How to drain water from a stretch ceiling after flooding

A stretch ceiling is good because it perfectly retains water when flooded by neighbors from above - the material stretches, collecting it in one place. Subsequently she merges through the hole of the chandelier, lamp or partially dismantling the baguette. We will find out how best to do this and what is required.

Draining water from the stretch ceiling by yourself

Seeing in the room a rapidly forming "stalactite" from the stretch ceiling, you need to act immediately. First of all, it is necessary inform neighbors about flooding and block communications in the apartment. Next, we proceed to drain the moisture from the ceiling space.

Firms providing services for the installation of stretch ceilings are engaged in draining. If you are not confident in your own abilities, contact the professionals.

Preparing to drain

After informing the neighbors, turning off the power supply in the dashboard and cutting off the water in the apartment or around the entire riser in the entrance, we begin to prepare for the drain. This requires prepare a large number of containers, remove furniture and decor items, and cover large equipment and furnishings with a thick film and secure with tape.

Next, we need to find a place where it will be more convenient to drain the water. This is the closest possible opening of the luminaire or the edge of the canvas, located next to the cluster. Having decided, we proceed to eliminate the consequences of flooding.

Drain options

Depending on the amount of moisture and its location under the ceiling there are several options for eliminating. There are three main ways:

1. Through the hole for the chandelier.
2. From slots for spotlights.
3. Bending back the edge of the canvas, dismantling part of it from the baguette.

In the first two cases, it is necessary to dismantle the lighting device located closest to the accumulated moisture. Do not forget to disconnect the power supply first. Next, the canvas is pulled down by the hole until the water begins to drain into the prepared containers. The canvas will have to be pulled until the water is completely pumped out.

It is important not to remove the reinforcing ring from the luminaire. Put your fingers inside and grab it in several places: this way the canvas will remain intact.

If the lighting fixtures are located far from the place where moisture accumulates, a method with partial dismantling of the canvas is suitable. It is necessary to determine the section of the ceiling closest to the flooding site, dismantle the fasteners and peel back a small part of the material. It is important to hold the film tightly so that it does not slip or break.

If too much water has accumulated under the ceiling, use a hose. By inserting it into the hole under the lighting fixture or fixing it to the bent canvas, it is easy to pump water into the buckets.

Drying the ceiling

Films respond well to flooding and have the ability to recover from an accident. But before re-assembling the fabric, you should thoroughly dry the rough ceiling and the material itself. This usually takes from two days to a week.

Only after making sure that the surfaces are absolutely dry and subsequently no fungus forms at the flooding site, we install the canvas in place. It is not recommended to use household or construction hair dryers for the quickest drying of the stretching material. It will greatly harm it, the elasticity will decrease and the ceiling will become unusable.

Common mistakes

Experts call the most common mistake when flooding a stretch ceiling - incorrect determination of the amount of water. A person must understand what he needs help from other people. It is better to engage in self-draining in the company of a relative or friends.

Also, common mistakes include:

• a puncture of the canvas (it is absolutely impossible to do this, since under the pressure of the volumes of water a small puncture will increase sharply, and all the water will be on the floor, and the material will become unusable);
• running water to the far hole from the lamp (this option can greatly harm the condition of the ceiling);
• smoothing the fabric with improvised objects (sharp or sloppy edges will easily damage the integrity of the canvas);
• drying with a household hairdryer (under the influence of high temperatures, the material is likely to behave badly, shrinking or cracking).

After draining the water, allow the surfaces to dry on their own. Provide natural ventilation and ventilate the area well for several days.

How do fabric ceilings behave when flooded?

The fabric is significantly different from the PVC film. Its texture is reminiscent of the interlacing of threads and has a porous structure. During the flood in the first minutes the canvas still holds waterbut then it seeps through the threads. You can find out about a leak by looking at large, damp spots on the ceiling surface.

If you delay a little longer, it will begin to drip onto the decor in the room. You need to act immediately.

The operation to save the ceiling from the accumulation of water is not difficult. Anyone can handle it without the help of professionals. However, if you are not confident in your abilities and are afraid of breaking the ceiling, it is better to contact companies that eliminate the consequences of flooding.