How-To : Home Improvement

Tin ceilings are the best product to use if you want the Olde Worlde charm of a decorative ceiling. Whether this is a DIY job or whether you are calling in the professionals you must have a serious think about using tin panelling rather than sheetrock. Sheetrock is also known as wall board, plasterboard or gyprock – depending on whereabouts in the world you are located.

They Are No Longer Made Of Tin!

An aluminum alloy has now been created to especially suit these beautiful art metal ceilings. Aluminum is a corrosion resistant, durable product which doesn’t rust, unlike steel which is used by some manufactures of pressed tin. The panels are still widely known as pressed tin even though they are not made from tin.

Panel Sizes/Weight Differences

Aluminum ceiling panels are much smaller than sheetrock. They are generally 6′ x 2′ or otherwise 6′ x 3′. A few are only 2′ x 2′. This metal paneling is only one-fiftieth (yes, one fiftieth) of an inch thick. It is actually thicker than the original older style tin paneling but it is much lighter. One person can carry several sheets at one time. Imagine how much easier it is to hold a lightweight sheet of metal above your head as opposed to a very heavy sheet of wallboard which is easily more than twice as big as the largest aluminum sheet. The weight difference is enormous. And this is exactly what you will be doing – holding the sheet above your head whilst you attach it to your ceiling.

Painting a Pressed Aluminium Ceiling

Painting an ornate, aluminum ceiling in fine detail is easy because it is painted before it gets fixed to the ceiling. Painting an ornate plaster style ceiling is very difficult because it requires special equipment otherwise you will quickly get a sore back and a sore neck. Oil based paints are recommended.

Strength

When this special aluminum alloy is pressed into the various designs it hardens substantially and holds its shape exceedingly well. Variety Of Patterns And Designs

There is now an enormous range of patterns available and these patterns can be arranged in an endless variety of designs to suit your ceiling. There are designs suited for both commercial and residential buildings plus there are contemporary designs as well as traditional patterns.

Longer Lasting Than A Plaster Ceiling

Aluminum ceilings won’t rust, they won’t crack and they won’t fall off. The material they are made from is non-porous so it resists moisture and odor. If water enters your roof and if you can remove it promptly then you will have no damage to your ceiling. You certainly can’t say that about most other types of decorative ceilings. Anyone who restores buildings will tell you that ceiling restoration is a major cost and time factor issue for them.

Install an aluminum ceiling and you won’t be facing any ceiling restoration problems in later years.

Good For Tornado/Cyclone Areas

Additionally, aluminum ceilings move and flex with the structure so if you are in cyclone or tornado areas you will find these products particularly suitable.

Value

Ornate aluminum ceilings will add more value to your property than they cost. They can be painted in myriad ways creating works of art on your ceiling. Their value becomes priceless.

Stunning results are being obtained by the average home handyman.

About The Author

Jean Morrison is owner of Heritage Ceilings, a unique ceiling decoration business dedicated to bringing beautiful ceilings back into our public buildings and homes.

[tags]tin ceiling,tin ceilings,tin tiles,ceiling tiles,ceiling tin[/tags]

The first artificial wind-chill methods as used by animals in nature was duplicated by royalty and wealthy persons of early Assyria and Egypt, who employed slaves or servants waving large leaves to cool them down on hot days. Many centuries later, in 1882, Diehl introduced his invention of the electric ceiling fan. His device was a bubble-blade adaptation of the well known belt driven fan with an in-built electric motor. By the end of the 1880s, the “Diehl Electric” was sweeping the country, and by the late 1920s, no self-respecting restaurant, drug store, ice cream shop, or elegant dining room, was without a ceiling fan as part of their decor and method of ventilation.

Ceiling fans can reduce cooling costs. In the summer, a breeze created by a good ceiling fan can make you feel between two and six degrees cooler.

There are many ceiling fan designs and styles, and it is important that one considers the following options carefully before purchasing a ceiling fan:

Fan Size: It is important that the fan will fit in your room. You must consider the height of the ceiling and be sure that the blades have ample space in which to spin. It is recommended that the blades are no closer than two feet from the nearest wall.

Fan Motors: Good ceiling fans have a motor size and precision ground motor windings matched to the length of the blades. This ensures that the fan moves the air efficiently, even with continuous use, and uses less energy to run. If the motor or blades are improperly balanced, vibrations will occur, even at slow speed. Fans that are built for outdoor use have motors that are specially designed to withstand moisture and fluctuations in temperature.

Fan Blades: Fan blades come in all sorts of wonderful shapes and patterns. However it is important that the fan blades chosen will offer a balanced performance for a stable operation. Fan blades should be protected with a sealant to avoid the warping effects of moisture. Fan blade pitches range from 8 to 15 degrees – the higher the pitch, the more air the fan will circulate at slower speeds. The number of blades in a ceiling fan ranges from three to five, but this number has little effect on the amount of cool air the fan produces.

Fan Mounts: There are three main varieties of ceiling fan mounts – downrod mount, flush mount, and tri-mount. Fan Downrods can come at any length and are specially designed for rooms with higher ceilings, bringing the circulating blades of the fan down into the living space where it is most effective. A flush mount is designed for rooms with lower ceilings, and eliminates the need for a downrod. A tri-mount allows one to install a fan in a room for the best circulation whether there is a low, high or angled ceiling.

Patio ceiling fans are another important type of ceiling fan, and although generally less common than indoor ceiling fans, patio ceiling fans are considered important in the warmer, moister regions of the world.

Paul MacIver writes about Home Accessories and a variety of home related topics. Visit Supreme Ceiling Fans to read more about ceiling fans and lamps, installation tips, and reviews. You may freely reprint this article as long as nothing is changed, bio is included and all links are intact.

[tags]ceiling fans,fans,fan blades,cooling fan,ceiling fan installation,ceiling,home accessories[/tags]

Tin ceilings also go by the names of faux ceiling, press metal ceiling and art metal ceiling. The beautiful patterns of a tin ceiling are normally pressed on by a stamping device. There are also tin ceilings that are hand crafted but expect these works of art to cost a whole lot more. The pressed patterns are assembled piece by piece onto any desired surface. You can mount the tin panels on the ceiling or along the walls. These tin panels can also be part of the decorations on your furniture. The only limit to artwork is the imagination.

A little planning goes a long way when it comes to installing tin ceilings or wall panels. The first thing that you need to decide is if the panels will present a series of repeating patterns or if the tin panels will form a single big pattern. To create a single big pattern from tin ceiling panels is quite straightforward. You need to measure the area that the tin panels will occupy and then proceed to break them into uniform sized panels. These panels will then be put into place to form the desired pattern.

For a tin ceiling that carries a single repeating pattern, the process is a bit more complex. You still need to measure the area where the panels will fit but this time you will really need to plan out the panel sizes carefully. You will have to decide if trimming off some panels to fit the sides of the ceiling area is acceptable or if this will disrupt the flow of the pattern. If trimming is unavoidable, then plan to have border cornices that will finish off the pattern elegantly. To add some more effects, consider mounting crown cornices at the corners of the tin ceiling. Metal or wooden crown cornices are good choices to complement a tin ceiling design. Never go for a plaster cornice unless you can be really sure that the pattern will work.

You can consider painting the tin ceiling as well. Painting should be done before mounting the tin panels to make the job easier. You can paint every detail in a single or multiple shades or just choose to paint certain highlights in the pattern. It is recommended that pale shades be used instead of dark shades to avoid a heavy oppressive atmosphere.

[tags]tin, tin ceiling, tin ceilings[/tags]