Drywall is a universal material with a wide range of applications. Thanks to its excellent technical characteristics, it can be used to implement a wide variety of design projects. However, many people are interested in the question of whether plasterboard can be used in the bathroom for finishing work surfaces. And this is not surprising, because in this room there is high humidity, so not every material is suitable. Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.
general information
Before we figure out whether it is possible to sheathe a bathroom with drywall or not, let's first find out what this material is. It appeared on sale for a long time and almost immediately began to be very popular with ordinary consumers and professionals specializing in the repair of residential premises. Firstly, it has excellent performance, and secondly, it is environmentally friendly and safe, which makes it ideal for interior decoration of residential premises. As you might guess from the name, it is based on gypsum. Therefore, it does not exude toxic fumes and is resistant to fire. In addition, the cost of the material, compared with other existing analogues, is relatively low, which makes it affordable.
Main advantages
Let's look at them in more detail. Many people use drywall in the bathroom, because it has many advantages compared to other modern finishing materials.
Among the main ones, the following can be distinguished:
- excellent thermal insulation properties;
- ease of installation;
- light weight;
- resistance to fire;
- water resistance;
- the ability to conduct communications in a hidden way.
It is thanks to the large number of advantages that drywall has, this material has received great demand in the world market.
Main disadvantages
When deciding to use drywall in the bathroom, you should also consider the disadvantages that it has. Among the main specialists in the field of repair, the following are distinguished:
- low strength;
- poor sound insulation.
Thus, the disadvantages of the material are much less than the advantages, which makes it one of the best to date that are on sale.
How are the works
Drywall in the bathroom can be used for sheathing absolutely any work surface. It all depends on your ideas and design ideas. However, it is important to consider one important nuance. Not any material is suitable, but only with increased resistance to moisture. You can distinguish it from ordinary by green color. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the marking. It is better to choose GVL. These are gypsum plasterboards, which have increased strength and better performance. However, they cost significantly higher, so if you are doing repairs for more than one year, then be prepared to invest.
Wall cladding
This work surface is the main one, therefore, special attention should be paid to its finish. The walls in the bathroom made of drywall can be sheathed in two ways, and each of them will be examined in detail below. The process of mounting panels is carried out according to the following scheme:
- First of all, all furniture and decor items are taken out of the room so that there is normal access to the walls.
- A visual inspection of the working surface for cracks and irregularities is carried out. Even the slightest defects can lead to big problems in the future, so they must be fixed.
- Walls are treated with special antiseptic agents that prevent the likelihood of mold and mildew.
- When the preparatory work is completed, you can proceed with the installation of the metal frame. It is best to use a stainless profile for this, which is not susceptible to corrosion. Rack elements are installed around the perimeter of the room. Between them should retreat about 60 centimeters.
- Drywall sheets are being installed. They are mounted on self-tapping screws with an interval of approximately 15-20 centimeters. Despite the fact that such work may seem elementary, it is nevertheless better to ask someone for help, since it is very important to do everything qualitatively and in level.
After the drywall in the bathroom is installed, you can proceed to the finish. For this, you can use any materials, but you need to choose only those that are not afraid of high humidity. For example, ceramic tiles or moisture resistant paint would be an ideal option.
Second mounting option
As mentioned earlier, do-it-yourself drywall in the bathroom can be installed in several ways. The first option was described above, and the second involves the implementation of all work in the following sequence:
- As in the previous case, the first step is the preliminary preparation of the working surface. Any defects on the walls are covered with cement, after which priming is performed, which will improve the quality of adhesion of the adhesive mixture.
- Then the sheets of drywall are cut according to the desired size, lubricated with glue prepared in accordance with the instructions, and alternately with force are pressed to the working base. Particular attention should be paid to the joints. All panels should be glued as evenly as possible.
For complete drying, one hour will be enough, after which you can proceed to decorate the walls. It is worth noting that in this way you can mount drywall in the bathroom only if the working surface in the room was not affected by mold and fungus. Otherwise, it must first be treated with special antiseptics.
Ceiling decoration
GKL is also great for finishing floors between floors. With it, you can even the work surface or even realize complex design decisions and unique compositions. However, if you do not have much experience in interior decoration and you are not going to attract qualified specialists, then it is better to abandon complex options. To ensure that the ceiling from the drywall of the bath is of high quality, adhere to the following instructions:
- First of all, it is necessary to lay the wiring so that it is hidden under the GKL sheets. If you have never done anything like this before, it is recommended that you invite an experienced electrician.
- Next, marking is performed using the building level. This will make the work surface even, even in hard-to-reach places. In the process of doing work, it is better to use construction thread and chalk.
- When the marking is applied, a wall profile is installed, which acts as the basis for the entire structure. Beams, as in the case of walls, are fastened with an interval of 60 centimeters.
- After the installation of the profile is completed, you can begin the installation of drywall sheets. Here you will need two assistants who will hold the material while you are doing the installation.
When the main work is completed, the finish begins, involving puttying and painting the ceiling with a special moisture-resistant paint.
Bath screens
If you do not know how to design a bathroom in an original way, then this option is ideal. In this case, you absolutely do not need to purchase expensive materials. This decorative element and shelves made of drywall (a bathtub in this design will look simply amazing) can be made with minimal physical and financial costs.
Screen production is carried out in the following sequence:
- The future product is marked on the floor. When doing it, you need to be very careful not to make errors in the calculations.
- Next, on the basis of the drawings, the metal profile is fixed with dimensions of 27 x 28 millimeters. To strengthen the structure in its central part, a beam of 60 x 27 mm is mounted.
- When the frame is completed, it is sheathed with sheets of drywall. However, here you need to provide a door that will allow access to communications.
The final stage is the decoration of the screen. As a rule, it is tiled with tiles, but you can safely show imagination, since there are many options for interior decoration.
Worktops and tables
No matter how strange it sounds, drywall is suitable not only for sheathing work surfaces, but also for the manufacture of interior items. For example, it will make good worktops and cabinets that can be used to store various items or build in household appliances. Their manufacture occurs according to the following algorithm:
- The main frame is erected from wooden beams or a metal profile.
- From GKL sheets, a tabletop is made in accordance with the dimensions of the sink, which is reinforced by the bearing profile.
- The frame is sheathed with drywall.
- At the final stage, the decoration of the interior.
How to draw up a countertop is up to you. You can glue it with tiles or decorate with colorful mosaics.
What tool will be required during the execution of work?
So, with the possibility of using drywall in the bathroom sorted out. Someone goes even further and puts sheets under the bathtub, as a basis for flooring, or uses to finish other work surfaces. In any case, to work with it you will need a certain tool and supplies. The list of required accessories includes the following:
- stainless profile;
- suspensions;
- fasteners;
- adhesive reinforcing tape;
- roulette;
- building level;
- special hacksaw;
- plane;
- a screwdriver with a set of nozzles;
- hammer drill with a 6 mm drill;
- putty knife.
Only having at your disposal all of the above, you can do everything qualitatively, and you will not have to redo everything later or regret about wasted money.
Conclusion
Drywall is a versatile building material that can be used for decoration of premises regardless of their purpose. Therefore, if you want to make repairs in the bathroom, you can safely use it. Thanks to its excellent performance, it will last more than one year, and you will be pleased with the work done.