Renovations or building today can run into huge sums of money, so it makes sense, therefore, to shop around for the best possible product, cost-wise and efficiency-wise, before committing to a product, says Pieter van Heerden, managing director of PVC Ceilings South Africa.
There are new and innovative products being added to suppliers’ lists regularly and it is always advisable to check new products out and not automatically choose what has been used in the past.
If fitting new ceilings, whether in a renovated home or a new build, gone are the days when gypsum boards would be the automatic choice, he said. PVC ceilings are preferable to gypsum for a number of reasons and are the ideal substitute. They are manufactured by using PVC resins and auxiliary materials and are made in sizes of 3.6m, 4.7m and 6m lengths and 250mm wide.
This extremely practical ceiling system is suitable for any indoor area requiring a fixed, non-porous, non-fibrous and non-absorbent ceiling. PVC Ceilings are very versatile and can be applied in just about any indoor environment, said van Heerden.
Apart from being lightweight and easy to install, therefore being able to be installed with less labour, they are also very efficient insulators in summer and winter, due to the hollow core structure of the panels, and can reduce energy consumption in the home by eliminating the need to heat or cool it.
Interlocking PVC panels achieve the smooth surface that tends to be preferred by interior designers and decorators, which cannot be achieved with other ceiling materials as they leave splicing gaps between the plates.
The boards come in a variety of colours as well as gloss and matt finishes, which would add to the savings made, as there is no need to use a screed render or paint on the boards. This, in turn, also saves on labour costs, adding to the cost-efficiency of the product, said van Heerden.
PVC ceilings have additional features, however, said van Heerden. They are also have antifungal properties, are corrosion resistant, fire retardant (B/B1/B2 SANS 428), termite proof, waterproof (no more damaged ceilings from burst geysers), easy to clean, and no further maintenance is necessary after installation.
“Many developers are now seeing the benefits of using PVC Ceilings,” said van Heerden, “and last year alone these ceilings have been used in three Gauteng schools, a housing development with 108 homes in Buccleuch and two housing projects with a total of 582 houses in Kimberley.”
These ceiling boards are available throughout South Africa, and can be purchased from selected branches of retailers such as Mica, BUCO, Cashbuild, and many more. A comprehensive list of retailers is available at www.pvcsa.co.za and further information on the product can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
