Plasterboard panels are mainly used as an overlay finishing material, leveling problem surfaces. But there are dense modifications of sheets that can be used in the device walls. These are drywall partitions with sound insulation, optimal bearing capacity and decorative qualities. But to achieve the necessary acoustic and structural characteristics will allow only high-quality installation without serious errors.
Materials and consumables for installation
The main material (gypsum board) should be made in a special structural modification with a density of about 1000 ± 50 kg / m 3 . At a basic level, such stoves manufacturers strive to provide shock resistance, moisture resistance, fire resistance and sound insulation. Consumables and auxiliary materials will require grouting of joints for drywall, profiles for the partition frame, rope for plumb lines and hardware for fasteners. To increase the sound insulation of the gypsum board partition, it will be necessary to prepare additional insulators, which will also perform the insulation functions, if necessary. You should also take care of the tools. You will need an apparatus for tightening screws, a drywall cutter (not in all cases), and it is desirable to have an electronic level on hand for marking.
Partition position determination
Before proceeding with technical operations, it is necessary to outline the position of the future wall. The markup should not be approximate, but strictly visual. With the help of a cord coated with chalk, a line is drawn along the contour of the partition. Using plumb or a building level, it is necessary to reduce several points along a marked line from the ceiling to the floor. Also, a contour is drawn along the wall, which should connect two points. The correct location of the structure is very important when calculating zoning by drywall partitions - especially when it comes to rooms of a small area. In addition, the accuracy of the vertical position of the wall also matters. Drywall is not the most durable and stress-resistant material, and deviations along the axis with time can lead to the formation of cracks and deformations.
Installation of carrier profiles
As in the usual wall decoration with plasterboard sheets, metal profile elements are used in this case. Vertically, it is recommended to use UW-strips, installing them by screwing them to the ceiling and walls. Moreover, in order to increase the soundproofing effect, experts recommend that the profile be fixed to the floor not close, but through an elastic damping sound insulator, like tape polyurethane foam, rubber, cork or felt in extreme cases.
For fastening the structure to the walls, CW profiles are used. With the help of screws, horizontal elements of the metal frame for the drywall partition are mounted. The photo below shows the structure of the carrier base from the profiles. It is very important not to miscalculate the degree of reliability of the fixation of the structure, since the drywall itself after installation will additionally provide a considerable load. As builders recommend, horizontal slats should be fixed at points with a distance of not more than 1 m. For each vertical profile, at least 3 fixing hardware should be used regardless of its height. The step between the profiles according to the standards is 40-60 cm, but it is better to focus on the width of the whole drywall sheets.
Measurement operations
Special attention is paid to the parameters of the supporting racks. Vertical racks are measured in this way: the thickness of the soundproof material (lining at the bottom) and the distance of the inserts of the UW profiles are subtracted from the total height of the room. To this it is worth adding a gap of 1.5-2 cm, which is required for the dilatation (narrowing and expansion) of the overlapping material. In any case, vertical racks cannot be made too short. As indicated in the installation instructions, the gypsum board partition should be fixed to the racks inserted at least 10 mm into the upper UW profile. This is required so that in case of deflection of the lower part of the frame, the stand does not fall out of the seat socket.
As for the width of the profiles, the range of 75-100 mm is considered standard. When choosing this parameter, the characteristics of drywall sheets — their quantity and mass — will be especially important. Custom thick panels are mounted on 100mm profiles. If you plan a small area thin-walled partition (in one layer), then you can do with racks 50 mm wide. But in the case of height, and when calculating the length, it is impossible to focus on the possibility of future extension of elements, this solution will reduce the reliability of the structure.
Reinforcing wall openings
In the partition, you can make an opening, even several. But they should be properly designed, otherwise the deformation process will begin from this section. The strengthening of the openings begins after the assembly of the base of the frame and before laying drywall. In simple constructions, frames with vertical CW profiles at the corners are sufficient if the height is 90 cm and the width does not exceed 260 cm. Also, the weight of the door should not be more than 25 kg.
