Algorithm of actions when creating a box to hide the radiator
There are two ways in which you can disguise the heating battery behind a drywall construction: close the radiator with a decorative wall of drywall or construct a regular box of drywall around the radiator. Which way to use? It all depends on the layout of the apartment and the location of heating systems in the room.
How to box in pipes, cover radiator pipes with plasterboard, make your bathroom looking nice
It is advisable to build a box if the radiator is located on the wall. You can make it with your own hands from drywall quickly enough. This method is more preferable, since only the radiator is masked, and the usable area in this case does not suffer.
The size of the box will depend on the battery to be concealed. Important note. the edges of the box will be about 15 cm away from the battery on all sides.
Whether the box will be floating or standing on the floor, depends on the interior of the apartment and the designer’s decision. Once the decision on the design of the box should begin to prepare the surface and mark it.
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The screen in the immediate vicinity of the radiator reduces the heat gain from its surface, and this worsens the efficiency of the heater. But not in the case of the plasterboard box for heating radiators. Suffice it to give an example of electric convectors design, in which the heating element is located in a closed housing with two rows of holes. from below for the entry of cold air, from above. for the output of warm. Such a device increases the speed of convection, due to the fact that the box acts as an air duct.
The only disadvantage of the method. the battery works for heating both as a convector and as a radiator, and the screen will absorb some of the infrared radiation. To compensate for these losses, holes are cut in the front wall of the box under the radiator from plasterboard or a factory decorative screen-grid is installed as a front finish, and the wall behind the radiator is finished with a material with a reflective surface (for example, foil-coated foam-flex).
How to make?
In order to build a drywall box with your own hands need to properly conduct preparatory work.
These include processes such as:
Marking the place of installation requires aids, which include a pencil, tape measure, building level and ruler square. To install the frame you can not do without a drill, an electric screwdriver, a hammer, a metal saw, and a punching tool for connecting the profiles. The formation of the box is not possible without a suitable construction knife and roughing planer. The materials used are plasterboard sheets with a thickness of 12.5 mm and rigid metal profiles.
Determined with the place of installation, you can begin to measure the future box, using the tools prepared for this process.
To determine the future dimensions of the box, it is important the location of the object. If it is planned to be installed on the ceiling, this arrangement is considered horizontal. Marks determining the width of the structure in this case will be located on the ceiling surface, and marks corresponding to its length are placed on the wall. When a vertical arrangement of the object mark corresponding to its length and width are set aside on the wall surface, and to determine the volume of future construction on the floor and ceiling. To determine the boundaries of the box, you need to mark the most protruding parts, and it is from them to subtract the necessary centimeters.
When measuring the future structure, it is worth remembering that the gap between the edges of the box and the object itself must be at least 5 cm. The following external finish must also be taken into account, namely the thickness and integrity. If the finishing of the outer sides of the box is supposed to be tiled, then when marking it is necessary to take into account its width, so as not to adjust the tiled material under the already constructed model. After marking, you must accurately connect all the marked points. When outlining the contours of the future box to use the square. Correctly built mowing lines, going from the marks to the object, must be in a strictly perpendicular position.
Marking for a vertically arranged object begins from the ceiling. To ensure the accuracy of the contour, you must omit the plumb line from the top corner point, the lower corner point must coincide with the upper marking. After checking the markings, you can begin assembling the structure. To install the box quickly, and most importantly, correctly, you must follow certain rules. There is a step-by-step instruction on this matter, thanks to which all work is divided into stages.
Installation of the frame is no less important stage than the layout. Metal profiles must be installed along the prepared contours. First, we attach the mullions to the wall, pre-drilling holes for this process, and hammering dowels into them. For a stronger fixing the distance between the holes should be within 50-60 mm. Guiding profiles should be mounted first on the ceiling surface, and then on the floor. Then you can mount the front posts, coming from the upper guide profiles, using nail clippers or self-tapping screws.
To keep the construction in an even position additional profiles should be used. the so-called ribs. They should occupy a strictly perpendicular position to the mullion profiles, and be located from each other at a distance of no more than 1 meter. Installing the stiffeners is important if the height of the entire structure is more than 1.5 m, and the width of the edges. more than 25 cm. In addition, they are the basis on which subsequently fastened sheets of plasterboard (GPB).
