Modern design opens up tremendous opportunities for home decoration, but for the decorative finish to look beautiful, the surface of the walls must be even and smooth. Today, there are many options for leveling walls, while plasterboard cladding is very popular. This type of material allows not only to hide all coating defects, but also is an excellent sound and heat insulation.
In addition, leveling surfaces with drywall is not particularly difficult, it can be done independently. To do this, it is enough to select the required sheet thickness and apply a simple sheathing technology.
Features of the
Drywall is a multifunctional building material that is widely used for leveling walls. The prepared surfaces can be covered with any kind of finish: paint, tiles, wallpaper or plaster. The main feature of the material is that during its installation a small space is created between the walls and sheets, in which communications and noise insulation are usually placed. Thus, the base acquires an aesthetic appearance, and all its flaws are hidden.
Plasterboard wall alignment is especially suitable for small apartments, where stylish shelves and built-in niches can be made using unique designs, in addition to floor cladding. Such designs are an excellent addition to the wall decor and are harmoniously combined with the overall design of the rooms.
Before starting the installation work, it is necessary to choose the appropriate method for installing drywall, since it depends not only on the type of finish, but also on the features of the stationary floor, as well as the operating conditions of the future structure. As a rule, wooden, brick and reinforced concrete walls are sheathed with material.
The frame on which the drywall sheets are attached can be either metal or wood. This leveling method is suitable for surfaces with imperfections not exceeding 20 mm. If the irregularities and sizes of defects are large, then first the walls are putty and only after that the sheets of material are laid.
Advantages and disadvantages
Many craftsmen choose drywall to prepare walls for decorative design, and this is not in vain, since it helps to avoid laborious work with plaster, which requires the preparation of a large amount of mortar. In addition, dry leveling of surfaces takes less time and is much more economical. With the correct installation of the sheets, the walls become perfectly flat, electrical wiring can be hidden in their cavity, and lamps can be installed in niches. Therefore, there is no better option for a full-fledged finish of the bases.
In addition to the above advantages, this alignment has the following advantages:
- good heat and sound insulation;
- ease of installation;
- the possibility of additional decoration.
As for the shortcomings, there are not many of them
- The material is fragile, therefore, heavy structures must not be hung on walls sheathed with plasterboard. You can increase their strength by strengthening the frame.
- Surface finishing is sometimes accompanied by puttying.
Therefore, if during the repair it becomes necessary to level the walls, then it is best to give preference to plastering them with plasterboard, this will significantly save money on material and hired labor, since work, unlike puttying, can be done with your own hands even for a novice master who does not have experience.
Types of plasterboard
Plasterboard is made in the form of flat sheets, the main components of which are gypsum and special modified additives that improve its technical properties. The material is of high quality, durable, lightweight, conducts heat well and absorbs sounds. Drywall, used for wall decoration, is usually produced with "closed" sheet edges, they can be straight and thin.
Thanks to this unique structure, the material not only serves as a front cladding of walls, but is also suitable for cladding multi-layer structures. Sheets with a semicircular and open edge are also on sale, they are chosen for finishing seam floors.
Today the construction market is represented by a huge assortment of drywall, which differs in size and scope. The main ones include several types of GCR.
- Standard … The most popular type of material. It is used for leveling walls in rooms with normal humidity and temperature conditions.
- Moisture resistant. The product is characterized by low water absorption, therefore it is suitable for work both in dry rooms and in rooms with high humidity. Sheets of such drywall are made using a special technology, they contain special additives that reduce moisture absorption and prevent the appearance of fungus.
- Fire retardant … They reliably protect walls from destruction in case of fire. The main components of the material are reinforcing fibers and mineral additives, which provide the sheets with resistance to fire.
- Moisture resistant. Drywall withstands moisture well and is fire resistant.
- With increased durability. It is used for wall cladding in rooms that are most susceptible to mechanical stress. In contrast to the standard type, it has a dense structure, since it consists of several durable layers of cardboard and reinforced fiberglass.
- Restoration. The thickness of the sheets is 6.5 mm, so such drywall, when installed, does not take up a useful area of space, ideally hides irregularities and can act as a relief decoration of walls.
Scope of application
Often during renovations, many homeowners are faced with the problem of uneven surfaces, especially walls. Therefore, in order to qualitatively prepare the base for further finishing, it is necessary not only to eliminate cracks and various flaws, but also to make the coating perfectly even. The correct solution in this situation would be to level the walls with drywall, which can be used both for decoration in an apartment and in a private building. This method can be used to sheathe surfaces in a wooden house, if tiling or wallpapering is planned.
For sheathing a log house, a wooden or metal frame is first installed and a structure is attached to it, after which any design can be performed in the room.
Clay, brick and concrete walls are also covered with plasterboard. For covering the bases in the bathroom and in the kitchen, moisture-resistant sheets are used, since the material will be susceptible to the negative effects of moisture. Drywall is also suitable for wall cladding of a toilet, balcony, loggias. Both tiles and decorative finishing with other materials can be laid on it. At the same time, small gaps of 5 cm should be left between the surface of the ceiling and floor, this will improve ventilation and prevent deformation of the sheets, which can shrink.
In addition to living quarters, drywall is also used for interior wall cladding in garages and insulated gazebos. For this, products with increased strength are chosen. Fire-resistant material is chosen for wall cladding located near the fireplace, they can withstand high temperatures, are resistant to fire and must be decorated with stone.
