Drywall is a versatile material with a wide range of applications. Thanks to its excellent technical characteristics, it can be used to implement a wide variety of design projects. However, many people are interested in the question of whether drywall can be used in the bathroom for finishing work surfaces. And this is not surprising, because in this room there is high humidity, so not every material is suitable. Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.
General information
Before you figure out whether you can sheathe the bathroom with drywall or not, let's first find out what this material is. It appeared on sale quite a long time ago and almost immediately began to enjoy great popularity among ordinary consumers andhome renovation professionals. Firstly, it has excellent performance characteristics, and secondly, it is environmentally friendly and safe, which makes it ideal for interior decoration of residential premises. As you might guess from the name, it is based on gypsum. Therefore, it does not emit toxic fumes and is resistant to fire. In addition, the cost of the material, compared to other existing analogues, is relatively low, which makes it affordable.
Key Benefits
Let's take a closer look at them. Many people use drywall in the bathroom as it has many advantages over other contemporary finishes.
Among the main ones are the following:
- excellent thermal insulation properties;
- easy to install;
- light weight;
- fire resistant;
- water resistant;
- possibility of conducting communications in a hidden way.
It is thanks to the large number of advantages that drywall has that this material has received great demand on the world market.
Main flaws
When deciding to use drywall in the bathroom, you must also consider the disadvantages that it has. Among the main specialists in the field of repair are the following:
- low strength;
- poor soundproofing.
Thus, the material has much fewer flaws thanbenefits, making it one of the best on the market today.
How the work is done
Drywall in the bathroom can be used for sheathing absolutely any work surface. It all depends on your ideas and design ideas. However, it is important to take into account one important nuance. Not any material is suitable, but only with increased resistance to moisture. You can distinguish it from the usual one by the green color. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the labeling. It is better to choose GVL. These are drywall sheets that have increased strength and better performance. However, they cost much more, so if you are doing repairs for more than one year, then be prepared to spend money.
Wall paneling
This work surface is the main one, so special attention should be paid to its finishing. The walls in the drywall bathroom can be sheathed in two ways, and each of them will be discussed in detail below. The process of mounting panels is carried out according to the following scheme:
- First of all, all furniture and decor items are taken out of the room so that there is normal access to the walls.
- Visual inspection of the working surface for cracks and irregularities. Even the smallest defects can lead to big problems in the future, so they should be fixed.
- Walls are treated with special antiseptic agents that prevent the development of mold and mildew.
- When the preparatory work is completed, you can proceed with the installation of the metal frame. It is best to use a stainless profile for this, which is not subject to corrosion. Rack elements are installed around the perimeter of the room. There should be about 60 centimeters between them.
- Installation of drywall sheets in progress. They are planted on self-tapping screws with an interval of approximately 15-20 centimeters. Despite the fact that such work may seem elementary, it is nevertheless better to ask someone for help, since it is very important here to do everything with high quality and level.
After the drywall in the bathroom is installed, you can start finishing. To do this, you can use any materials, but you need to choose only those that are not afraid of high humidity. For example, ceramic tiles or waterproof paint would be ideal.
Second mounting option
As mentioned earlier, do-it-yourself drywall in the bathroom can be installed in several ways. The first option was described above, and the second involves the execution of all work in the following sequence:
- As in the previous case, the first step is to prepare the working surface. Any defects on the walls are sealed with cement, after which priming is performed, which will improve the quality of adhesion of the adhesive mixture.
- Then, drywall sheets are cut to the desired size, smeared with glue prepared inin accordance with the instructions, and alternately with force are pressed against the working base. Particular attention should be paid to the joints. All panels should be glued as evenly as possible.
For complete drying, one hour will be enough, after which you can start decorating the walls. It is worth noting that in this way it is possible to mount drywall in the bathroom only if the working surface in the room was not affected by mold and fungus. Otherwise, it must first be treated with special antiseptics.
Ceiling trim
GKL is also great for finishing floors between floors. With it, you can level the work surface or even bring to life complex design solutions and unique compositions. However, if you do not have much experience in interior design and you are not going to attract qualified specialists, then it is better to abandon complex options. To get a high-quality plasterboard bath ceiling, follow the instructions below:
- The first step is to lay the wiring so that it is hidden under the GKL sheets. If you have never done anything like this before, then it is recommended to invite an experienced electrician.
- Next, markup is performed using the building level. This will make the work surface even in hard-to-reach places. In the process of performing work, it is better to use construction thread and chalk.
- When the marking is applied,a wall profile is being installed, which acts as the basis for the entire structure. Beams, as in the case of walls, are attached at intervals of 60 centimeters.
- After the installation of the profile is completed, you can begin the installation of drywall sheets. Here you will need two assistants who will hold the material while you are editing.
When the main work is completed, the finishing work begins, which involves puttying and painting the ceiling with a special moisture-resistant paint.
Bath screens
If you do not know how to design a bathroom in an original way, then this option is ideal. In this case, you absolutely do not need to purchase expensive materials. This decorative element and plasterboard shelves (a bathtub in this design will look just amazing) can be made with minimal physical and financial costs.
The screen is produced in the following sequence:
- The future product is being marked on the floor. When doing it, you need to be very careful not to make errors in the calculations.
- Further, on the basis of the applied drawings, a metal profile with dimensions of 27 x 28 millimeters is fastened. To strengthen the structure in its central part, a 60 x 27 mm beam is being installed.
- When the frame is completed, it is sheathed with drywall sheets. However, here it is necessary to provide a door that will allow access to communications.
The final stage is the finishing of the screen. Usually,it is tiled, but you can safely show your imagination, since there are many options for decorating the interior of the room.
Tabletops and cabinets
No matter how strange it may sound, but drywall is suitable not only for sheathing work surfaces, but also for the manufacture of interior items. For example, it will make good countertops and cabinets that can be used to store various items or embed household appliances. Their production takes place according to the following algorithm:
- The main frame is being erected from wooden beams or a metal profile.
- From GKL sheets, a countertop is made in accordance with the dimensions of the sink, which is reinforced with a supporting profile.
- The frame is sheathed with drywall.
- At the final stage, the interior is finished.
How exactly to decorate the countertop is up to you. You can tile it or decorate it with colorful mosaics.
Which tool will be required in the course of the work?
So, we figured out the possibility of using drywall in the bathroom. Some go even further and lay the sheets under the bath, as a base for flooring, or use them to finish other work surfaces. In any case, to work with it, you will need a certain tool and consumables. The list of required accessories includes the following:
- stainless profile;
- pendants;
- fasteners;
- stickyreinforcing tape;
- roulette;
- building level;
- special hacksaw;
- planer;
- screwdriver with a set of nozzles;
- Puncher with 6mm bit;
- spatula.
Only having all of the above at your disposal will you be able to do everything qualitatively, and you will not have to redo everything later or regret wasted money.
Conclusion
Gypsum board is a versatile building material that can be used to decorate living spaces, regardless of their purpose. Therefore, if you want to make repairs in the bathroom, then you can safely use it. Thanks to its excellent performance, it will last for many years, and you will be satisfied with the work done.
