They started repairing or refurbishing rooms in the apartment, but they discovered with horror that the walls, due to the unscrupulous attitude to the work of builders, have many irregularities and are made with a deviation from the vertical. The option of leveling the surface by applying an additional layer of plaster is very difficult and uneconomical.
Walls sheathed with plasterboard look much more beautiful and practical. The popularity of finishing gypsum boards is due to the property of the material and convenient installation technology. It is possible to fasten sheets by gluing, but in this case it is very difficult to level the surface. It will be much more reliable to use a full-fledged supporting frame using a special metal profile for drywall. The main types, sizes and methods of fastening the material will be discussed in this article.
Features and purpose of structural elements
Metal profile for drywall allows you to fully implement many design solutions forchanging the interior of almost any room. This type of drywall fastening allows you to assemble partitions of any shape.
Gypsum products perfectly absorb moisture, while not drying out, but also not moistened beyond measure. Therefore, the gypsum material does not lose its configuration in any operating conditions. You can also highlight the excellent soundproofing properties of the finishing boards.
From a wooden frame, a metal profile for drywall differs in excellent moisture-proof properties. During production, the surface of the profile is subjected to a layer of galvanized iron, which provides excellent protection of the material from the appearance of rust. Due to the flexibility of the material, the installation of a metal profile for drywall makes it possible to carry out interior design of any complexity. At the same time, the small thickness of the metal contributes to the lightening of the product, so the total mass of the entire frame does not create additional load on the load-bearing walls.
Types of metal profiles
A person who is constantly engaged in repairs can easily understand a fairly wide range of various types of metal profiles for drywall. But home craftsmen who first decided to assemble a supporting frame from a profile material need to carefully study the main types of profiles and their differences.
All profiles used to repair the walls of buildings can be conditionally divided by area of use:
- ceiling;
- wall.
According to the function used in a specific design:
- bearing;
- guides.
A separate type is an arched metal profile for drywall. Such material is intended for the formation of various interior details with a certain degree of bending. They have the same size as the supporting ceiling, but with cuts that allow you to give the product a bend of any shape.
You can also select two more special types of metal profiles for drywall:
- corner profile (PU), which is designed to strengthen both external and internal corners;
- beacon profile (PM), serves to level the surface of the walls.
Wall and ceiling cladding
Any frame for wall cladding consists of horizontal and vertical elements. The bearing function in this design is performed by vertical (rack-mount) profiles. Horizontal elements located perpendicular to them are called guide (starting) devices.
To create frames for ceilings or walls, these types are mainly used, as well as an arched profile for drywall.
Guide profile (UD or NP)
The main function of this profile is to create a flat wall or ceiling plane. To form the surface of the future frame, the installation of a metal profile under drywall is carried out around the entire perimeter of the structure.
The main indicator of the strength of the guide profile is the thickness of the metal from which it is made. The thicker the material, the stronger and more reliable the finished product. So for wall cladding you canuse a thin metal profile for drywall, but for the manufacture of ceiling structures it is better to use parts made of thick sheet steel.
Standard dimensions of the guide profile: height - 27 mm; width - 28 mm; length - three or four meters.
Plane bearing profile (CD or PS)
With the help of a bearing (rack-mount) profile, the necessary reliability and rigidity of the frame is formed. It is to these elements that drywall sheets are attached, so the main load is distributed on them.
The rack profile is fastened to the guide, which is fixed around the entire perimeter of the wall. It is made from metal of different thicknesses. Elements with a small thickness are less reliable, so the fastening pitch is much reduced, which leads to a greater consumption of connecting elements.
Standard dimensions of a metal profile for bearing type drywall: width - 60 mm; height - 27 mm; length - two sizes three or four meters.
Arched profile
In fact, an arched profile has characteristics similar to a carrier or guide profile. There is only a significant difference in that it is weakened by numerous holes or cuts. Such a constructive solution allows this element to be bent at various angles, which is its main purpose for giving the opening surface an oval or round shape. Depending on the purpose, arched profiles are produced in a concave or convex type.
In cross section, the arched profile is completely identical to the standard post and guide elements. All metal profiles have a “P” shape in cross section.
Partition profiles
Metal profiles for plasterboard partitions are larger than cladding elements. Accordingly, their purpose is slightly different from the wall decoration elements. The choice of the type of profile and its dimensions is carried out in accordance with the technical requirements of the newly erected structure. The main indicators of the wall are the level of sound insulation, thermal insulation and the need to place communications inside the partition.
