A suspended ceiling, otherwise known as a dropped ceiling, usually takes the form of a matrix of metal supports with rectangular or square tiles installed in between, which is suspended beneath the roof or next floor to provide a space for air supply, cabling and piping, and to establish an attractive look devoid of apparent mess.

The suspended ceiling was invented in 1958 by an American named Donald Brown and it has changed very little since. Suspended ceilings are seldom seen in the home, but are usually found in business office and industrial locations where building construction methods differ and a lot of utilities for example air conditioning, loudspeakers and fire detection are utilised.

Ceiling panels are not devoid of down sides, nevertheless, and can grow to be ugly after some years of being installed. Regularly, the panels can be discoloured as a result of cigarette smoke or water leakage. Panels can sag downwards, or repetitive removal and reinstallation for maintenance may result in the edges and corners of the tiles getting damaged. In the event the layout of a building requires alteration, suspended ceilings may be revised to suit the new design but it’s often performed inexpertly by basic building contractors and may result in a poor appearance. In damp environments for example swimming pools, mildew could become a difficulty if allowed to remain without treatment.
Stretch ceilings really are a new invention which may be a superior option to suspended ceilings in many cases.

A stretch ceiling is a PVC sheet which is anchored at all perimeters to the wall surfaces and placed under stress so that it will become flat. A stretch ceiling has many of the advantages of a suspended ceiling, in terms of masking ugly roof beams or aged plasterwork, but offers a more beautiful finish and tidier installation all around pillars and other unusual features. The ceiling may also be arched or curved to make the most of the space available, and may be offered in a wide variety of colours and even lit from behind by coloured lights. They are also immune to mold and mildew because water merely flows off them, which makes them suitable for use in damp environments.
Stretch ceilings are an interesting contemporary alternative to old fashioned suspended ceilings and they are growing in popularity.