Ceilings can be constructed of many materials and quite often most are plastered And/or painted. While the floor above may be a structural part of the building, the ceiling is not. The ceiling provides a useful cover for unsightly things such as cables, pipes, wires and of course, floor joists.
The ceiling, aprat from hiding pipes, cables etc…. also provides a barrier between the loft and rooms below.
The loft itself is, in most houses, used for storage, for items that are raely or little used, but with the correct permissions can be turned in to another room space if the current structure allows.
New ceiling fitted over old with light cables being pulled through
Moving back to the ceiling, plasterboard ceilings are the most common type in UK homes while suspended ceiling are often used in commercial buildings. Ceilings can however be constructed of almost any material you wish to use providing you can fix it properly to the floor structure.
It is not unusual to see timber matchboard ceilings stained or even varnished with wood colour and our artex project will show you how ceilings which offer a poor surface can be covered with this textured coating.
Ceiling lights come in many types from ceiling spotlights to normal downlighters. The lighting in a ceiling can be introduced in a way which sets the mood for that room and, as with any lighting, is a very important factor when thinking about the ceiling in your room.
Ceiling fans are a great way to circulate the air in a room. Many people do not know that this is not just a way to cool down but to stay warm also. Many ceiling fans can be set to simply circulate the warm air rather than to spin fast enough to create a cool down-draft. Circulating the air in the room can also help to deal with condensation as the warm air is moving too quickly to settle on a cool surface.
If you want to make a little more use of your loft space, you may need to enlarge your loft hatch to allow you better access or to enable you to get larger items up there. In most cases, if you are fairly practical, this is quite an easy job.
You may also find it useful to board out your loft space to enable you to better store items or allow you to get around a little easier and avoid any risks of falling through the ceiling.
