We’ve got a world of options when it comes to modern interior design. Some people prefer the dark, industrial look with lots of hard surfaces and dark colors. Others go for dramatic shapes and contrasting colors to provide spaces like none we’ve ever seen before. One material that’s capable of delivering, no matter what kind of aesthetic you’re after, is PET felt. There are many wonderful reasons to choose PET for ceiling treatments, from improving the room’s acoustical performance to possibly reducing our carbon footprints. The more you know about PET, the easier it is to see how this material is changing the world of acoustic ceiling design for the next generation.
What is PET Felt?
PET felt, or Polyethylene Terephthalate felt, is a synthetic material that’s crafted from a combination of recycled single-use plastic products and virgin fibers. The finished product resembles traditional felt material, but provides some benefits that regular felt simply cannot. PET felt material is durable, easy to clean, and can help improve the acoustics in any space where it’s used. It can also be formed into nearly any shape you can think of. This means that, depending on your budget, the options for your PET felt ceiling treatment are nearly endless. The unique process of producing PET felt is what provides it with these important features and benefits.
How is PET Felt Made?
PET manufacturers compress, shred, and melt down single-use plastic products like recycled bottles and combine them with virgin fibers to produce PET felt. The resulting material features soft fibers that will be pressed together to form the finished sheets of PET felt, which can be used to produce everything from vegan luggage to building materials and acoustical products. Here is why manufacturers have made the shift to PET plastic and PET felt over the past couple decades.
Benefits of Using PET for Ceilings
There are a wide range of benefits that come from recycling and repurposing the single-use plastics that plague our oceans and landfills, but today we’re going to focus on the benefits of using PET for ceilings, specifically.
Acoustic Performance
One of the main reasons people choose to use PET for ceilings is that PET felt delivers incredible acoustic performance. The material is porous enough to allow sound waves to enter, but dense enough to prevent them from penetrating the next surface or returning to the room. That’s because the tiny fibers inside the finished PET felt damps the sound energy and takes it out of the equation.
What is Sound Damping?
Sound damping is the process of converting vibrational sound energy into small amounts of heat energy. Since energy itself can neither be created nor destroyed, the only way to effectively eliminate it is to convert the vibrational energy into some other type of energy. Sound damping products eliminate vibrational energy by turning it into a negligible amount of heat energy.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Another important benefit of choosing PET for ceiling designs is that utilizing recycled materials is a great way of practicing sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. New materials use a lot of energy through producing, extracting, and transporting the raw materials. Sustainable materials like PET felt, on the other hand, utilize products that would otherwise end up in the local landfill or in our oceans, giving them a second life.
Durability
The plastic composition of PET felt means that it stands up very well to impacts. This makes PET felt a fantastic solution in spaces like noisy child care centers and gymnasiums. It will retain its vibrant colors and ability to absorb sound waves after many years of abuse from active children and teens. PET felt even stands up well to moisture, since its plastic composition is resistant to mold and bacterial growth. Simply brush away dust with a soft cloth and spot clean when needed. Drying your PET felt immediately after cleaning will keep it looking bright and functioning properly for years to come.
Design Flexibility
If the acoustic and thermal performance, maintenance, and sustainability benefits weren’t enough, PET felt is an incredibly flexible material that can be formed into nearly any shape an interior decorator could dream up. The plastic material also allows colors to shine through in ways they can’t when dye is applied to fabrics. The result is a much more vibrant ceiling treatment that won’t fade over time. No matter what color or shape you’re after for your new ceiling accents, you can achieve the look you want with PET felt. This amazing level of flexibility means there are PET felt ceiling systems that meet or exceed the aesthetic and acoustic performance needs of any space. Most options can work in a wide range of spaces, but you’ll want to take the specific space into account before you choose your solution.
Utilizing PET for Ceiling Design
As we’ve seen, using PET for ceiling treatments in modern spaces delivers a set of benefits that is hard to assemble with other types of materials. Let’s look at some ways people are using PET for ceiling designs in their own commercial and residential projects.
Commercial Applications
Commercial spaces require ceiling designs that are attractive and functional. Not only are we after an interesting visual piece, but we often need our ceiling designs to help control noise, create zones within an open space, or hide overhead mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems while allowing lighting and speakers to suspend to eye level. Let’s look at some commercial applications of PET ceiling solutions that you’re sure to love.
Baffles
The first commercial application we’re going to look at is the acoustical baffle. This is a classic design, but it’s been trending heavily for the past decade or two. Baffle ceiling systems are created by standing a series of wood or synthetic planks on the long edge, connecting them with perpendicular rods or some other system to hold them all together. Each section is either suspended directly from the ceiling or fitted into a T-grid system for easy installation and removal. PET Baffles deliver the same benefits as suspended ceilings when it comes to maintenance and repairs, but go above and beyond when it comes to their aesthetic and acoustic properties. Not only do the planks provide a nice balance of sound absorption and deflection, but you can combine the many stylistic options with details that tie your vision together. Baffles deliver a linear look that adds visual length to any room.