For horizontally arranged objects, the installation begins with the attachment of the UD profile along the entire perimeter. After that the vertical lintels are screwed on. After fixing them, you should proceed to install the guide profile. The bottom part of the box can be assembled on the floor, and only then fasten this element of the structure to the upper half. After preparing the framework, proceed to the formation of the box itself. From the prepared sheets of gypsum plasterboard cut out the necessary size and shape of the edges of the future structure. First it is necessary to make measurements of the width, length of the sides and mark these figures on the sheet. After that you can proceed to connect the marks. According to the outlined contours a cut is made.
In order not to spoil the material, some rules must be followed:
- Cut the sheet along the contours using a ruler and a clerical knife. The process itself should take place without haste and excessive pressure. The edges of the cut are processed with a planer with a slight bevel of 22.5 degrees. At the joining of gypsum plasterboard forms an angle of 45 degrees, through which the sheets adhere firmly to each other.
- After the sheets are ready, you can close the frame, using for mounting the 35-45 mm self-tapping screws with spacing of 25 mm. For small frame boxes, self-tapping screws are the most acceptable way to fix the sheets. If GPBs are used to level the walls, then assembly foam can be used as fixing. The total cost of the foam required for fixing is lower than the cost of used metal profiles, in addition, it contributes to the preservation of heat in the room.
However, it is worth remembering that it is impossible to disassemble the construction without damaging the drywall sheets fixed with the foam, but only to break them. Therefore, in the case of redevelopment, it is easier and more profitable to dismantle the sheets, screwed with self-tapping screws.
Mounting a gypsum plasterboard box under the window sill. Cover the radiator with a decorative grid
Everyone who has faced the repair wondered about what to do with the radiator. In many ways, these places of the premises look a little unaesthetic, due to the presence of cast-iron radiators. The window sill is painted with several layers of paint, which in turn begins to crack and spoil the view even more. You can of course peel off all the layers of paint and reapply it. and even a different color, let’s say gold, and say it was meant to be like that. But then what to do with wallpaper, which has to be glued behind the battery, and which over time comes off, and all this does not look very dignified.
Actually there is a way out! It is necessary to make a box of plasterboard, which will shut out from the eyes all problematic places from the floor to the window sill. This variant of the solution of the problem has a huge advantage. In the end, it will be very beautiful, including due to the presence of the overhead grid, which I recommend to match the color of the furniture.
You will need the following tools for installation:
- 6 mm drill
- an electric screwdriver
- metal scissors
- straight level
- tape measure and a pencil
- A box cutter with interchangeable blades
- stapler
You will also need the following materials:
- drywall 12 mm
- profile 60×27
- 27×28 profile
- Serpentine tape
- corner peorized
- Self-tapping screws on drywall and metal
- dowel nails 6×40
Mounting the box
There is one condition for the installation of the box: the window sill must protrude beyond the battery at least 3 cm. In my example, the sill was too small, so I had to remove it and replace it with a new one. It was not difficult to do, it was held in place with assembly foam. The new window sill is cut to the required size and inserted under the window frame. Under it you need to put chocks on the level, which you put on top of the window sill. Next, fill the empty space between the sill and the base with installation foam. Press down on top of the load as in the photo below. After three hours, remove the load and proceed to install the box.
The next step is to install the frame from the profile. Profile 27×28 must be installed on all adjacent: walls, floor, window sill. Pressing the profile to the base with one hand, make a hole simultaneously in it and in the wall with the fan. Install the dowel 6×40 in the hole and screw with an electric screwdriver. From below the window sill is also screwed profile 27×28, but on the self-tapping screws on metal, the length of which should not exceed the thickness of the window sill. After that, install the crosspieces of the profile 60×27.
Decide on the size of the future decorative grid around the radiator. This place should be slightly smaller than the size of the grid. There are three basic standard sizes of grids: 60×60, 60×90, 60×120. These dimensions are optimal for the repair of apartments, and recommend them to orient.
