Wall panels are increasingly used as a finishing material for interior and exterior surfaces of buildings. Such coatings are easy to maintain, as well as easy to install. This is what makes them so popular with consumers and professionals.
Where to use the panels
As for plastic panels, they are usually installed inside the bathrooms, where they are easy to wash with special products, keeping them clean. This finish belongs to the class of medium fire hazard, it does not contribute to the development of bedbugs, bark beetles and mold fungi. The panels are moisture resistant, so they can be used not only in bathrooms and showers, but also in kitchens and public places.
The main advantage of such panels is that they can be installed even in the case of uneven walls. With the help of the coating, you can transform the room, making it modern and aesthetically attractive.
Installation of panels on a metal profile
Mounting plastic wall panels can be done on a metal profile. Such a crate is not subject to deformation, which distinguishes it favorably from a wooden beam, which is also used as a wall preparation for such work.
Metal profile is cheaper than lumber. The profile allows you to make a structure with high rigidity. Such a crate is able to withstand not only horizontal, but also vertical loads. The metal profile can have different sizes, so it can be installed vertically and horizontally.
Determining the number of profiles
Before attaching the wall panels, you will need to calculate the profiles to create the crate. After reviewing the range, you can choose a specific profile. If you have a wall with dimensions of 2.75 x 6 m, then the distance between the posts can be 50 cm. The calculations will look like this: 600 must be divided by 50 and add one more unit, which may go to trim. You will end up with 13 items.
The standard profile has a length of 3 m. cut profile. To save money, do not make a step of 1 m between the guides. With an increase in the gap between the gratings, it decreasesstructural rigidity. For walls in frequently visited rooms, the ideal distance between the frame elements will be 500 mm. But if the repair is carried out in an outbuilding or utility room, the distance may be greater.
Additional calculations
If you install horizontal elements, then the calculation of their number is carried out similarly. But the height of 275 cm must be replaced by the length of the profile, which is 300 cm. First, 300 must be divided by 50 and one unit added to this amount, and then the resulting value is multiplied by 2. As a result, you will get 14 units.
For horizontal guides from the floor, it is necessary to withstand 50 cm. From the middle of the wall to the ceiling, a distance of 30 cm is maintained. It is not worth cutting the estimated number of guides right away. This must be done as the work progresses. If there are differences in height in the room, who can adjust the workpiece by 2.75 m will not work.
Installing the crate
Fastening of wall panels is carried out in several stages. At the first, it will be necessary to fill the metal profile. To do this, to the concrete surface with the help of dowels, you need to install a profile in four places. The length of the wall in the example is 6 m, and the standard length of the profile is 3 m. In this case, 2 units will be needed for the ceiling.
Profile alignment is carried out with high accuracy. The aesthetic design of the wall will depend on the correct installation. A plumb line must be hung from the ceiling rails. Next, the vertical is beaten off at three minimum marks. On thethe floor surface according to the marks, it will be necessary to install guides. In the case of a wooden floor, the profile must be nailed with dowels or self-tapping screws.
If the room has a concrete floor, then the top coat will not matter. It can be laminate, linoleum or PVC tiles. In all these cases, the profile is fixed according to the same principle as was used at the stage of mounting the profile to the ceiling. As a result, you should get 2 gutters, one of which will be located on top, the other on the bottom. 13 racks are inserted there.
Fastening of wall panels at the next stage involves marking. At the point where the installation should take place, a plumb line is hung. You will need to measure the length of the rack. Using scissors for metal, a workpiece of the desired length should be cut from the profile. The profile tilts slightly, and then the segment is inserted into the guide. The vertical will need to be aligned visually. You can make fine adjustments using the building level. To fix it, you need to use self-tapping screws. Fastening is done with a screwdriver. Approximately 3 fasteners should be used for each rail.
Installation of panels
You need to start installation from the wall. The first panel should be mounted as straight as possible. The exposed panel is fixed with self-tapping screws to the stiffener or vertical rack. The second panel is inserted into the groove of the previous sheet and fixed. All further actions will be performed according to the scheme described above.
In the end you will noticea narrow gap where it is impossible to install a whole sheet. Its width must be measured and cut out of thick cardboard. A template is applied to the gap so that it is possible to check the correctness of its size. The panel is cut in half and inserted into the slot. Once you have completed installing the panels on one wall, you can proceed to subsequent surfaces.
Fastening of wall panels to a metal profile may be accompanied by the installation of additional stiffeners. Their installation starts from the wall. You will notice grooves in the uprights. Stiffeners are inserted there, which can be the same profiles or corners.
Horizontal rails can be installed without a level. Their position must be monitored visually. The main rule is the evenness of the vertical guides, and the position of the stiffeners does not play a special role.
Finishing the column with PVC panels
If there are columns in the room, then you will have to panel them too, which is not an easy task. Sometimes the column has a round shape, in this case it is necessary to determine the required number of profiles, because a wooden frame cannot be used.
The essence of the skin is the correct installation of the frame. The metal profile has the shape of the letter P. Triangles must be cut along its edges, which will help the grinder or metal scissors. This will bend the profile into a circle.
The element is fastened with metal plates, which are fixed around the circumference. For these plates it is necessarywill mount the profile. Wall panels can be attached to the column diagonally, because the sheets are rectangular, so they can be fixed on a round surface.
Rules for installing sandwich panels
The work algorithm in the case of sandwich panels looks almost the same as in the above case. Work begins with the installation of the frame. The structure can be made of wood, in which case it must be treated with an antiseptic. But the metal profile for fastening wall panels is treated against corrosion.
If the products are not new, they are cleaned of rust and a metal primer is applied to their surface. With external fastening of wall sandwich panels, a sealing gasket is installed. If panels with polyurethane insulation are used, in this case, mounting foam is used. When the thermal insulation is made of mineral wool, the gasket is made of the same material.
At the next stage, it is necessary to stick a polymer tape on the frame elements or apply a silicone-based sealant. Considering the main attachment points of wall panels, you should take into account that when joining products, a sealant must be applied to the lock. At the final stage, flashings are installed, they should be located in place of slopes, joints and corners.
Concealed installation of wooden panels
Hidden installation of wooden cladding is carried out using clamps. At the first stage, it will be necessary to measure the working plane and install the frame. At the stage of installation of the finish, it is necessary to use clips, driving the teeth into the groove. For a length of 2 m, four kleimers will be enough. However, if you doubt the strength of the structure, the number of fasteners should be increased.
Hidden fastening of wall panels involves the use of "bugs". When the fastener is in place, it must be additionally fixed using a screwdriver. After the first strip is installed and fixed, you can assemble the entire structure further. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the workpiece from the strip and insert the spike into the groove of the installed panel. This will cover the entire plane.
When attaching wall panels to the wall, it may happen that the last strip does not fit into the resulting space. It is cut to length. You will lose the groove and will not be able to secure the last strip. Therefore, the final panel must be fixed with liquid nails.
