Installation of multi-level ceilings from gypsum board with backlighting

Installing a ceiling made of gypsum board with backlighting with your own hands at first glance may seem difficult for a person without relevant experience and knowledge.

However, practice shows that nothing is impossible.

If you prepare well theoretically, read thematic articles or watch a video about how to make a plasterboard suspended ceiling, then the main understanding of the principles of the process will come.

This is quite enough to start with their own hands the installation of an even more complex suspension structure - a two-level ceiling.

How does a two-level stretch ceiling look like in the photo below.

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What ceilings are called multilevel?

The ceiling finish, during which a design is created, consisting of two or more sites of different levels, is called multi-level.

The photo clearly shows the effect of the sequence of levels, which is equipped with a stretch ceiling.

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The most popular are two-level ceilings. This type of decoration is not only unique in its design, but also practical.

The more levels, the harder it is to make your own montage, especially if the ceiling is tension.

Whereas two-level ceilings from plasterboard are an optimal combination of costs, effort and visible result.

With two tiers of finishing, you can easily hide communications - wiring, ventilation and alarm.

Multi-level ceiling of gypsum board with illumination visually changes the geometry of the space, allowing to zonate the room at its discretion, which is especially important for such premises as a bedroom or a kitchen.

Stretch ceilings hide the shortcomings of the rough ceiling base, and the use of LED lighting between the levels of the ceiling turns it into a unique design creation.

How to prepare for work?

To mount the drywall top with your own hands passed without unexpected surprises, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of the forthcoming work in advance:

• Identify with the functional purpose of the ceiling - interior decor, zoning room, screen for communication systems;
• Decide on the number of levels. If you make a stretch ceiling with your own hands, it is better to stop at two levels, their installation is much easier. The design of the ceiling is easier to choose by looking at the photo with different finishes;
• A ceiling scheme is also required. In fact, this is a drawing on which all elements of the suspension structure, checkpoints and their parameters are marked, as well as the location of the bearing profiles and hangers. And if the ceiling is planned from gypsum board with illumination, then you need to specify the places of output of the built-in lamps;
• Acquire materials to mount a gypsum board ceiling with backlight;
• Buy the tools that will be used to make the top mounting yourself.

Technological features of the ceiling finish

Typically, to make a ceiling two or three-level type, use gypsum board.

The attractiveness of this kind of material lies in the simplicity of its processing, which not only facilitates the installation, but also allows you to make from your own hands any geometric shapes.

In this case, drywall is a natural material, which provides a double effect - heat and waterproofing, as well as control of the microclimate in the room.

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It has sound-absorbing properties, is fire-resistant and has a low weight.

Thus, to establish a gypsum plasterboard ceiling with backlighting is beneficial both from aesthetic and from a practical point of view.

The internal structure of the top of one, two or more levels is as follows:

• hangers;
• guide profile;
• box or frame;
• drywall.

The ceiling scheme is of two types.

The first option is used in those cases when the base top has no defects and is suitable as a basis for the second tier, which is mounted around the perimeter of the room or in separate places.

The second option is considered more difficult to implement by yourself.

It is used when the base top is uneven or not to be putty, or there is a lot of communication on it.

The installation of a tension or gypsum cardboard top as a top layer allows you to hide defects, make them invisible. In this case, the second-level box is fixed on the frame of the first one.

The photo shows the main elements of the ceiling of the second type - the base stretch ceiling, and on top of it the second tier - a gypsum board with illumination.

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Features of the preparation for work

The sequence of the finishing stages with your own hands assumes: preparatory work, the manufacture of a skeleton taking into account the number of levels, and then the carcass assembly.

Then follows the pattern of gypsum boards, the installation of plasterboard, the installation of electrical wiring and fixtures and, last but not least, the decor.

Before you start working with your own hands, you need to take care of such materials and tools:

• Drywall. An approximate amount of material can be calculated based on the perimeter of the room, the dimensions of the gypsum boards and the number of levels. In this case, do not take into account that part of the ceiling area, which will be under the second level;
• Suspension( rod or plate);
• Profiles for wall mounting;
• Sealing tape;
• Roulette;
• Hydraulic level or laser level;
• Connectors of the "crab" type;
• Dowel-nails;
• Antiseptic primer;
• Putty;
• Finishing materials;
• Spatula;
• Fasteners;
• Screwdriver, preferably with a magnet attachment;
• Hammer;
• Impact drill or perforator( depending on the area of ​​the room);
• Shears for metal;
• To install a stretch ceiling, you will also need a heat gun.

Ceiling preparation for finishing

A quality ceiling installation of a two-level type is not possible without prior repair and cleaning of the ceiling.