The frame is ready and we begin to mount the plasterboard. Gypsum cardboard is cut with a stationery knife with interchangeable blades. To learn more about how to cut drywall, click here. Screw on the drywall with an electric screwdriver and nothing else. You can put a Phillips bit on the drill, but it’s not very convenient. That is why I strongly recommend to buy an electric screwdriver, but not a cheap “trinket”, but a Makita or Bosch. Such a tool will serve you for the rest of your life, it is not for nothing that window companies use only these brands. And for the price of this tool to please you, return part of the money spent, see here. The cost will drop by half.
How to make a window wall of GCL with a niche for the radiator
After the entire box frame is covered with drywall, proceed to install the feather corners. They are fixed in the corners with a stapler, or you can glue them on the gypsum plaster immediately. On all joints of the box of drywall put gypsum plaster and also covered with plaster. Before wallpapering, the box should be puttied, sanded and primed with a primer of deep penetration.
The function of the grille for the radiator
The use of decorative products for radiators gives their owners a number of advantages:
- The radiators are effectively disguised, which transforms the room, maintaining a unified and unique interior style.
- Radiators are protected from dust, making them easy to care for and prolonging their service life.
- Household members are protected from the possibility of accidental burning or hitting the protruding parts of the radiator.
If you design and create a shield on the radiator yourself, you can give it additional functions:
- Proper design of the screen will help the air flows more evenly across the room.
- The top cover can be made in the form of a shelf for books, lamps, furnishings.
- The screen can be equipped with a folding table, which is nice to have a cup of tea or read a book.
- Providing an overlay with hooks, the owner of the shield will get a clothes dryer during the heating season.
With a variety of materials on the market, their colors and textures, a rich imagination and a little experience, you can create an exclusive screen that will fit perfectly into the interior and will perform all its functions. Today the openwork radiator model is quite popular.
Mounting the radiator on drywall
Rarely any repair or finishing work takes place without the use of drywall systems. Their use makes it possible not to bother with levelling the walls with plasterboard and significantly speeds up the work. However, despite its versatility in some cases, their installation creates additional difficulties. Mounting the radiator to drywall is one of the most striking examples of such difficulties.
Example of mounted radiator on plasterboard
How to close the pipes with plasterboard in the toilet, bathroom, kitchen:.Instructions for installation with their own hands, heating, photo and price
How to close the pipes with drywall. tidying up the interior
After the installation of plasterboard. Plumbing and heating the bulk of the work can be considered done. It remains only to decide what to do with the pipes, it is unlikely they will become a decoration of the interior of the room. The solution to this problem can be their masking behind a partition from plasterboard.
Frame for a false wall. so you can hide the distribution of pipes
The box of plasterboard with their own hands
With certain skills, as well as the desire, a box of such material as plasterboard can be made independently. This will not only save money, but also realize the most daring design ideas and own fantasies. To make such a box is not difficult, but you need to know certain nuances that will help to qualitatively perform the work.
First of all, the heater itself is measured. This is necessary in order to calculate how much material will be needed for the work. Depending on these figures is purchased plasterboard itself. Preliminarily it is required to be properly treated.
To maximize heat transfer, the material should be rolled with a special needle roller, and to protect against drying out the surface is treated with water PVA emulsion.
Next comes the turn of the design. We need to take into account how the heat is released. To exclude its escape into the wall, which is often cold, the surface directly behind the radiator will be advisable to glue a foil that reflects heat. On the inside of the box made, it is recommended to apply a black paint, it will absorb heat and transfer it into the room.
Gaps should be left at the bottom of the box, which will help provide thermal convection and will not interfere with the flow of cool air from below. The main part, located in the front, it is recommended to make in the form of a grid, make special holes for air circulation, which can be decorated.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account that any heating device requires periodic maintenance. For convenience, the front part can be made in the form of a door sash. But you can also equip the box with panels that are easy to remove. If it is planned to be placed under the window sill, it will not be superfluous to arrange an aerodynamic canopy, which will direct the flow of air upwards.
Dimensions
If we talk about the size of the box, it will depend on what you want to disguise it. For example, it can be wiring, water pipes, gas pipes, ventilation ducts, etc. If lighting will be installed, the size should be sufficient to be able to install the power supply and LED strip.
Properly mounted box will be a decoration of the room and will last for many years.
