Modern design solutions allow you to radically change the interior look of any room. The use of the latest building technologies and materials, the competent placement of lighting fixtures and the correct placement of functional furniture will ensure a high level of comfort and aesthetic pleasure for residents. For example, batteries covered with drywall (photos of several options are presented below) give the room an original look.
Why
Living in our climate zone requires the mandatory presence of heating devices in every room of the home.
At the same time, the appearance of a cast-iron, steel or aluminum battery primitively attached to the wall most often does not fit into the designer's harmonious solution. But there is always a way out. This useful but unsightly device should be hidden behind a visually appealing screen.
But you need to understand how to close the battery with drywall with your own hands. Photos will allow you to evaluate the achieved attractiveness of the screen. The main thing is that it does not affectcharacteristics of the heating device - the ability to maximize heat transfer to the surrounding space.
Dignity
To create a decorative screen, materials such as wood, metal, plastic, MDF and drywall can be used. The screen built on their basis will have both certain advantages and characteristic disadvantages.
Many people prefer drywall because this material has a higher advantage/disadvantage ratio compared to others.
The creation of a decorative screen based on this material is justified by the presence of the following advantages:
- Does not emit harmful substances into the environment, i.e. it is an environmentally friendly material.
- Features low cost, ease of processing and ease of installation.
- Provides ample opportunities to create a wide variety of shapes and designs.
- Gets excellent contact with a variety of finishes.
- Does not burn or sustain combustion.
Flaws
However, despite these obvious advantages, the operation of a decorative drywall screen is not without certain disadvantages:
- The need for careful handling due to the high fragility of the material.
- The negative impact of moisture. If the battery leaks, the screen will have to be done again.
Steps in creating a decorative screen
The process of creating a decorative screen containsyourself several stages, each of which will help to properly close the battery with drywall. All steps must be followed exactly to get a good result, regardless of the type of room.
Markup
Not only the design features of the product, but also the degree of heat transfer to the room from the heating device depend on well-executed markings.
To properly markup, you should prepare the necessary measuring tool:
- Ruler.
- Corner.
- Roulette.
- Building or laser level.
- Marker or pencil.
Before starting the markup, it is necessary to decide in advance what exactly the created screen will cover. There are two options:
- Screen (box) for heater only.
- A frame covering the part of the wall on which the battery is fixed.
The design of the box does not take up much space, which means that the implementation of the first option will require less drywall.
It is necessary to pay attention that the dimensions of the created box must be at least 100 mm larger than the length and height of the radiator. Otherwise, the removable screen cannot be installed on the front side of the structure.
Box markup
To close the battery and pipes with drywall, box marking is required:
- On the floor of the room in which the radiator is installed, you need to draw a horizontal line- projection of the vertical plane of the battery. The length of this line must exceed the length of the heater by 100 mm at both ends.
- Parallel to the first mark on the floor, a second line should be drawn, located further from the wall, at a distance of 100 mm from the first. The value of the first and second lines is the same.
- Using a corner, two vertical lines of the same height must be drawn on the wall, located at least 100 mm from the side edges of the radiator.
- You need to draw a connecting line between the two vertices of the vertical lines.
The result should be a rectangle, along the contour of which the crate of the future decorative drywall box will be made.
Wall markings
In the case of creating a decorative wall, the marking order is as follows:
- Using a laser level, you need to draw several vertical lines on the wall with a step of 60-100 cm. Similar markings are also needed in the corners of the room.
- With the help of a corner from each vertical line, a continuation should be drawn into the plane of the floor and ceiling at a previously calculated distance. The length of these floor and ceiling lines regulates the distance between the base wall and the decorative wall.
- It is necessary to mark a rectangle along the perimeter of the heater, the sides of which should deviate from the dimensions of the battery by 100 mm.
Preparing the necessary tools and materials
To create a decorative screen to close the radiator with drywall(false wall), you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
- Drywall.
- Metal U-shaped profile 60-70 mm wide.
