False ceilings are very popular today. Construction companies offer a large number of varieties of these products, which for the most part differ in the materials used and the cost. This article will tell you how to make gypsum plasterboard ceilings yourself.
General information
False ceilings are a type of quick finish that does not cost much. It is quite within the power of a person to do this work independently, you only need to have basic knowledge about it.
This way of organizing the ceiling space is that at a certain distance from the base of the floor slab, a metal crate is mounted, on which trim elements are then attached. From what form factors of such elements are used, suspended ceilings (photos of them can be seen in the article) are divided into five types:
- cassette
- tension;
- rack and pinion;
- tiled;
- drywall.
They have no fundamental difference, only the options for the implementation of the crate and the type of materials used for it differ.
The general scheme of the organization of the crate is unchanged and consists of:
- ceiling guide profiles (PNP);
- rack profiles (SP) or stringers for a rack ceiling ;
- suspension systems.
And depending on what elements will be mounted on the crate, various power profiles (rack or stringers) are used. The latter are equipped with special grooves for fixing the ceiling rails in them. With cassette ceilings, special, original from each supplier, suspension systems are supplied.
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Considering each of the types of suspended ceilings, the following can be noted:
- Tiled - do not look very comfortable and are most suitable for decoration of offices, non-residential premises or warehouses. They are inexpensive, quickly mounted and look pretty concise. The frame in such ceilings does not need to be masked, since it is a design component and square or rectangular mineral fiber tiles of different textures are attached to it.
- Cassette - durable, with a long service life and excellent appearance. It is mounted from separate aluminum or zinc-coated steel square modules - cassettes - like a designer. Elements have a diverse finish, which allows the designer to implement all kinds of ideas.
- Rack and pinion - the suspension structure is mounted on special aluminum or PVC rails. PVC, as a rule, is used for the installation of a false ceiling in the bathroom, and the first type - in the subway or other large spaces.
- Stretch marks are the most popular today. They are made of fabric or PVC film, stretched and fixed on a metal frame. They have a different texture, color and patterns, resistant to wear. They are mounted quickly and require almost no maintenance.
- Plasterboard suspended ceilings - allow you to realize any ideas, are mounted on one or more levels, decorated with various elements.
Benefits
No wonder suspended ceilings are in great demand, because they have many advantages.
Among them are:
- design reliability;
- practicality - do not require special care;
- strength and durability;
- ease of installation;
- aesthetic appearance;
- security;
- for film - water resistance;
- the ability to hide communications and not align the surface of the ceiling;
- wide range of materials and decorative elements.
disadvantages
Like most products, they have false ceilings and flaws.
Of the latter, the following can be noted:
- luminaires may only be installed in a certain design and power;
- shades must be thermally insulated to prevent staining around them;
- due to the presence of a draft, film coatings can “stick” to a real ceiling;
- after flooding require replacement;
- heavy or complex structures cannot be attached to the false ceiling;
- the tiled ceiling is fragile; upon falling or strong pressure, the plate breaks.
Materials, tools and measurements
To carry out installation of plasterboard frame suspended ceiling, a photo of one of the options of which can be seen below, you will need tools and finishing materials.
A sample list is as follows:
- gypsum plasterboard in the required quantity (required to calculate);
- guides and ceiling profiles with suspensions;
- hammer drill (percussion drill);
- a screwdriver with a set of screws and dowels;
- acrylic paint of the necessary color;
- roller, brushes, masking tape;
- putty, putty knife, fine sandpaper;
- metal shears and profile connectors;
- water or laser level, tape measure.
The quality of installation of suspended ceilings and the determination of the amount of necessary material largely depend on correctly performed measurements and marking.
With a simple single-tier structure, it is enough to multiply the length of the room by its width and add 5% of the work to the additional expense. The result is the amount of drywall that is needed to carry out repairs. For multi-tiered ceilings, 20% or more should be added, depending on the complexity of the selected contour.
Mounting the ceiling frame
The basis of a quality ceiling is a properly installed frame. Before you make a suspended ceiling yourself, you need to study the sequence of steps for its installation.
The beginning can be described as follows:
- Using a tape measure, we find the lowest angle in the room and make a mark at the level of 5-8 cm from the ceiling surface. Using the level, we put marks in all the other corners of the room.
- We do a beating using a masking cord or leave marks with a pencil on a tightly stretched kapron thread from mark to mark.