Installation
Fastening sheets of drywall is performed on a previously prepared base, therefore, before leveling the walls with your own hands, you need to make all measurements and make calculations. In addition, the following tools are required for installation:
- laser level;
- roulette;
- plumb line;
- hammer;
- Bulgarian;
- scissors for metal;
- screwdriver;
- plane;
- rail;
- knife;
- spatulas;
- sandpaper;
- container for priming and preparation of putty;
- rollers and brushes.
To level the walls with drywall, you should also decide on the installation method. Today, both a frameless version (drywall is fixed on glue, cement or gypsum) and frame technology are widely used, in which a wooden or metal frame is made. Both methods are good and equally allow you to eliminate an uneven surface, but if you do the work yourself, then it is important to properly fix the sheets so that the installation is of high quality. Therefore, step-by-step instructions will help novice masters in this.
Installation without frame
First of all, the surface of the walls is checked, it must be strong, dry and not have peeling elements. If the base is covered with oil paint or enamel, then it is thoroughly cleaned from the old finish. Since the material will be attached to gypsum glue or cement-polymer mixture, the overlap is additionally coated with a primer.
This technique is only suitable if small level drops are noticed in the walls.… It will also be necessary to insulate the structure; in this case, foam is used as thermal insulation.
The main advantage of this method is that the work requires a minimum set of tools, the sheathed wall will not reduce the living space and the surface will serve as excellent sound insulation. After the base is prepared, the glue is evenly applied over the entire base of the drywall and the sheet is fixed to the wall.
Installation with frame
It is the most reliable and high quality option for leveling walls. First of all, the frame of the structure is made using a wooden beam or metal profiles. As a rule, the frame method is chosen if you need to sheathe surfaces with large flaws or create complex compositions in the form of arches and niches.
To prepare the metal frame, special profiles made of galvanized steel are used; they are equipped with through holes and a notch, thanks to which the fixing of parts is carried out conveniently and quickly.
Sound insulation with this installation will turn out to be weak, so it is necessary to additionally think over measures how to increase it.
The main disadvantage of the frame installation is that it is carried out using a large number of tools. But the metal frame on which the plasterboard structure is attached is moisture resistant and durable. And also under the sheets, you can lay not only a layer of thermal insulation, but also hide all communications.
As for the wooden frame, it is made of even and dry timber, which is characterized by good sound insulation, strength and excellent thermal insulation. After assembling such a frame, the bars must be treated with a special impregnation, it will protect the tree from bugs, mold, moisture and decay.
The first stage in the frame installation is the marking of the walls. To do this, measure the distance from the corner, leave a gap of 5 cm and draw a vertical line. A similar procedure is performed with the opposite wall, then a rail is taken and the resulting lines are connected to a point on the floor and ceiling. After that, vertical markings are made from the corner and lines are drawn, the distance between the marks should not exceed 60 cm.
To simplify the work, a laser level will help, thanks to which you can quickly mark vertical and horizontal lines.
Measurements must be carried out accurately, since the slightest mistake will cause incorrect installation. Additionally, the lowest point of the ceiling is also determined and lines are drawn from it to the walls. It is important to measure the distance between the walls at the inner corner. With a frame installation, the wall will "take" a usable area of 4 cm, this should be taken into account, and if the room is small, then this method is best not to choose.
The next step will be to fasten the profiles along the marked lines. They are fixed along the entire perimeter of the wall with self-tapping screws. The final stage is considered to be plasterboard covering of the frame. To do this, depending on the level of humidity and temperature, a certain type of material is selected, and it is attached to the frame with screws. Then all joints are sealed with putty, and the surface is primed.
It is worth noting that both the first and the second method are suitable for self-leveling the walls with drywall. But before deciding on the installation, it is important to take into account the microclimate of the room and the level of defects.
Tips & Tricks
Curved walls are often the main reason for rejecting beautiful finishes, but today this problem can be solved. It is possible to eliminate irregularities and defects of the old base with the help of drywall. Its installation is much cheaper than puttying, and does not require special skills in the work, so many homeowners sheathe the walls themselves.
If the alignment is done for the first time, then simple recommendations of specialists will help novice masters to correctly complete it
You can fasten both whole sheets and their pieces… Often the rooms have an irregular shape, so it is necessary to impose structures on the walls, consisting of cut drywall. To cut the material, you must first cut through one layer of cardboard, then slightly notch the core, after which the second layer will become available. This operation is best done with a sharp, trapezoidal blade
Walls sheathed in this way will have joints on the surface, they should be sealed with putty and primed.
You can make it easier to tack the sheet to the frame by following these steps: a sheet of material is placed vertically, then it is brought to the structure and slightly fixed with self-tapping screws. For work, you will need a partner, since it will be difficult to press down the drywall and at the same time fix it. Then, when the sketches are made, the sheet is checked for level and finally screwed to the frame
- Do not install drywall close to the floor and ceiling … It is recommended to leave small gaps, because the material sometimes shrinks, and if this is not done, the sheets will be deformed.
- When installing between the screws, you must take a step of 20 cm. In this case, the caps of the screws must be screwed well so that they do not interfere with the finishing. Fix the fasteners carefully. In the event that you make maximum efforts, the self-tapping screw will tear the top layer of drywall and will not hold the sheet. When this happened, then next to it you can screw another safety screw.
For information on how to level the walls yourself with drywall, see the next video.