The very first thing most people want to build when they start working with drywall is ceilings from it. The advantages of plasterboard ceilings are quite obvious, they allow you to hide wires and some communications in them, they are easy to erect, you can choose the size and shape yourself, you can create a unique design, and they have a relatively low price.
What is this article about
Peculiarities
If you are reading this, then it’s probably not just that, you intend to create drywall ceilings , but you don’t know how to do it right, which means quickly and efficiently. To create ceilings, some professional drywall tool is used , for example, a lift, because it can greatly simplify the work. If you don’t have anything like that, then you don’t have to worry, using them, although desirable, is not necessary. You can get by with a standard ladder.
Note that it is better to create ceilings in such rooms, the size of which allows you to slightly reduce the height of the room (by about 15–25 cm). Most of the free space for the ceiling is given under the frame, on which the drywall will hold . In addition, the design of the ceiling can be very different, everything depends on who will create them, because someone has enough of a single-level ceiling, and for someone 2-3 levels are not enough. Often created lighting on plasterboard ceilings is a spotlight that is mounted directly inside the structure, which allows for a more beautiful and neat placement of the wiring and the fixtures themselves.
Before we start, we want to immediately discuss what we will tell you about how a single-level plasterboard ceiling is created . Why exactly him?
Ceiling shape: a difficult choice
See how many different ceiling shapes you can create, but consider if you need it. If you're willing to go a little crazy and make the ceiling intricate shape, but only on one level, which makes things easier, you can sketch out your fantasies on paper. The more original and creative the shape and design of the ceiling, the more it will attract attention. This way you can take your eyes off the details that you would not want to see by focusing it on the ceiling.
Your experiments in finding the shape of the ceiling can be a little easier. To do this, you will simply need to draw a flat ceiling, in which you will already make the necessary holes for the fixtures and the height differences that you require. Plan the shape of the ceiling, taking into account the communications that will take place inside the frame. It can be pipes and wires, but not of a very large shape, so that they do not heavily load the frame and can fit into it.
When you choose the shape of the ceiling, which is completely suitable for you, will be possible in construction, will not hurt the eye, then you can start marking. The main thing to remember is that a single-level ceiling is very simple in design, so it’s not worth it to choose a shape and markup for a long time, it’s better to devote more time to creating a frame.
Consumables calculator
*Attention ! All results are approximate - the accuracy depends on the material of the walls, the condition and shape of the room
Ceiling markings
Be sure to indicate the location of the rails of the guide profile, which will be located along the perimeter of the walls, that is, you need to mark the boundaries of the ceiling at the distance from the base that you need. Typically, a suspended ceiling is located 15-25 centimeters from the main one. When marking the ceiling, it is imperative to use a laser level, which will allow you to make straight lines on the walls. Set the laser level so that its beam is around the entire perimeter of the room at (20) centimeters from the main ceiling, then place it in the corners of the room along the self-tapping screw and pull a bright thread over them.
Frame assembly
For a plasterboard ceiling , it is necessary to assemble a frame into which wires and pipes can be hidden, and lighting can also be placed there. Creating a frame will allow you to level the ceiling, which will have a good effect on its appearance, therefore, although the frame will take 20-30 centimeters in height, it will visually greatly increase the height of the room and significantly improve the view of the entire room.
First you need to install a guide profile, but not the one used in drywall walls or partitions , but a special ceiling guide profile. It is fixed above the threads that you pulled at the markup stage. To securely fix it, use a drill and dowels, but only on a concrete base. Make a step between the dowels in 12-20 centimeters.
When you fix the guide profile, you can remove the thread and unscrew the screws on which it was pulled. While nothing needs to be attached to the guide profile, now it will be necessary to deal with the placement of suspensions. They are installed in pre-marked areas, that is, where the ceiling profile will pass. Maintain a distance between them of 60-70 centimeters, this is a light single-level ceiling, so you do not need to place many suspensions. There should be 5-6 hangers per 3–4 meter rail of the ceiling profile.
A ceiling profile must be installed to the fixed hangers. The connection is made with a screwdriver and self-tapping screws . If you plan to continue doing repairs in your apartment on your own, then we advise you to buy a tape nozzle for a screwdriver to save time and free your hands. First, the ceiling profile rail is inserted into the guide and fastened to it (here you can use a cutter ), and only then it is fixed in suspensions. If you do otherwise, then the profile cannot be placed inside the guide. Everyone understands this for sure, but we want to finally make sure that you are aware that you need to place the profile in suspensions with the face to the floor, since it is on it that drywall will be attached.
The ends of the hangers, which look beyond the profile, must be bent or cut off, but it will still be better to bend, since they can not be cut off very evenly, which will interfere with the sheathing. In principle, this is a single-level ceiling, so you can get by with only one direction for placing the ceiling profile. But if you want to further strengthen the structure, you can place a row of ceiling profiles that will be perpendicular to the first one and will connect to the guide profiles that are located on the other 2 walls. In this case, you need to use special fasteners - crabs.
Plasterboard sheathing
The installation of the frame is completed, now you can proceed to the sheathing. Sheathing a ceiling is much easier than partitions or arches, and sheathing a single-level ceiling is generally not difficult. This is a flat surface, which very rarely has bends, since it is very difficult to make them at the same level. Start placing with those sheets that will fit in their entirety, and only then proceed to place the cut sheets of drywall . To make it easier to lift the sheets and fix them - use a drywall lift , but this is not necessary, with dexterity, you can quickly cope without it.
If you are doing lighting in the ceiling, then lay the wires before you start sheathing the ceiling. In the drywall sheets , you will need to make holes for the lamp, and after sheathing, connect them to the wires and fix them in the structure. Self-tapping screws that fasten drywall to the frame, deepen into drywall , but no more than 2 mm. Before puttying, run a spatula along the surface of the ceiling, if it does not meet obstacles - self-tapping screws, then you can putty, otherwise - screw the screws.
It is necessary to putty the ceiling in the same way as the walls and all other drywall structures : putty is applied to the seams, sickle is glued, then the second layer of putty, the same for self-tapping screws, only without sickle. Putty must be applied in two layers, but with different compositions. The first is the starting, and the second is the finishing putty.
The composition must be deepened into the seams of the product, since you are doing this above your head, then press the spatula harder so that the putty does not fall on you and the floor. When the composition dries, you can grind the surface. To do this, use a sandpaper holder or grinder, carefully process the seams, aligning their height with the height of the ceiling. Don't forget your respirator.
The installation of the plasterboard ceiling is completed, now you can place a chandelier on it, make decorative trim, and apply paint.