the perfect covering for bathrooms, showers and kitchens. But they are also ideal for use all around the home. Unless you particularly like painting ceilings they eliminate maintenance and make life easier all around.
All of these panels can be used on ceilings but some are more suitable than others. Most customers opt for a white ceiling but there is nothing to say that you cannot have a marble or sparkle effect ceiling if you prefer.
