False ceiling an obsession with Keralites now, know these facts

Designing the interiors is as important as building a sturdy and beautiful structure. Around 10% of the total budget is spent on decorating the interiors. It is as expensive and significant as painting the house. The false ceiling made of gypsum board plays a vital role in elevating the overall look of the interiors.

False ceiling is the ceiling created under the main slab of the room to enhance the aesthetics or for its acoustic or thermal properties. It also prevents leakage and lowers the heat inside the house. The traditional ceiling had lost its significance with the advent of the concrete houses. The false ceiling, however, could be perceived as the return of the traditional ceiling in a more sophisticated and modern way.

If the traditional ceilings were built using wood, the false ceilings are mostly made using gypsum boards. Rock sand and fibre cement too are used to make these ceiling boards. It was around twenty five years ago that the false ceiling came into vogue in Kerala. However, in the beginning, it was part of only the luxurious buildings like hotels and hospitals. By 2005, the false ceiling made an entry into the middle class houses. Calcium silicate boards, V boards, and green boards too are used to make the false ceiling. The false ceiling in myriad shapes and colour add the perfect contrast against the white hued ceiling. More luxurious variants are available in glass, timber, veneer and metal combinations as well.

These days the designer false ceilings are installed to enhance the stylish look of the house. Lots of techniques and materials are available in the market to make the false ceiling the highlight of the interiors. The false ceiling could be installed as a suspended ceiling system or a grid ceiling system. It is either suspended from the actual ceiling or installed on frames or panels that connect the walls. There should be at least 7.5 – 8 centimeters gap between the false ceiling and the roof. The method that is widely popular is to install an aluminium channel frame that is suspended from the roof and then fixing the false ceiling on this frame.

Lighting

Aesthetically designed lighting could lend classy elegance to the already beautiful false ceiling. Lights are fixed inside the ceiling panels, which is a task that requires precision and planning. If required, the cables of the television and the telephone or the electric wiring could be connected through the false ceiling instead of cutting chases on the walls. Besides adding to the incredible look of the house, it keeps the wiring secured as well. Most people choose false ceiling to prevent leakage and to lower the heat inside the house. Those who do the ceiling work guarantees that the false ceiling could be retained for ages without any major damages or complaints. Installing a square feet of the false ceiling costs Rs 55. The gypsum is available as sheets of 8x4 and 6x6. These boards are screwed onto the frame and then cut into desired shapes. They are then painted in colours that match the theme of the house. The designs change according to the quality of the gypsum board. Green, blue, yellow and orange are some of the popular shades that are seen on the false ceilings.

Maintenance

Though the false ceilings add a luxurious look to the house and makes the interiors look vaster, it doesn’t mean that the gypsum false ceiling is flawless. These false ceilings may get dirtier soon and it is extremely difficult to clean them. Besides, cockroaches, lizards or rats may get trapped inside the frames. A false ceiling could be installed if you wish to reduce the use of air conditioner as the vacuum space between the roof and the false ceiling help reduce the heat inside the house.

It is not necessary that a false ceiling has to be installed to make your house look amazing. You could go for it if the budget allows. The latest trend is to arrange most of the lights in a room on the false ceiling itself. The false ceiling has now become a major part of the decor in double storied houses, clubs, flats and villas.

Unique designs and patterns could be tried on the false ceilings as per the theme of the house or the budget. Diagonal, semi-diagonal and hanging patterns have become extremely popular. Along with the gypsum boards, materials like extrudent polystyrene, ready-made decorative ceiling panel, artificial stone sheet, PVC and calcium silicate boards too are used to design the false ceilings. Damage due to moisture would be less if calcium silicate boards are used. Meanwhile, fibre cement boards can effectively prevent moisture and termite attacks and lowers the chance of fire accidents.

Gypsum for walls

Not just the false ceilings, sturdy walls too could be made using gypsum. Instead of cement plastering the walls, a plastering of gypsum could be easily done. This helps reduce the expenses significantly. The expenses of sand and cement could be saved by using the gypsum plastering method. These factors have made gypsum plastering, which is a green energy product and an environmental friendly method, a trend in the construction arena in Kerala.

Gypsum plastering could be easily done on walls that are built using stones, bricks, interlocking or hollow bricks. It could even be done on surfaces where cement plastering cannot be done. The walls with gypsum plastering have an incredible finish compared to the cement plastered ones. So, you could paint it event without applying a coat of putty. Besides, the interiors would be pleasant and comfortable if the walls are gypsum plastered as it reduces the heat. As gypsum contain high amount of crystal water, the chances of catching fire too are less. The gypsum plastering costs around Rs 39 per square feet at present. Gypsum boards could be used to build walls between spaces or rooms as well.

Information courtesy:

Abhilash NC

Aradhya Decor, Palarivattom