Drywall is a popular building material. With the help of gypsum board, you can level any ceiling. But its installation on the ceiling cannot be the final stage in the decoration. Before painting it, wallpapering it, revealing it with tiles, the plasterboard ceiling must be putty. After sheathing the ceiling with drywall sheets, it still needs finishing. The gypsum boards themselves are even and smooth, but not monolithic, therefore, the joints will necessarily be visible on the base. In addition, the places where the sheets are attached to the profiles with self-tapping screws will also be noticeable. Before proceeding with the final finishing of the ceiling surface - painting, wallpapering, the surface of the drywall must be covered with putty.
The choice of plaster for plasterboard ceiling
The choice of putties is huge, so it is important to choose the right composition for the treatment of plasterboard ceilings. The putty mixture can be dry or liquid. For drywall work, it is recommended to choose dry ones. It is more profitable to take them, because they are stored for a long time, their quality is not affected by the temperature regime. But viscous mixtures are subject to various changes depending on storage conditions. In addition, the dry mix is easy to use in dosage - add finishing touches after finishing the main work.
Depending on the composition, there are gypsum, cement, polymer putties. All three compositions are suitable for plasterboard ceiling plaster, but not for every room. For processing the ceiling made of gypsum plasterboard in a bathroom or kitchen, where a humid environment is possible, it is best to use a cement composition. Do not use gypsum plaster in these rooms, this compound does not withstand moisture changes and may crack. Plastic polymeric putties are universal, their consumption is significantly lower than that of others. The main disadvantage is their high price.
Selection of materials for plasterboard ceiling plasterboard
Experienced craftsmen, as a rule, use only two tools when puttingty plasterboard ceilings - a large and a small spatula. With these tools, a mirror-smooth surface can be achieved.
If you do not have enough experience, then in addition to the basic tools - a spatula 40-50 cm (for filling the ceiling) and 10 cm (for sealing seams), you will need: a self-adhesive mesh (serpyanka), a roller or brush for a primer, a primer, a putty (finishing composition). You should also have a drill and mixer on hand for mixing the putty mixture.
For plasterboard ceilings, use only finishing compound. The coarse fraction of the starting putty is designed to prepare the base for fine satengips. When it comes to drywall, the foundation is already there. Moreover, it has excellent adhesion, so there is no need for a starting putty.
Note that the consumption of putty when processing 1 meter of square ceiling area with a thickness of 1 mm will be about 1 kilogram. To calculate the amount of the required mixture, take measurements of the ceiling in the room.
Preparatory work before plastering the plasterboard ceiling
The quality of the finished surface of the plasterboard ceiling directly depends on how competently the preparatory stage will be carried out before the putty. After you have completely installed the ceiling, leave it to hang down for a while. This usually takes about 10 days. During this period, the drywall "acclimatizes" and settles down optimally.
Next, you should check the screws that secure the drywall to the profiles. If the cap protrudes above the surface of the sheet by at least a fraction of a millimeter, this will prevent the spatula from pulling an even layer of putty. Ideally, the caps of the self-tapping screws should be recessed into the sheet by 0.5-1 mm. Only in this case, the ceiling putty will pass without interference.
To determine which self-tapping screws need to be tightened, it is enough to draw a spatula along the places where the gypsum board sheets are attached to the profiles. Self-tapping screws that protrude will cling to it.
Pay attention to the joints of the drywall sheets - there should be no delamination of the cardboard from the gypsum. If this happens, you should carefully cut the paper to the very spine. The resulting wrinkle must be sanded. If this is not done, the putty may peel off following the paper.
Priming plasterboard ceilings before applying putty
Before installing a plasterboard suspended ceiling, the sheets should be primed on both sides. If the gypsum boards were not primed on both sides, then it is imperative to process at least from the front side before puttingty. The sheets treated in this way will have a harder surface. Also, drywall becomes more moisture resistant.
If there is no possibility or desire to prime the entire surface of the ceiling, then it is imperative to process at least the seams and corners. Especially a lot of dust settles on the seams, which impairs the adhesion of the surface to the putty. If you plan to glue wallpaper on the ceiling, then the entire surface of the ceiling should be primed, otherwise, when removed in the future, they will flake off along with the cardboard base of the gypsum board.
For plasterboard ceilings, any primer is suitable, which is designed to work in conjunction with a putty. Use a roller or brush to apply. Then leave the ceiling to dry. This usually takes 1 to 3 hours.
The technology of filling joints in plasterboard ceilings
Plastering joints in plasterboard ceilings plays an essential role in leveling the surface of the suspended structure. Not only seams are subject to sealing, but also self-tapping screws on which the gypsum board is attached. Seam sealing is carried out in two ways: using a self-adhesive mesh or paper tape.
Using a self-adhesive mesh for filling seams
As a rule, when sealing joints in drywall, a self-adhesive mesh is used. You can attach it to the seam using a putty or fugenfüller.
We carry out work in the following sequence:
- We dilute the fugenfüller in a small amount of water, since its useful life is no more than half an hour. The consistency of the composition should be like thick sour cream.
- If putty is used, then we use the same composition for fixing the serpyanka as for processing the entire surface of the ceiling. We breed it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
- Apply a fugenfüller or putty to the seam with a narrow spatula. We fill the seam so that there is a reference point for its location, that is, not completely. Otherwise, the mesh may not be glued where the seam is.
- Cut off the serpentine of the desired size and put it on the seam. We sink it a little into the fugenfüller.
- After all the seams are sealed with "self-adhesive", take a wide spatula and apply the putty mixture in a smooth, even motion, not pressing too hard.
