Plaster construction materials today are undergoing a new stage in technological development. They are improving in technical and operational indicators, while maintaining their traditional advantages. Correctly completed installation of a partition made of tongue-and-groove plates (GWP) allows you to neatly zonate the room without unnecessary construction waste and with minimal financial cost.
Materials for GWP for partitions
The tongue-and-groove panels can be considered as a reinforced version of the facing gypsum board, but even in this version the partition made of such material cannot be a supporting one. The basis of the product also contains gypsum (grades G-4 and G-5), fillers and binders, and the fundamental differences are in the design. A standard plate of this format is made in the form of a parallelepiped, the lower and upper sides of which have ridges and grooves for fixing. Why are partition walls better than traditional materials? Firstly, they greatly facilitate installation work due to the small mass and structural additions. Against the background of brick, the complexity of the process is noticeably reduced. Secondly, during operation, the user receives a wide range of positive properties like the natural regulation of temperature and humidity conditions. Common negative effects, which are often attributed to similar solutions in terms of devices of light partitions, are practically all excluded. High-quality GWPs do not burn, do not contain toxic and other harmful components and do not lend themselves to biological destruction.
Partitions from GWP
From this material, partitions can be built in different configurations. In home reconstruction, they often use a simple single form, which performs the exclusively zoning function without special emphasis on noise and heat insulation. But a dual system is also possible, in which the possibility of internal communications remains. If it is required to provide an insulating function, then the formed cavity will need to be filled with special mixtures or bulk materials. Especially for the construction of partitions from tongue-and-groove plates, soundproof cork gaskets and reinforcing tapes are today produced. The former are stacked from the inside and can act as a damping substrate, and the reinforcement elements serve to strengthen the corners of the structure. Moreover, such inclusions do not affect the decorative functions of the partition. Moreover, if desired, with their help it will be possible to put some design accents, choosing the right texture.
Preparation of the tool for work
To achieve the proper quality of installation work will allow a properly selected set of tools. Among them are the following:
- Spatula for finishing operations. It is advisable to use a set of spatulas in different formats.
- Capacity with a trowel for the preparation of putty.
- Mixer nozzle for mixing putty.
- The rule for plastering.
- Level or other marking device.
- A mallet for settling installed plates.
Since the installation of partitions from tongue-and-groove plates may involve work with non-standard designs, you should also prepare for a possible adjustment of the material. It is recommended to use an electric jigsaw or a hacksaw with a wide blade for cutting a GWP. To remove the protruding mounting elements, it is worthwhile to use a planer, and the surface is cleaned with a fine abrasive grinding tool in a manual way.
Putty for installation
For the installation of plates and the simultaneous preparation of walls and floor for placement of the structure, special mounting and filler compounds should be used. The mandatory properties of the mixture include quick setting and holding ability. That is, it should be not just a leveling classic putty, but a type of adhesive, in which a gypsum component is also present. As noted in the instructions, for the installation of partitions from tongue-and-groove plates, the consumption rate of such putty should be calculated in the ratio of 1.5 kg / 1 sq. M. If you count on the number of plates of a standard format, then the volume of 1.5 kg should be enough to install 3 plates. As already noted, the solution is prepared using a construction electric drill in a special container. Stir the solution diluted with water with a tool for 10-15 minutes at low speeds.
What other mixes will be required during installation?
In addition to putty, the following construction mixtures can also be used, depending on the conditions of work:
- Waterproofing mastic. A typical form of this material is a rubber-bitumen emulsion, which should be used with strong moisture on the surface of the GWP. Mastic is applied to external surfaces, thus creating an insulating water-repellent layer.
- Void Filler. This is not about a free niche between the two panels, but about the remaining special technological gaps that may form after installation. Sealing is done with silicone based sealants with stable elasticity.
- Glues and grouts. According to the technology of mounting partitions from tongue-and-groove plates, joining between structural elements must be performed by reinforced adhesive compositions for tiles or stone. Again, a good option would be to use glue, which contains water-repellent and other protective components.
- Primer. It is possible that the partition will be formed after installation with other decorative materials. Applying paint, wallpaper or even tiles requires the rough surface to be in optimal condition. The primer mixture will allow you to fix defects on the surface of the GWP that could have occurred during installation.
Laying mortar for installation
Putty is applied in stripes along the contours of the future masonry plates on the wall, floor and ceiling. The thickness of the stacked formation should be about 3-5 mm, while it should be borne in mind that the polymerization process in this case lasts no more than 30-45 minutes, depending on the characteristics of the mixture. At the same stage, in order to increase the sound insulation of the partition from tongue-and-groove plates, a perforated tape is laid on the putty. This is a special elastic lining, due to which an additional insulating effect is provided at the joints.
Plate mounting
Directly mounting the plates can be done with grooves up or down, but for the best distribution of putty it is still desirable to apply the first option. In this case, all panels from the first row must first be removed ridges. When installing partitions from tongue-and-groove plates, symmetry should be maintained using the level and rule. Seams should be strictly vertical and horizontal. Also, do not forget that gypsum-based glue quickly hardens, so any manipulations with fixed plates should be done as quickly as possible. The front of current work is preferably limited to 1-2 segments.
Mounting hardware
In some cases, an adhesive method of assembling the design of the partition is sufficient. But for greater reliability, it is also recommended to use power fasteners, which are sold with metal brackets about 1-2 mm thick. Thus, the technique of rigidly adjoining a partition from tongue-and-groove plates is performed. Do-it-yourself installation of brackets should be carried out to the enclosing structures in special grooves. Fixation is performed using screw fasteners or dowels with anchors. This is also a way of a kind of reinforcement, which also has a drawback in the form of a heavier structure and additional load on the walls.
Final revision of the design
At this stage, you must complete three tasks:
- Scraping off the remnants of applied building mixtures. Surfaces putty, glue and priming solutions are removed from the surfaces with grinding tools and abrasives.
- Strengthening the structure in the corners. External and internal angles should be reinforced with additional elements. Usually, in the schemes for installing partitions from tongue-and-groove plates, the use of perforated profiles and the aforementioned reinforcing tapes is provided. These are the simplest devices for additional strengthening of the partition, which do not involve intrusion into the construction of walls or floors with ceilings.
- Surface cleaning. After the work done, the surface should be free of dirt and dust. Further work on the improvement of the partition will depend on the method of its decoration.
Additional features when installing the partition
It has already been said that a double gypsum partition gives ample opportunities for the construction of communications. We are primarily talking about low-voltage electrical wiring, which is mounted covertly in the gates. Even before the construction of the partition from tongue-and-groove plates, it is necessary to think out a scheme with channels for passing electric routes and prepare the material accordingly. Actually, the work will consist of two stages. Firstly, it will be necessary to make a gating for wiring, followed by termination. Secondly, holes are already made in the slabs of the desired diameter to output the channel. It is important to consider that in both cases the use of a percussion instrument with respect to GWP is completely excluded.
Conclusion
Gypsum-based boards used to be mostly used for external wall cladding. This made it possible to create smooth geometric surfaces for a neat laying of the facing material. The possibility of installing partitions from tongue-and-groove plates also allowed changing the interior layout, albeit in a simplified design version. Along with preserving aesthetic and structural advantages, GWPs also give advantages of a functional property. According to experts, the installation of openings can be allowed in new fortified modifications, which also reduces the number of differences between brick and gypsum partitions. At the same time, the advantages of the installation process with the advantages of ergonomics of physical handling and saving on transportation completely remain behind the tongue-and-groove plates.