Review of 8 types of ceiling materials: which one is durable, beautiful, and cheap in 2025?

Ceiling cladding materials are currently diverse with many options, including 8 popular types: corrugated iron, plaster, wooden boards, plastic panels, aluminum, bamboo charcoal panels, wood plastic panels and imitation wood cement panels.

Among them, corrugated iron is popular for its water resistance, good insulation and durability of 20-25 years. Gypsum board stands out for its soundproofing, heat insulation and easy shaping properties, however, it is necessary to pay attention to construction techniques to avoid cracking. Wooden boards bring a luxurious beauty but have limited moisture resistance and high cost.

New materials such as plastic panels and bamboo charcoal panels are popular thanks to their ability to reproduce the beauty of natural wood by 70-80%, along with high durability of 10-20 years and good resistance to termites and mold. In particular, wood plastic panels with more than 60% wood powder in the structure and imitation wood cement panels are considered the optimal choice for outdoor ceilings thanks to their ability to resist water and harsh weather.

According to a survey by the Modern Architecture Trends Institute (MATI, 2024, Australia): “85% of professional architects and interior designers appreciate the aesthetics of bamboo charcoal ceiling and wall panels, with 92% of customers satisfied with its ability to simulate the materials it replaces.”

Choosing ceiling materials requires considering factors such as heat resistance, durability, aesthetics, cost and installation conditions to suit each specific space and purpose.

Corrugated iron - Popular ceiling material today

Ton Sheet metal is a metal sheet made mainly from steel and some other ingredients such as silicone, aluminum, zinc, etc. This metal sheet is transcribed from the word "tole" (roughly translated: iron sheet) in French.

There are 5 types of corrugated iron available on the market including:

1. Cold sheet: Steel sheet coated with 55% aluminum, 43.5% zinc and 1.5% silicon.
2. Galvanised aluminium: 100% zinc coated steel sheet.
3. Heat-resistant corrugated iron (heat-insulating corrugated iron): This is a combination of 2 layers of corrugated iron and a layer of heat-resistant plastic (PU/EPS/…) in the middle.
4. Corrugated iron: Corrugated steel plate using CNC bending technology.
5. Tile imitation: This type of corrugated iron has a surface design that is 80-90% similar to tile.

Among them, the type of corrugated iron used for false ceilings is currently heat-insulating corrugated iron. Using this type of corrugated iron helps to support soundproofing, heat insulation, and enhance the aesthetics of the project. The price of wood-imitation corrugated iron ceiling materials is about 44.000 - 105.000 VND/meter (January 1).

In addition to its heat insulation and heat resistance, the product is also popular for its 6 characteristics such as:

1. Low cost, durability from 20 - 25 years
2. Light weight, easy to install
3. There are more than 20 colors and unique wood grain and cement grain designs.
4. Not easy to attract dust or mold
5. Easy to clean
6. Good resistance.

With the hot and humid climate of Vietnam, heavy rain can easily cause leakage in the ceiling, especially in level 4 houses. Corrugated iron has good water resistance and is suitable for the simple and economical requirements of this type of house, so it is often chosen as the ceiling. Therefore, corrugated iron is a quite ideal material for making the ceiling of level 4 houses.

Gypsum board – Modern interior ceiling material

Plasterboard is a building material made from gypsum powder (CaSO4.2H2O) is refined from limestone and some other additives such as fiberglass, etc. They are pressed into sheets with flat, smooth surfaces and are usually ivory white in color.

Most of the gypsum boards are now widely used in construction and interior decoration, especially for making ceilings and partitions with 2 outstanding features such as:

• Gypsum board has good sound and heat insulation, helping to reduce noise and maintain stable temperature in the room, saving energy for cooling or heating.
• Light weight, easy to cut and shape into many different styles, from simple flat ceilings to complex stepped ceilings.

However, there are some cases where plasterboard ceilings suddenly crack, causing many people to worry about the durability of the product. Based on the interview between VNEXPRESS reporters and architects of T&T architectural and interior design consulting company, the error is mostly due to construction techniques. When making ceilings with plasterboard, customers should note the following 5 things:

1. The distance between the main bones should not exceed 80cm.
2. The distance between the auxiliary bone bars should not exceed 60cm.
3. The distance between the laces to hang the main bone is not more than 1m.
4. The laces to hang the main bone bar must be caught in a highly fixed position.
5. Anti-cracking tape must be used at plasterboard joints.

Currently, plasterboard ceilings are also highly appreciated, capable of concealing technical systems (electricity, water, air conditioning, etc.) and are easy to repair and maintain. The price of plasterboard ceilings ranges from 130.000 - 200.000 VND/m² (updated in January 1).

>>> You can refer to beautiful plaster ceiling backdrops for interior spaces.

Wooden board - Luxurious and classy ceiling material

Wood is a popular material in designs that require luxury and class. Whether it is industrial wood or natural wood, it can be used to cover the ceiling through an iron frame system. With the current scarcity of wood resources, industrial wood panels are more popularly chosen with an affordable cost of 400.000 - 500.000 VND/m² in January 1.

Wood board has high aesthetics, brings natural beauty and warmth to the ceiling, suitable for worship rooms, ancestral houses or classical style buildings. However, this material is limited in its ability to resist moisture, termites and has a higher price than many other ceiling materials.

Plastic panels – Beautiful and lightweight ceiling material

If you want to own a beautiful wooden ceiling without fear of termites, water, and low cost, then wood-plastic panels are the ideal material. These panels are also lightweight, come in a variety of sizes, are easy to transport, quick to install, and limit fine dust.

