Plastic panels are a good option for decorating residential and office premises. Their cost is low, installation is simple, and the appearance will not be difficult to choose for an already existing design. Manufacturers produce panels of various colors, including with the application of drawings, but for ceiling coverings, light, plain panels are more often chosen. Glossy surfaces are better for smaller rooms, and matte for larger rooms.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you start decorating the ceiling with plastic panels, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages of this material in order to unambiguously determine whether they will suit you in principle.
Benefits:
- low cost;
- ease of installation (even a beginner finisher will cope with the installation of plastic panels);
- a dense surface without pores and cracks is “inconvenient” for the development of colonies of microorganisms. To disinfect the surface, it is enough to wipe with a napkin with an antibacterial composition;
- Designed for use not only in residential premises, but also in medical rooms, in food industry workshops;
- resistance to high humidity allows the use of panels for finishing the kitchen, bathroom and toilet.
Disadvantages:
- the ignition temperature of plastic is higher than that of the same tree, and it emits 50% less smoke, but the emissions formed by burning plastic are much more toxic;
- lack of natural ventilation. The material is mounted in a groove, which allows you to get a practically sealed ceiling surface, but, in the case of rooms with a humid environment, condensation may occur in the under-ceiling space, which leads to the formation of mold and fungus. In this case, it is recommended to install additional ventilation holes.
Types of panels
There are two types:
- Wall. They have increased strength and a higher price. We wrote about them here.
- Ceiling. A lightweight version with less rigidity, since excessive strength for a false ceiling is not relevant. These panels are cheaper than wall analogues.
Ceiling products are divided by size and type:
- Rack and pinion. Plastic boards resembling a familiar wooden lining.
- Seamless. Such products, due to the tight joint in the spike-groove system, create the impression of a single canvas on the ceiling.
- Leafy. It is rarely used for decoration of premises due to the complexity of processing. Often used for cladding columns or uneven surfaces.
All plastic products have a service life of at least 10 years, they are perfectly washed with ordinary warm water with soapy water and can be used more than once (if necessary, the plastic ceiling can be disassembled and assembled in another room with suitable sizes).
Are harmful to health
The harmfulness of interior decoration with plastic is exaggerated. In everyday life, people constantly use plastic products, and manufacturers improve the composition of finished products and modern plastic panels are made from the same material as medical syringes for injection.
On plastic, harmful microorganisms practically do not accumulate. And, if necessary, disinfect the plastic surface, a cloth and a disinfectant solution are enough.
Plastic is flammable, but when it is burned, much less smoke is emitted than when burning similar sheet-based wood-based finishing materials (particleboard, fiberboard, OSB).
Plastic does not allow air to pass through, but to organize ventilation in the room finished with this material, it is enough to install additional ventilation grilles, as a result of which the problem will be solved.
In which rooms is it better to use
The operational properties of modern plastic panels allow their use in any residential and non-residential premises. The main thing is that the material fits into the overall design of the room, kitchen or bathroom. Install panels in workrooms, offices, nurseries, canteens, in corridors and hallways. Plastic ceiling can be decorated on a glazed balcony or loggia.
Given the characteristics of plastic, it is best for them to surface in rooms with high humidity.
Necessary materials and tools
The following tools will be required to complete the work:
- electric drill with a set of drills and ring nozzles;
- screwdriver;
- hacksaw for metal;
- electric jigsaw;
- yardstick;
- level;
- building pencil.
From the materials you need to purchase:
- metal profiles 25 * 25 mm type UD and 25 * 60 mm type CD;
- suspensions;
- start profile;
- self-tapping screws;
- dowels for fastening a metal profile;
- plastic moldings;
- plastic panels.
Material quantity calculation
When calculating the number of panels, proceed from the total area of the ceiling and the area of one panel. The total area is divided by the area of one panel, getting the right number of pieces. This value is increased by 10% and rounded to whole pieces.
The number of ceiling profiles is calculated based on their norms of the mounting pitch - not more than 600 mm. To determine the volume of the starting profile, it is necessary to add a safety margin of 10 cm to the perimeter. Self-tapping screws will need at least 2 pieces per linear meter, and dowels - based on the step of fixing the metal profile or wooden rail of 50 cm.
For large spans, docking end elements may be required, as well as internal and external corners.
Preparatory work and marking
Before self-assembly of the frame and installation of panels, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work:
- draw a plan of the area that is planned to be finished, mark on it the location of the wiring and the installation points of the fixtures. The markup from the plan needs to be transferred to the ceiling;
- remove furniture and other objects from the premises that may interfere with the performance of work;
- dismantle the old finish;
- if necessary, replace the unreliable wiring;
- inspect the ceiling plate. The detected defects (chips and cracks) are sealed with putty;
- the prepared surface is coated with a primer on concrete with antibacterial additives;
- if the installation is planned to be carried out directly on the floor slab, its surface should be leveled with putty.
How and from what to assemble the frame
Before sheathing the ceiling with plastic panels, it is necessary to prepare the basis for installation.
To assemble the frame, metal profiles are used for attaching drywall. In rooms with normal humidity (living room, bedroom, corridor), ordinary profiles are installed, in rooms with high humidity (bath, kitchen) it is recommended to install galvanized profiles. For wooden substrates, a bar of 30 * 30 mm is used.
When mounting the frame, a level is necessarily applied.
The metal profile or bars are fixed around the perimeter of the ceiling plate in increments of 500 mm. In order to maintain a uniform height level, it is recommended to pull the cord from corner to corner along the aligned beacons.