- Dowels and screws 40-60 mm.
- Metal shears.
- Pliers.
- Drill or punch.
- Screwdriver.
This list does not specifically indicate the number of units of consumables, because the wall and the box have different dimensions. Accordingly, the number of profiles, screws, dowels and drywall sheets will also differ.
After all the necessary tools and materials are prepared, you can proceed with the installation of the frame.
Installation of the box structure
The installation process of the box structure consists of the following sequence of operations:
- It is necessary to cut vertical and horizontal structural elements, as well as jumpers from the U-shaped metal profile.
- Fix with dowels the profile to be installed on the walls and on the floor.
- Assemble a structure from a U-shaped profile that has the same perimeter as the elements assembled together and fixed to the wall.
- Using the connecting elements (jumpers) and screws, assemble the frame body.
- Fix the inside of the decorative grille to the metal profile.
- Cut drywall so that each of the resulting sites exactly covers the corresponding edge of the box.
- Fix drywall to metal cratescrews.
- Install the decorative grille bezel.
Given the fact that radiators are most often placed under windows, the assembled box can later be used as an extended window sill.
Installing a decorative wall
The progress of the lathing of a decorative wall is a more time-consuming process. It provides for the phased implementation of the following actions:
- Cut a U-shaped metal profile so that the length of each strip is equal to the distance from the floor to the ceiling. The number of such segments depends on the size of the wall being closed, taking into account that the distance between two adjacent profiles should be 60-100 cm.
- Attach a section of the profile to the wall along the line of pre-made markings. Using a screwdriver, it is necessary to make a series of preliminary recesses in the wall from ceiling to floor in increments of 15-25 cm.
- Remove the profile to the side, then make holes of the required depth with a puncher. Holes of the same diameter and with the same pitch between them must be drilled in a piece of metal profile.
- Attach the profile to the wall opposite the corresponding holes. Insert the dowels and fix the profile to the wall with a screwdriver. Adjacent and corner U-shaped metal profiles are fixed in the same way.
- From the U-shaped profile, you need to cut the required number of jumpers, providing the desired depth of the structure or the distance between the main and decorative wall. To perform this operation, scissors are usedmetal.
- At the final stage, it is necessary to fix the pre-cut profiles of the decorative wall frame to the profiles fixed on the main wall, using jumpers and screws for this.
- Fix the inside of the removable screen to the assembled frame. It should be noted that the assembled structure must be stable. Even the slightest stagger is unacceptable, otherwise, over time, drywall attached to an unstable crate will crack or even fall apart.
- Drywall must be cut into pieces of the appropriate size and fixed to the frame with screws. The distance between two adjacent screws should not exceed 15 cm.
- Install the outer part of the decorative grille in its intended place.
Finishing work
To perform work related to the finishing of the structure, you will need the following tools and materials:
- Putty.
- Primer coat.
- Sickle ribbon.
- Construction mixer.
- Drill manual or electric.
- Spatula.
- Capacity for preparing the solution.
Works related to finishing the surface of a box or a decorative wall are performed in the following order of operations:
- Pour the dry putty mixture into the mortar container and add the required amount of water (according to the manufacturer's instructions for use).
- Using a construction mixer attached to a drill, prepare putty.
- At the joints between separateapply a layer of putty with sheets of drywall construction and put a sickle tape on top. Hide the sickle under another layer of putty.
- After the joints have dried, using a spatula of the required size, treat the entire surface of the structure with the previously prepared putty.
- Prepare the surface for finishing by treating the surface with two to three coats of primer.
The finishing of both the decorative wall and the box is surface painting or wallpapering in accordance with the principles of a harmonious combination of objects of the surrounding interior.
Conclusion
Judging by the reviews, every home master can close the battery with drywall (a photo of another design solution and installation is presented below). The main thing is to choose an option that is in harmony with the interior design of the room, and have the necessary tools and materials.
But if in doubt, it is recommended to first consult with a specialist in order to avoid subsequent alteration of the mounted structure.
