Barrisol Advantages

An overview from Mike Peacock, Principal and Founder of Barrisol BC.

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​The Barrisol® finished product is always inspiring to see but looking at an existing space can leave you feeling overwhelmed with where to start. Barrisol® is a very unique product in that it is implemented very differently than pretty much any other method of construction.  The key to taking advantage of Barrisol® and its many features does not have to be as overwhelming if you understand a few basic concepts.

REDUCED LABOUR
Barrisol® membranes allow us, as one example, to install a track around a room and "drape" a sheet across the room without having to create a surface manually.  The labor portion of an installation is contained to the perimeter only, and not the entire surface area of the room.  An area that might take weeks to be framed, dry-walled and painted can often times be installed in one day by a crew of two.  The Barrisol® ceiling surface that you see is made in a factory and this allows us to take advantage of the economics and quality of "production line" manufacturing, while still applying it to "custom" situations.  This helps reduce costs as well as adding to the ecological benefits of a Barrisol® ceiling.  Also, the fact that a box of membranes for a 1000 square foot ceiling weighs less than 50 pounds, contributes to the simplicity in terms of its impact on the structure of a building and, often times, engineering requirements as well.  Group all of the above with Barrisol's® minimal maintenance (good-bye to repainting) and you can start to see some of the powerful advantages that a Barrisol® ceiling system can offer.
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SHAPING:
Taking the method above one step further, we are then able to manipulate the perimeter "framework" of a ceiling only and the surface area will follow suit.  Again, the surface of a Barrisol® ceiling is made on a production line and is then shaped onsite automatically during the installation of the membrane.  For example, a high gloss wave shape is as easy to create using Barrisol® as a flat, matt rectangle once the track for the wave have been bent.  The sheet for both is a rectangle and in the case of a wave, the rectangle is being manipulated by the perimeter tracks only.  To create this same wave using drywall and framing for an example is an extremely lengthy, tedious process and the end result usually reflects this in it's quality as well.  To create a curved surface that you can see your reflection in would be a very tall order using traditional methods but with Barrisol®, it is as simple as creating a flat, eggshell white square.

REFLECTIVE QUALITIES / LIGHTING: 
Lighting a space can be achieved in a variety of ways. Taking full advantage of everything that is at your disposal is key to making it work.  For example, many spaces are limited with ceiling height but they may have floor to ceiling windows.  In this case, a high-gloss (lacquer) finish has the ability of doubling the effect of this natural lighting while, at the same time, doubling the feel of the height of a room.  At night time, the light sources within a room can also benefit from this advantage giving more efficiency from a lighting layout than a non-reflective surface would.  In some instances, a room with the same limitations (ceiling height) may also call for a more intimate feel.  With a darker high-gloss color, we can achieve the same "doubling" effect without sacrificing the formal intimacy that the function of a room might call for.  Typically, a darker colored ceiling will tend to shrink the perceived height of a room but a reflective surface counteracts that effect giving you the best of both worlds.

BACK LIGHTING:
If the ceiling height of a space is able to accommodate lighting above, a translucent membrane can act to diffuse light evenly and can soften the effects of some harsher light fixtures (even fluorescent) while still allowing the light to pass through the fabric and to act as a light source for the room below.  Add color changing light behind a membrane and you can easily manipulate the feel of a room, allowing the room to morph itself and adapt it to suit whatever function is desired.  By printing an image on a back lit translucent membrane, we can add another dimension to the experience in a space, whether the intent is to enhance a company's brand, or create a "vibe" or unique backdrop in any room.

UP LIGHTING:
When Barrisol®  ceilings are installed, they almost always become the focal piece in a room.  In some instances, up lighting the ceiling can be another method of creating a unique effect.  If a ceiling is shaped (see photo) the method of up lighting can help to enhance the dramatic effect of the form by introducing shadowing effects which make the form more prevalent.  Another good use for up lighting is when using one of the many Metallic finishes.  These finishes "shimmer" when the are lit allowing the metallic finish to reach its full potential.

ACOUSTICS®:
Barrisol® has an acoustic line of ceilings which can act as a very powerful tool in a project.  Modern construction calls for many highly reflective surfaces (both visually and acoustically) but the end result is, all to often, that we create an echo chamber that is acoustically very unpleasing.  An advantage of Barrisol® is that we can create very "visually reflective" surfaces that are "acoustically absorptive," allowing us to maintain the desired aesthetic while improving the acoustic functionality of a room.  All Barrisol® ceilings are "mechanically acoustic" in that they are fabric and are "non rigid" by nature giving them the ability to absorb sound in much the same way as a couch or carpet.  Barrisol's® "acoustic line" of ceiling membranes furthers this effect by focusing on particular wavelengths that are an issue specific to the space in question.

ECONOMICS:
Time, money and quality create a typical triangle in construction projects which tends to drive most decisions being made along the way.  All three aspects pull on each other to create the triangle.  As a project manager and general contractor, it was always my goal/job to maintain an equilibrium between these three factors. I believe Barrisol®  excels in all three of these areas and continues to make my job as a general contractor easier by maintaining this equilibrium.

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