This means that everything that can interfere with the finish is removed from the ceiling, especially lights and cornices.

It is necessary to completely remove whitewash, traces of paint, as well as tiles.

Cracks and other defects are eliminated by fast-setting solutions. The two-level ceiling is treated with an antiseptic. This is necessary to avoid the appearance of fungus.

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It is also desirable to remove all the furniture from the room in which the repairs will be carried out, to protect it from damage and dirt, and cover the surface of the walls with a film.

Next step to meet the finishing with your own hands is marking.

To make the markup, you will need a scheme, on which all the elements of the mounted structure are conventionally marked, taking into account the scale of the room.

How to make a ceiling layout

Markup must be done in full accordance with the drawing, at this stage errors are unacceptable, since the slightest inconsistency can lead to problems in the assembly of the structure.

In addition, this is the only way to make a two-level ceiling perfectly smooth.

All the lines that line the box are transferred to the ceiling, so it is very important to display the bending of the lines correctly, especially if a complex geometric shape is planned.

The marking is started from the level of the lower tier of the ceiling( if two levels are installed).

To do this, put a starting point on the wall, to which the bottom horizontal line of the frame will be equal.

Further marking is carried out around the perimeter of the room, being guided by the water or rack level.

For the horizontal line use special pencils.

In the photo: it looks like a hydro level.

Further it is necessary to note the location of the suspensions for mounting the first level.

This is done by first marking the internal boundaries of the second level on the ceiling with longitudinal lines, then points are placed on one side at a distance of 50 cm, and on the other side, placed perpendicularly at a distance of 60 cm.

The intersections of two conditional lines drawn by points shouldbe at right angles. This is where the hangers will be located.

The photo shows how the marking of the ceiling looks.

Assembling the frame

To assemble a two-level ceiling box from two tiers, it is necessary to attach UD profiles along the marked lines so that the bottom edge of the profile coincides with the line.

For fixing apply nails-dowels. The fixing step is 30 cm. This will be the first level.

Then, according to the places marked on the ceiling at a distance of 50 cm from one another, suspensions are installed. They are screwed with 6 mm dowels.

To the bolted suspensions attach CD profiles inserted in the horizontal UD profiles and pre-cut to the desired length.

It is impossible for the CD profiles to sag, otherwise the ceilings may turn out uneven.

In order to avoid any backlash, the joints of profiles must be fixed with screws.

The box can have a basis of 2 kinds - cellular and transverse. Cells are obtained if jumpers are made between pieces of the same profile between CD profiles.

Connect the box and jumpers using the "crab" and small screws.

The first tier can be considered ready after plasterboard plating. The second tier is mounted in the same way, with the difference that vertical bridges are set between the levels.

Beat the first level you need to do before the second one is mounted.

The photo clearly demonstrates the connection of the "crab" type, used at the intersection of profiles.

If the top of the gypsum board is designed for self-assembly by two or more levels, experienced masters apply the method of the cross-section skeleton.

Specialists believe that this method is more practical and economical, since it allows to reduce costs.

If you need a curved box, the profile of the CD is pre-cut with metal scissors or sawed at the same distance by the bulgarian, but not to the end, but only slightly to the back of the profile.

This profile easily takes the necessary shape. After this, the curved profile is attached to the ceiling by marking.

To see how the profile is cut and bent, just look at this photo.

Drywall installation - what to look for

When the first level box is already mounted, it is possible to do electrical wiring.

Because the installation of electrical wiring must be done before the plasterboard casing is made. For this, corrugated pipes or cable channels are used.

As you can see in the photo, installation of drywall is best done with an assistant.

In the previously gypsum plasterboard( which is done with the help of a construction knife) cut holes for fixtures.

Then the sheets are screwed to the profiles, using a drill with a special nozzle.

After plating the first level, you can proceed to the plating of the second one.

If you need to gypsum cardboard curved box, it is enough to moisten the material in water, it will become more elastic.

After plating, the plasterboard is puttyed and plastered.

Lighting installation

Traditionally, LED ceiling lights are installed in the ceiling of two tiers.

This can be a hidden illumination along the perimeter of a multi-level ceiling or a combined option when there is an open type of lighting, such as a chandelier.

The photo shows a hidden version of the lighting with a chandelier in the center.

When mounting the illumination with your own hands, remember that:

• wires must be in non-flammable and hermetic sleeves;
• power of the power supply is equal to the perimeter of the backlight niche, multiplied by the power / pm of the LED strip.

With the process of mounting the lighting in a multi-level ceiling, you can see by watching the video.

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