- We fix guide profiles along the beating line with dowels and self-tapping screws.
- We apply marking for ceiling profiles. Usually it is done after 40 cm along the length of the room.
- Every 50 cm on the lines we make marks for attaching the suspensions.
- Using dowels or anchors, we fix the suspensions. We bend their ends and proceed to the installation of ceiling profiles.
- Profiles are attached to the rails and ends of the suspensions using self-tapping screws. If their length is insufficient, then they are increased with the help of connectors, and the excess is cut off with scissors for metal. In this case, the length of the profile should be 1 cm less than the length of the room.
- Next, with the help of fasteners, we lay transverse profiles.
- After installing the last profile, the frame for the false ceiling is assembled by yourself.
Plasterboard mounting and electrical installation
Drywall mounting should begin with the preparation of sheets of this material. To do this, the chamfer is removed from the non-glued side at an angle of 45 degrees to ensure the possibility of filling the joints with putty.
Installation of drywall sheets begins from the corner of the room, attaching them with screws to the guides and ceiling profiles. Self-tapping screws should be completely recessed into the surface of the drywall. Sheets should be joined with a gap of 1-2 mm, necessary for better sealing of joints. Usually, spotlights are used as lighting fixtures for false ceilings for the hall (see photo below).
To install them in drywall with a special cutter - crowns - a hole is cut that corresponds to the diameter of the lamp. Connection is made from the standard wiring of the room. Wiring should be done before the final installation of the ceiling. The wires are attached with plastic clamps to the frame.
To install spotlights in the prepared holes, spring-type holders are inserted and a lamp is connected.
If pendant lights are provided for lighting (for example, in false ceilings in the kitchen), they can be fixed using self-tapping screws in the frame of the suspended ceiling or on special platforms pre-installed in the technical space.
Useful Tips
When fixing gypsum boards, they are pressed against the profile so that the connection is more durable.
First, whole sheets of drywall are installed and screwed. After that, smaller elements are cut out, if such are required by the design of the designer and the shape of the ceiling.
For the installation of plates on the frame and cutting sheets do not need a hacksaw or saw. It is enough to simply mark the places intended for the cut with a construction knife and cut a cardboard layer on both sides. After this treatment, the drywall breaks evenly with gentle pressure along the cut line.
Putty
The next important step is the decoration of the ceiling. Its appearance largely depends on its quality.
The following is required to complete:
- Before grouting, it is necessary to treat the places intended for applying the mortar with a special primer for drywall.
- After it dries, the seams and the heads of the screws are sealed with putty with increased strength. Dilute the solution from the dry mixture according to the attached instructions, and apply using a construction spatula.
- After the putty dries, the irregularities are treated with sandpaper, and a sickle is applied to the joints to prevent cracking.
- Next, surface treatment is carried out using conventional finishing putties and smoothing by grinding with fine emery.
- After drying, the surface is ready for painting.
Ceiling painting
This operation is carried out as follows:
- The prepared surface is again treated with a special primer (to prevent strong absorption in the paint layer) and after drying it is possible to paint the ceiling.
- First, water-based paint with a brush is used to paint the ceiling around the perimeter to a width of 2-3 cm from the wall, the rest of the surface is painted with a roller.
- Cover the ceiling in several layers with one solution. Only in this case will it be possible to achieve uniform paint coverage. The following coatings should be applied only after the previous one has completely dried.
- If several colors are used for staining, then their borders are separated using masking tape.
Ceiling decoration
At the final stage, the decoration of the finished structure occurs. Ceiling skirtings and stucco are glued, surface painting is carried out. All decor elements must be pre-painted, painting them on the finished ceiling is undesirable.
If cracks still form between the wall and the baseboard, then they are carefully sealed with putty, wait for it to completely dry and carefully paint over these places with paint.
To make the ceiling look original or unusual, it is complemented by a variety of design elements.
This can be false beams, in which additional lighting devices are installed, or an LED strip built into the grooves (it creates a futuristic effect).
A special atmosphere will help create fabric draperies mounted on the ceiling (they can be removed, if necessary), or images of insects, flowers, abstract figures.
It will help to diversify the interior with textured plaster applied directly to the drywall surface. The ceiling looks original, on which a layer of the same color is applied around the perimeter, and in the middle - a contrasting shade.
There are many ideas for decorating the ceiling, everyone can decorate it to their taste.