Ceiling Clouds
Another incredibly impressive acoustical ceiling treatment is the ceiling cloud. Ceiling clouds are acoustical panels that are typically suspended from the ceiling, providing the ability to create unique ceiling designs and artistic lines that easily transform square spaces into something more special. We use ceiling clouds to both create stunning focal points and improve the sound in any space. Introducing absorptive materials directly into our overhead spaces help solve acoustic issues like reverb and echo by absorbing sound waves before they’ve had the chance to traverse the space and bounce off reflective surfaces. This is especially helpful in rooms with large overhead spaces. Ceiling clouds can even be angled and clustered to address the specific needs of your space, making them one of the most effective and aesthetically pleasing solutions to acoustical issues on the market today.
PET Felt Ceiling Tiles
If you have a false or drop ceiling currently, you already have the structure in place for many PET felt ceiling tiles. These drop in tiles fit the standard sized openings in T-grid systems, and can be swapped in for your old tiles in an afternoon. There are some incredible incentives in doing so. First, we already know that PET felt performs exceptionally well when it comes to acoustics. Unlike other materials with this type of acoustic performance, PET felt is much more resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew, meaning you can use it effectively in high humidity areas or kitchens. Even if you don’t have a false ceiling in place currently, the installation process is incredibly simple, meaning most people with a basic set of tools and some knowledge of construction will have no trouble putting up PET felt ceiling tiles themselves.
Choosing a PET Felt Provider
If you’re thinking of utilizing PET for ceiling solutions in one or more of your spaces, it’s important that you choose a reputable provider. If you go with discount materials, the end product will reflect that choice. On the other hand, if you choose a provider that deals in quality materials, you will end up with a product that looks great and lasts for years to come. So, how do you identify the right PET felt provider for your project?
What to look for in a supplier
There are a lot of PET providers throughout the country, and knowing what you’re looking for before you begin will ensure you get the products and performance you’re after. The first item on your checklist should be to find a supplier with a track record of proven performance. The longer a supplier has been in business, the more projects they have likely worked on. This means that they will possess the knowledge and experience to help you effectively treat a wide range of different spaces. They have seen it all and know how to handle unique and complex spaces. Second, it’s helpful to work with a supplier that deals in quality materials. The cheapest option isn’t always the best option. Working with substandard materials may mean you end up replacing your ceiling system a few years down the road. If you want the biggest bang for your buck, use the products recommended by professional acoustic ceiling material installers. Third, going with a supplier with substantial and informative resources will make the process a whole lot easier. Look for a website that provides resources like installation instructions, technical specifications, and independently verified product testing. Third party verification will provide peace of mind in the knowledge that you are purchasing a quality product, while tech specs and installation instructions will let you know exactly what you’re getting and how big a project you’re getting into.
Recommended Products
At Material LogIQ, we offer a number of products that will change the way you look at your space. Our PET acoustic offerings provide the look and performance you’re after, at a price that won’t break the bank. Some of our most popular offerings include:
BLAFFE
Our vision of the acoustical baffle ceiling system is called BLAFFE. Waves, slabs, or contours? The choice is yours, but one thing is certain: your space will appear as aesthetically pleasing as it sounds. Traditional PET baffle systems need not adhere to conventional aesthetics, so let’s embrace creativity.
- Pre-Engineered system for quick delivery
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- 60% Post-Consumer Recycled Content
- NRC Rating up to 1.05
GRAFFLE
Graffle, the adventurous counterpart of Blaffe, has arrived. It introduces a novel design approach, emphasizing alternating geometries to achieve both visual allure and optimal acoustic performance. While straight lines may serve as efficient highways, if you prefer the path less traveled, Graffle is the choice for you.
- Pre-Engineered systems available for quick delivery
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- 60% Post-Consumer Recycled Content
- NRC Rating up to 0.55
KEYS
If you’ve ever found flat ceiling tiles uninspiring, prepare to be captivated by Keys, which adds dimension to your space. This innovative, three-dimensional, multi-depth tile system is not only effortless to install within conventional grid systems, but is deliberately engineered to defy convention and ignite your creative spark.
- Pre-Engineered systems available for quick delivery
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- 60% Post-Consumer Recycled Content
- NRC rating of 0.70
Getting Started
All successful projects begin with proper planning. If you would like to learn more about using PET acoustic panels and ceiling treatments in any of your spaces, reach out for a consultation. Material Logic the products and professionals to help get you from the planning phase to the end product without wasting time or money.