- When applying, hold the spatula as sharp as possible to the drywall sheet. In this way, an even filling of the seam can be achieved without pressure.
When using a self-adhesive mesh, make sure that no threads stick out after gluing. Cut them carefully with a construction knife before proceeding with the putty.
Application of paper tape when filling seams
Paper tape is used to putty the seams for hedging. Usually such measures are required in premises with an aggressive environment - a bathroom, a kitchen. Drywall under the influence of moisture changes can "play", and putty - crack. To avoid this, a paper joint tape is used.
We carry out the work in this order:
- Apply the prepared finishing putty to the seams using a narrow spatula. Make sure that the seam is not completely filled.
- Leave the putty layer to dry and cut the paper tape into strips of the desired length.
- We glue the paper to the surface of the sealed dry joints using PVA glue. We are waiting for the glue to dry completely.
- We putty the seams completely in the same way as when gluing the "self-adhesive".
Please note that each layer of the compounds used must be completely dry before the next one is applied.
Putty of cut seams in plasterboard ceilings
In addition to factory-made seams, when plastering a plasterboard ceiling, the seams that have formed as a result of trimming the gypsum board should also be sealed. It is not recommended to apply “self-adhesive” or paper to such seams, otherwise the surface will have significant irregularities. To eliminate them, you will need a thick layer of putty, this will lead to overspending of the material.
We close the trim seams in a different way. We embroider the edged seam with a painting knife and fill it with a special mixture for sealing the joints of the gypsum board. This is offered, for example, by Knauf - Uniflot. We apply the mixture in two stages. Take a break between them to dry the composition. The application procedure does not differ from the sealing of factory seams using a conventional putty. Lightly rub the dried mixture in the seams with sandpaper.
Putty caps of self-tapping screws in plasterboard ceilings
Before starting the process of filling the fastening points of self-tapping screws, they should be carefully treated with a primer. Serpyanka does not stick to these places.
To seal holes from self-tapping screws in drywall sheets, a narrow spatula and a finishing putty are used. The process is carried out in a cruciform manner. We apply the putty mixture up and down on each self-tapping screw separately so that the grooves of the self-tapping caps are filled and their heads completely disappear.
Proceed to putty self-tapping screws should be after complete drying of the sealed joints in the plasterboard ceiling.
Features of filler corners in plasterboard ceilings
Putting on the corners is a little more difficult than the rest of the surface. This is an uneven plane, and sheets of drywall and a wall converging at an angle of 90 degrees. It is not immediately possible to withdraw them evenly.
The work is carried out in two stages:
- We putty one side of the corner according to the traditional rules: using a narrow and wide trowel. Apply the putty at an acute angle without pressing hard.
- After one side of the corner has dried, putty the other. If necessary, we also process the third side after the previous surface has dried.
In this process, the main thing is not to rush and wait until the putty is completely dry.
Technology for finishing plasterboard ceiling plasterboard
If you followed all the previous points carefully, then you almost have a finished flat ceiling surface. Now it is enough just to apply a thin layer of putty composition.
We do it like this:
- Apply a small layer of putty on a large spatula, distributing it along the entire length.
- Put putty on the ceiling with a large spatula and stretch it flat. At the same time, we try to maintain a thin uniform layer - about 1-2 mm. We apply promptly, since the plasterboard ceiling should be putty at one time to avoid cracks.
- If you do not have enough experience, then it is better to use the building rule. Cut off the excess layer with a conical part of the tool soaked in water. We remove the cut putty from the rule with a small spatula and send it back to the general container with the composition.
- We leave the fully processed ceiling to dry until the next day.
- We remove the stains that remained after the first stage of work with a large spatula with a small spatula. We hold it like a chisel and cut off the excess putty. Leave the ceiling to dry completely.
- After the putty has dried, proceed to the initial sanding of the ceiling. To do this, sand the surface with sandpaper, eliminating large scratches and irregularities.
- The finishing plaster of the plasterboard ceiling is called the application of the second layer of the putty composition. Apply a thin layer of putty using a technology similar to the first layer.
If you are plastering a plasterboard ceiling for painting or pasting with thin vinyl wallpaper, then two layers may not be enough. You may need to apply a third coat of putty.
Grouting putty on plasterboard ceilings
If you are doing plasterboard ceiling plasterboard with your own hands for the first time, then you cannot do without grouting, since only experienced craftsmen can achieve a perfectly smooth surface with the help of spatulas alone.
Keep in mind that you should wait until the filler on the ceiling is completely dry. This usually takes 4-7 days. Some are afraid of drafts while drying the ceiling, but putty is not wallpaper. Therefore, you can safely ventilate the room as best as possible. You can determine the complete drying of the putty by its color: dark spots should disappear, and the surface becomes an even matte texture. Now you can start finishing the ceiling.
For grouting we use "zero" sanding paper. We process the surface in a circular motion. To make it more convenient to work, you can use a special grater with sandpaper clips.
The final "finishing" of the ceiling to the ideal state is recommended to be carried out using light. To do this, you need to mount a small spotlight on a tripod. A regular desk lamp will also work. Direct the light to the ceiling at different angles. So you can notice even the slightest flaws in the putty.
Be sure to use a respirator and goggles during work, since the procedure for sanding the putty surface is rather dusty. How to putty a plasterboard ceiling - look at the video:
Plastering a plasterboard ceiling with your own hands is a fairly simple process, but it requires care and meticulousness. But having special knowledge and expensive tools, you can carry out the work yourself, following our instructions and recommendations.