There are two types of metal partition profiles:
- The guide profile (UW) is used to create the plane of the pier. Its installation is carried out around the entire perimeter of the proposed structure (floor, ceiling, adjacent walls).
- Post type profile (CW) is used to strengthen the carcass and give it high strength. Its installation is carried out in increments of 400 mm, so that it is easy to fasten drywall sheets on both sides of the element.
Manufacturers produce partition profiles in width - 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm.
Profile fasteners
If you decide to make repairs using drywall sheets, you will have to use not only a metal profile for a specific purpose, but also additional fasteners that will facilitate the connectionprofile design.
Most often, the following parts are used when mounting a profile:
- U-shaped bracket that easily bends to set the mounting level. The main purpose of this element is to connect the metal frame to existing wall surfaces. The bracket is fixed in the middle of the part, its ends are screwed to the profile with self-tapping screws.
- Quick hanger is an alternative to the bracket. Structurally, this element has two parts - a suspension that snaps into the profile, and knitting needles with a small eye. The suspension and the spoke are fixed to each other with the help of a special spring. The advantage of such a device is the ease of adjusting the horizontal level. The disadvantage is the weakening of the spring and, as a result, the sagging of the ceiling during prolonged use.
- The crab connector is used when installing jumpers, which allows you to connect profiles in a perpendicular direction. Such an element is snapped into the profile, and then screwed using special antennae and self-tapping screws.
- CD connectors are used to lengthen rack profiles. The end of one profile is installed in the connector, and the other element is put on it. Then this connection is fixed with self-tapping screws.
- The two-level CD-connector is used very rarely. Such a frame is made double to compensate for changes in the size of the wooden material depending on the humidity and ambient temperature.
Profile mounting tools
A high-quality frame for plasterboard sheathing is impossible without the use of a special tool. To carry out the work you will need:
- shears for cutting profiles;
- screwdriver makes it easier to wrap self-tapping screws;
- pliers;
- hammer;
- hacksaw or sharp knife;
- laser level or level.
All these tools are used for fastening drywall to metal profiles with self-tapping screws.
For the installation of the profile frame directly, a mechanical cutter is used, the use of which greatly increases the productivity of the work performed.
Purpose and principle of operation of the cutter for the profile
The metal profile cutter for drywall is easy to operate. Working with it does not require special knowledge and skills. Technically, it can be compared with the work of an ordinary clerical hole punch.
The cutter has three main modifications:
- Manual, which has minimal profile mounting capabilities, is able to independently perform fastening operations.
- Professional reinforced tool designed to work with more complex profile. This device is equipped with removable elements and is capable of generating increased force.
- Professional splitter transmits mechanical force to the punch due to multi-stage levers.
The working principle of the tool is veryplain:
- profile details are combined and superimposed one on top of the other;
- the junction is located between the jaws of the pliers;
- press the handles of the divider together with a sharp press.
After carrying out these operations, the individual parts of the profile are securely and firmly connected to each other.
Mounting the frame on the ceiling
The first step in installing the frame will be marking on the surface. To do this, measure a distance of 50–60 mm from the corner and draw a vertical line on the adjacent wall. A similar mark is made on the opposite wall. Then these lines are connected on the ceiling with a long rail.
This line will be the guideline for installing the first profile. Then, with a step of 60 cm, parallel lines are applied, on which, after 50 cm, marks are made in a checkerboard pattern where the hanging elements will be attached.
Profiles are fastened with self-tapping screws or dowels. At the same time, you need to carefully monitor the correct arrangement of the elements.
After mounting the frame, it is necessary to lay the network and telephone wires, after placing them in a corrugated pipe to prevent them from being damaged by the sharp edges of the profile.
Next, we fix the drywall to the metal profile using self-tapping screws.
Some mistakes of beginner builders
Often beginners in the process of installing ceilings make the following mistakes:
- Incorrect arrangement of the frame. Profile fixing shouldcarried out with the help of suspensions, always with the smooth side down.
- When cutting the profile, do not use power tools, as the anti-corrosion layer may be damaged. It is best to use metal shears.
- Strictly observe the correct orientation of the plate, as they have front and back sides. Hydrophobic impregnation is located on the front surface of the sheet.
Installing plasterboard ceilings and walls is a complex and time-consuming job, so it is best to seek help from specialists. Any mistakes in self-repair can lead to unevenness and poor thermal insulation.