Metal rails are mounted on suspensions, and the bars can be attached directly to the base. The height of the frame should take into account the height of the fixtures that are planned to be installed in the suspended ceiling.
Wiring
Before installing the panels, it is necessary to lay the wiring, since the wires are more conveniently hidden covertly inside the ceiling.
When laying cables in the in-ceiling space, the following rules must be observed:
- all work is performed when the voltage is off;
- prior to installation, a drawing should be prepared with a layout of the fixtures and switches;
- cable cross-section must correspond to the load;
- for mounting fixtures, be sure to make a margin along the length of the wire;
- after the wiring is assembled, the installation is checked with a voltmeter without connecting to the network;
- if the owner of the apartment or house does not have sufficient skills in working with electrical wiring, it is better to invite a professional electrician.
Installation instructions for PVC panels
Before attaching PVC panels to the ceiling, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the step-by-step algorithm for performing the work following the installation of the frame.
Installation of the first strip
The frame is assembled, you can install start profiles. You must complete the following steps:
- prepare a ceiling molding, which will be attached to the walls of the room;
- moldings are cut along the perimeter of the room, while the ends of the moldings are cut at an angle of 45 degrees;
- The moldings can be fixed to the wall using self-tapping screws, but a more snug fit without cracks will allow liquid nails to be reached. The place of fixation on the wall is degreased, and glue is applied to the surface of the molding with a wave;
- First, the bar is applied to the wall and immediately removed. After this, you need to wait 3-5 minutes for the glue to dry out a little. Next, you need to firmly press the molding into place. This method allows you to tightly and accurately set the bar;
- moldings are glued on three sides, leaving the side on which the finishing panel will be installed unclosed. The full set of strength is 12 hours.
Panel Installation
When the base is ready, proceed to paneling the ceiling. The filing of plastic panels is carried out according to the following plan:
- to determine the length of the panel, 15 mm is added to the distance between the edges of the opposite skirting boards. If the ceiling is even, you can cut all the panels at once. If there are differences, then each panel will have to be measured;
- the initial panel is mounted in the molding along the length and ends. The spike of the initial panel is wound into the molding. You can get rid of the deflections of the panel with the help of screws, twisting their groove in the place of deflection. When the panel is in place, it is fixed to the guide screws or a stapler with metal staples, if the frame is assembled from wooden battens;
- further facing is performed sequentially. One edge of the board is wound 5-6 mm into the molding, after which the second edge is also wound into the opposite molding. The board is leveled and hammered with a spike into the groove of the already standing panel until it stops, after which it is fixed with screws. When laying the ceiling directly on the floor slab, it is recommended to use clamps for fixing. The clamp is inserted into the groove of the panel and fixed on the base with self-tapping screws, holding the panel in the desired position;
- during installation, remember to prepare the holes for the built-in fixtures. They should be done immediately, and therefore, before installing the panels, they lay the wiring and mark the places of fastening of the lamps on the crate. The holes in the plastic can be made a ring nozzle on a drill or an electric jigsaw.
This manual is suitable for installing all panels except the last one.
Installation of the last strip
Having figured out how to fix PVC panels to the ceiling, it's time to face the most difficult step - insert the last panel.
There are two options for securing the finish:
- The panel is cut to width in size and inserted into the start profile. When trimming a part, it is necessary to reduce its length from the actual size by 5 mm. The resulting gap will allow you to put the panel and fix it.
- The panel is trimmed to its actual size and attached to the frame on liquid nails. This method is inconvenient if you need to repair the ceiling or lights - you have to tear off the finish strip.
After installing the finish part, ceiling skirting is mounted on liquid nails or glue. When installing the baseboard, the corners are cut at 45 degrees.
Stitching
The installation of plastic panels on the ceiling is completed by masking the seams and crevices. Such a measure is most often needed to adjust the position of the finish panel, but uneven joints may appear during operation, which also require termination. Acrylic sealant is used to fill the joints.
Masking of the seams is as follows:
- The surface of the suspended ceiling is examined, assessing the condition and presence of cracks. It will be more convenient for beginners to visually divide the total area into separate squares, and then fill the seams with fragments.
- The sealant is installed in a construction gun.
- The length of one seam should not exceed 35 cm. Excess acrylic is removed immediately, the seam is leveled.
- If the acrylic was laid incorrectly and dried, it is removed with a spatula, after which the cleaned area is wiped with a towel with warm water.
- After the acrylic has dried, re-grout if necessary.
How to install lamps in the ceiling and what
When installing a ceiling made of plastic panels with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the type of power supply for the lamps. In the suspended ceiling, you can install lamps on 220V, as well as lamps that work with a step-down transformer.
The cable is wired prior to the installation of the PVC panels on the ceiling, and the preparation of the fixture mounting points - at the time of installation of the panel.
It should be remembered that incandescent lamps with a voltage of 220 V are very hot, and therefore it is necessary to protect the plastic in the place of fixture fastening with heat-insulating materials.
When decorating the ceiling with plastic panels in the bathroom, observe the rules for the safe connection of electrical appliances in wet rooms. In this case, get waterproof lamps.
When installing LED or halogen lamps, it is necessary to provide a place in the ceiling space for transformers. The maximum cable length from the transformer to the luminaire should not exceed 2000 mm, and the number of luminaires should not exceed four.
In all cases, a separate machine is provided for lighting the bathroom.