In other cases, openings from the CW profile are performed. Partitions for drywall with feedthroughs are made so that the connecting lines are not located at the corners. At a minimum, the junction should be moved 15 cm from the opening. Fastening of racks is carried out both to a ceiling, and to a floor. For this, special squares with beveled holes are used. This configuration allows, if necessary, to shift the profiles relative to the overlap vertically.
Preparing sheets for installation
Next, you can start work on drywall. It is recommended to avoid any adjustments to the structure of the plates and to use solid elements, but technically this is not always possible. The most common preparatory operation in this part is cutting. It is carried out with an assembly sharp knife. First, a cutting line is drawn according to the specified parameters. An incision is made along the indicated contour, after which you should slightly break the unnecessary piece. With this approach, there is a risk of getting an uneven core along the fracture line. So that the partition in the drywall room does not have deviations and irregularities due to such flaws at the joints, the edges and chamfers should be sanded with a fine-grained abrasive. Also, sometimes an electric jigsaw is also used for drywall, but not every household has this tool, and a high-quality model is not cheap.
Sheet fastening
The best fasteners for drywall in this design are phosphated screws that are resistant to both corrosion and negative chemical effects in contact with gypsum. The hat is deepened into the sheet by about 0.5 mm, so that later it can be putty carefully masking the connection points. The panels are fixed so that the edges reach half the width of the vertically mounted profile. This arrangement will allow you to organically fasten nearby and the neighboring plate.
Initially, you should reduce the distance between the panels, minimizing the gaps. The most reliable and outwardly aesthetic designs are obtained from solid sheets, but due to unforeseen installation conditions, it may be necessary to build up the missing height or width of the casing. The most important thing in this installation of drywall partitions is to fix the additional elements so that the gaps horizontally are not on the same line. That is, the joints should be staggered along the installation line, varying the length or width of individual fragments. Further, the seams are reinforced with reinforcing tape, which will prevent the risk of cracking.
Communications layout
Sheathing is carried out on both sides, and in the interval between their device you can do the laying of utility networks. Since the thickness of the opening will be small, only electrical or water distribution can be arranged. Moreover, it is worth abandoning hot water supply, as well as large sewer and ventilation channels. The above photo of a drywall partition shows an example of a vertical installation of an open communication network, but with reliable insulation. Experts recommend using plastic mounting boxes for electrical wiring. They are advantageous in that they are conveniently fixed to the profile racks without spending a lot of space. As for water supply, the physical load on the profiles should be calculated in advance. Thick metal pipes weigh a lot, so pressure can be critical. In any case, the fastening should be carried out by holders and clamps installed in the frame.
Thermal insulation and soundproofing of gypsum board partition
The gaps between the racks can be filled with mineral wool in the format of hard plates. Hardness of the material is necessary as a guarantee of protection against subsidence. The mineral wool in the form of mats is not completely excluded, but for its fixation additional screwing of small retaining profiles through screws will be required. If the emphasis is on soundproofing drywall partitions, then you can use the same mineral wool, but with one nuance. On one side, the insulation material should not directly touch the drywall sheet. That is, the thickness of the mats or slab should be about 1 cm less than the width of the opening.
Seam filling
To mask the joints before the final finish, you can use plaster for gypsum boards. The grout mass is gently pressed into the joints so that the entire interior is filled without residue. At the next stage, the laid mass is distributed over the outer area of the docking station and leveled. If you plan to lay a thick layer, then it makes sense to sink into the solution and reinforcing tape. This version of the gypsum plasterboard grout will strengthen the joints and give strength to the plates themselves. At the final stage, a plastic finishing putty is laid and also rubbed.
Conclusion
Plasterboard sheets are optimally suited for the installation of frame partitions designed for sound insulation. The internal filling of the fiber mineral wool structure further enhances the insulating properties, organically combined with the skin structure. The result is a fairly reliable and functional partition made of drywall for zoning rooms and residential, and technical purposes. Of course, the issue of decorative design of drywall sheets will also be important in home furnishing. This problem can be solved with wallpaper, paintwork and even textile coatings. The very purpose of such panels as finishing material involves the provision of a leveling effect for the subsequent installation of decorative products that are sensitive to surface texture.