With modern technology, Current plastic panel lines have more than 100 unique wood grain, stone grain, and cement grain designs.,… suitable for many different design ideas. To make the space more modern, eye-catching, and innovative, customers can combine corrugated plastic panels and flat Nano panels.

Plastic panels are also considered a modern ceiling material for level 4 houses, townhouses, apartments, etc., helping users save costs effectively while still ensuring the aesthetics of the project with long-term durability of up to 10 - 15 years.

In particular, Kosmos's plastic panel lines such as Kosmos Marble PVC, Kosmos Nano/fluted panel are also warranted for 5 years, ensuring the rights and bringing peace of mind to customers during use.

The price of plastic ceiling panels ranges from 39.00 - 89.000 VND/meter, updated in January 1. (The price given is the material price, excluding construction costs and other costs).

>>> How to install ceiling with plastic panels properly.

Aluminum – Lightweight material for ceilings

Aluminum Aluminum is a metal in the earth's crust, accounting for about 17%. This material is light (2.7g/cm³), only one-third the weight of steel (7.85g/cm³) and copper (8.96g/cm³), easy to bend or process. It is very difficult to find pure aluminum in nature, so the aluminum materials we often see every day are aluminum alloys.

Thanks to its good abrasion resistance, rust resistance, and high durability, aluminum is used in many applications in life, including ceiling tiles. The thermal conductivity of aluminum is quite low, only 50% of copper, so covering the ceiling with aluminum material helps prevent heat well.

Types of aluminum ceilings Currently widely used for both recessed and suspended ceilings, providing high aesthetics and superior durability. The price of aluminum ceiling construction in January 1 ranges from 2025 - 320.000 VND/m², depending on the color, volume, and type of aluminum ceiling.

Bamboo Charcoal Panels – Multi-purpose Interior Decoration Material

Bamboo Charcoal Panel is also one of the multi-purpose interior decoration materials, the main ingredient is bamboo charcoal with high compression from 0.65kg/cm³ to 0.7kg/cm³. The common application of this material is ceiling cladding, creating a luxurious, cozy highlight, while also effectively insulating sound.

In addition, bamboo charcoal multi-purpose panels are also popular in wall cladding, interior decoration, and harmoniously combined with many other panel models.

In particular, the ability to bend and round the corners of this material is very useful when covering columns, installing in curved corners, creating soft, delicate lines. Bamboo charcoal panels are currently available in a variety of sizes and designs from stone grain, concrete grain, fabric grain, natural wood grain, metal/water wave, monochrome, mirror coating.

This material also has high durability of up to 15 years, is resistant to termites and mold, contributing to creating an ideal, modern living space.

In January 1, the price of bamboo charcoal ceiling panels ranges from 2025 - 219.000 VND/㎡ depending on the model. Besides reputable brands on the market, Kosmos bamboo charcoal panels are a choice worth considering with outstanding product quality, meeting E629.000 standards, non-toxic, safe for users and having a variety of beautiful designs.

Wood plastic panels – Durable ceiling cladding material for outdoor spaces

Plastic wood paneling is a decorative material with a durability of 15-20 years, specialized for outdoor ceiling panels. This type of ceiling paneling material looks like natural wood and has more than 60% wood powder in its composition. However, with other ingredients such as 30% plastic particles and some additives, the paneling is water-resistant and resistant to termite attacks.

Kosmos is a warehouse that is currently distributing a variety of quality outdoor wood plastic products with two main forms: flat and fluted panels with convenient groove designs. They are not afraid of fading in the sun, do not break down in the rain, keeping the space always beautiful and durable as new. The price of wood plastic ceiling materials corresponds to the quality, ranging from 2 - 39.000 VND/meter in January 299.000.

Note: Plastic wood paneling is a heavy material that needs to be Installed via skeleton.

Cement board imitation wood ceiling

Imitation wood cement panels is a material whose main ingredient is cement (about 70 - 80%) combined with cellulose fibers. With a fairly realistic wood-like surface, this material is a great alternative to natural wood, especially in outdoor applications.

Ceiling imitation wood cement panels are produced in many different specifications. With high-tech technology, the surface of the plate is embossed with impressive wood grain. Besides, with cement material, the material is non-flammable and non-flammable. At the same time, the panel also has a mechanism to hydrate when it encounters moisture and release water as soon as the temperature is high, without affecting the overall structure of the product.

In January 1, the price of wood-like cement ceiling panels ranges from 2025 - 130.000 VND/panel with a length of 400.000 - 300cm.

Below is a summary table of information about 8 types of ceiling materials to help customers easily compare and choose:

Which unit distributes quality ceiling materials?

Kosmos Vietnam is proud to be the leading distributor of quality interior and exterior ceiling materials with diverse designs. The outstanding ceiling materials that Kosmos is distributing to more than 500 agents nationwide include: Outdoor wood plastic, plastic panels, bamboo charcoal panels, etc.

Kosmos warehouse not only provides quality interior and exterior ceiling materials but also has long-term warranty policies, ensuring the rights and bringing peace of mind to customers during use. Typically, Kosmos wood plastic and Kosmos Nano/fluted panel are warranted for 5 years.

Kosmos wood plastic wave panels for ceiling and facade decoration

ASA wood plastic panels for ceiling and balcony

Kosmos plastic wave panels for decorative bar ceiling

Kosmos wood-like plastic panels for unique home ceilings

Kosmos bamboo charcoal water wave PET silver cafe ceiling

Kosmos silver mirror bamboo charcoal panel for bedroom ceiling

Each type of material has its own characteristics and applications suitable for different spaces and purposes. Choosing which material to use for the ceiling requires considering factors such as: heat resistance, durability, aesthetics, cost and installation conditions, etc.