Plastic panels are an inexpensive material used for decoration of both residential and commercial premises. This type of wall and ceiling cladding is inexpensive, while the decorative quality is very good. In addition, the advantages of this material include ease of installation. Installing PVC panels with your own hands will not be difficult for anyone.
What material to choose
Before proceeding with an operation such as installing PVC wall panels with your own hands, you should determine the actual type of material itself. For decoration of premises for various purposes from the inside, several types of plastic elements can be used:
PVC lining. This material looks similar to its wooden counterpart - it has a small width and often an appropriate coloring.
Sheet panels. This variety is similar to sheets of decorative plywood.
Conventional panels in the form of a plastic “board” with a spike / groove mount.
When choosing a specific type of material, you should focus primarily on the specifics and design features of a room. Plastic wall paneling has the advantage of not “weighting” the room and giving it a somewhat natural look. Sheet panels are usually used for decorating walls and ceilings of large areas. A very good solution, for example, may be covering them with an attic or the basement of a country house. Versatility is one of the main advantages of such a material as a wall panel. For the kitchen, PVC is just perfect, exactly the same as for the bathroom, living rooms, hallway, etc.
The cost of PVC panels
No wonder the plastic elements of this variety are considered a budget finish option. Very low cost is one of the main advantages of such a material as PVC panels. The price for them ranges from 200-300 rubles per lamella in the form of a "board". The width of a plastic decorative element is usually 25-30 cm. Thus, for finishing, for example, a wall five meters long, you will have to spend only about 4-6 thousand rubles. If desired, you can find PVC panels and cheaper - for 100-150 p. However, they are unlikely to differ in too beautiful and original design.
What tools will be needed
Do-it-yourself PVC wall panels are mounted on a special frame. To install it, you need a drill, a building level, a tape measure. The panels themselves usually have to be cut during installation. Therefore, you will also need to prepare a hacksaw for wood or a jigsaw. In the event that it is planned to make additional insulation of the room, you will have to purchase a glue trowel and a construction stapler.
Frame beam
In addition to the panels themselves, before starting the lining you will need to buy a wooden beam. The weight of the decorative PVC trim is negligible. Therefore, it is not necessary to purchase a beam of too large a section. An option of 3x3 cm or 4x2.5 cm will be enough. The exception is those cases when the walls are additionally insulated. Insulator plates are installed between the frame elements. Therefore, a bar for this type of lining should be chosen with a section corresponding to the thickness of the insulation. Also, you will need to purchase glue for the plates, dowels, fungi, primer and vapor barrier film.
Other types of frame
PVC wall panels for the bathroom are usually mounted not on the block, but on a metal frame. Wooden in the bathroom, sauna or bath can simply "lead". Recently, a thin plastic frame has also been used under PVC panels. Its use allows you to save a few centimeters of floor space. However, it is recommended that you use this option only in rooms with very even walls.
Frame assembly
The base elements under the panel can be installed horizontally or vertically. It all depends on the direction in which the PVC wall panels will be finished. The beam or profile is fastened by level. Previously, holes for the dowels are drilled in the wall. Since the joint between the panels and the ceiling is usually closed with a decorative plastic baseboard, a beam or profile in this place must be installed. The same goes for the corners of the room. Angle bars are mounted here.
When installing the frame, it is important to adhere not only to the vertical or horizontal elements. It must also be ensured that all the bars are in the same plane. PVC panels - elastic material. However, the distortions will give the wall a not too neat appearance. You can correct the position of the bars in the right places with the help of small wooden wedges.
Before installing the frame, you should think about where in the future heavy hanging cabinets, shelves, paintings and so on will hang. In these places you need to fill additional horizontal bars.
DIY PVC wall panel installation
If it is necessary to insulate between the elements of the installed frame, plates of expanded polystyrene are fixed on the adhesive first. Additionally they are fixed with special “fungi”. Next, a vapor barrier film is pulled onto the frame.
Actually the interior decoration of the walls with panels starts from the corner. Here set the starting bar. The crest of the first panel is inserted into its groove. The lamel is attached to the frame with special brackets using a stapler. Next, the second panel is inserted into the first and also fixed. The last lamella on the wall is inserted into the pre-fixed finish strip. If the width of the PVC element is too large, it can be cut, but not more than 1/3.
After all the walls are paneled, proceed to finish the space above the doors and windows. At the final stage, the upper decorative baseboard is installed.
Useful Tips
Do-it-yourself PVC wall panels should be installed in compliance with the following recommendations:
The first cladding element should be aligned as carefully as possible. Otherwise, all panels will be installed crookedly.
If the interior decoration of the walls of the room is carried out in the summer, the panels are kept at room temperature for at least 12 hours before installation. When performing installation in winter, this period is increased to 2 days (if the panels were stored in cold weather).
Unpack the lamellas as carefully as possible. This material is not too resistant to various kinds of mechanical damage. It is necessary to pull out plastic elements carefully over the edge and only piece by piece.
A hacksaw for cutting plastic should be used with small cloves.
As you can see, the installation of such material as PVC panels, the price of which is low, is an extremely simple procedure. The main thing when doing this work is to install the frame evenly. The lamellas themselves should fit as tightly as possible to each other. In this case, the lining will be neat and durable, and the design of the room - cozy and attractive.