How To Level The Subfloor With Plasterboard For Decking

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Material advantages
• Types of GVL
• Properties and qualities
• Required tools
• Preparatory activities
• Plasterboard installation
• Useful Tips

Everyone strives to obtain the highest quality floor construction. But for this it is necessary to perform the installation correctly and in compliance with the technology. All functional and aesthetic characteristics will be inherent in the room in this case. For laying on the base of the floor, plasterboard, or rather GVL (gypsum fibrous sheet), which appeared in the Knauf technology, has recently begun to be used. It is unnecessary to confuse it with ordinary sheets of drywall GKL - this is a completely different material.

Material advantages

When arranging floors using drywall, more precisely GVL, you can get a whole set of positive qualities, which include:

1. Execution of all works by "dry" method. That is, there will be no wet processes. The room will maintain a normal humidity level throughout the entire period.

2. Plasterboard can be laid on the floor on its own without the involvement of specialists.

   

   The entire installation does not take much time and is very simple for initial execution by novice builders.

3. Acts as a heat and sound insulating material.
4. It is very easy to process this material. It can be easily cut, sawed, and processed by other methods and methods.
5. Low weight. This does not give a serious load on the floor slabs, as well as the logs on the wooden base. It does not matter here the device of drywall in several layers. As a result, a structure of insignificant weight is still obtained.
6. Low material cost compared to other flat floor options. This, to some extent, attracts most of the performers.

7. After finishing work on drywall, you can install any type of flooring. At the same time, everything can be done without preliminary preparation due to the fact that a really flat surface corresponding to a horizontal level is obtained.

   

But this is just the main list of advantages that drywall has when it is laid on the base of the floor for high-quality leveling.

Types of GVL

There are two types of gypsum fiber sheets that can be used to level subfloors:

1. Regular. They can be used in rooms with normal indicators of not only temperature, but also humidity. For example, a bedroom or hall is suitable.

2. Moisture resistant. They are suitable for installation in rooms with high humidity, such as bathrooms, kitchens, etc. They have a hydrophobic impregnation, due to which the ability to resist water only increases.

   

There is also a division of all sheets used in the work into moisture-resistant small formats that have DIY marking. They have reduced dimensions 1200 * 1200 * 10 mm. Due to this, the weight of the products was reduced, and better convenience during the installation process was created. Even one person is able to cope with the implementation of the device of a high-quality and even floor. The fibers of the fluffed waste paper are distributed throughout the volume of the sheet. They are additionally treated with an impregnation that reduces chalking. In addition, there is a water repellent agent, both on the back and front side.

Properties and qualities

All the quality of GVL is assessed from a set of characteristics. They are based on a percentage of gypsum and cellulose fibers. The first component is much larger and the amount reaches 85%, the rest is cellulose.

In terms of density, gypsum-fiber sheets resemble those of expanded clay concrete, which is about half that of red brick. The density will depend on the thickness of the material itself used to create a level floor. It will increase from a decrease in the GVL layer. With a thickness of 10-12 mm, their density is 1200 kg for each cubic centimeter, and with a thickness of 14-19 mm - 1250 kg / cm ³.

The compressive density of a material indicates its ability to withstand external influences. When compressed, it reaches 100 kg per cm ², and at bending - 53 kg. In the first case, such indicators allow even a heel to withstand, which cannot deform the surface.

Required tools

GVL sheets are most often used when the base of the floor does not have significant height differences. Usually this figure is up to 5 mm. But there are other technologies that allow you to use the material to make a flat surface.

In any case, the work will have to stock up on all the necessary tools, which include:

• Measuring tape for accurate measurements indoors, including determining the size of sheets on the surface.
• Pencil - make notes and marks on sheets, as well as on walls in the room.
• Putty knife.
• Cutter - for full cutting of sheets into fragments. If you use a quality tool, then there will be no problems with material damage.
• Level.

In this case, it is very important to first calculate the required number of GVL sheets, which will have to be purchased to complete the entire amount of work.

Preparatory activities

Among these materials, pearlite has the best quality. Its grinding is fine, which allows it to be distributed over the surface in an even layer. The density is very high. Due to the high cost of production, perlite is most often mixed with sand in a ratio of 1 to 3. A cheaper material is expanded clay. But even so, it has excellent performance and characteristics. It also acts as a base floor insulation.

Before starting work, lay the plastic wrap on the floor surface. It is usually folded in two or three layers for better quality and reliability. Thus, a vapor barrier is performed that can protect the subsequent dry bedding, as well as GVL sheets from high humidity. This moisture can enter the surface from under the floor.

Knauf offers its own material called Flähendicht waterproofing.

Plasterboard installation

When the base has been prepared for the subsequent leveling of the floor, you can proceed to the next stages of installation. Initially, the selected dry mix is poured onto the surface over the entire area of the room. But it is more suitable for small work areas. When it comes to premises that are large in area, it is possible to break down the area into sections that are fenced off with special slats. In any case, the backfill material must be distributed evenly over the entire surface.

The beginning of the installation of drywall - from the front door to the room. This is based on the fact that it is forbidden to move on the surface of the backfill. She can lose evenness. Thus, grooves will begin to appear, and as a result, an uneven floor base. Flooring flooring will not do the trick.

When laying the next sheet of drywall next to the previous one, the edges of the joints should be greased with an adhesive solution. This is how the sheets are connected to each other, their high-quality fastening. If you are not sure that the laid drywall will remain in its place during operation, then in addition the sheets are fastened to the base using double-threaded self-tapping screws. Between this type of fastener, a distance of 30-40 cm must be maintained. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the self-tapping screw is located at a distance of at least 30 mm from the edges of the drywall sheet.

When all the sequential actions have been completed, you can be sure that the surface is flat. Now you can safely lay the laminate.

Useful Tips

You can level the floor with plasterboard with your own hands. But at the same time, you should pay attention to certain subtleties of the work, which will allow you to get the desired result.

• Sheets for the room must be brought into the room beforehand before installation. Sheets must adapt to temperature conditions, as well as the level of humidity maintained in the room. The time spent before the start of work is at least 9 hours.
• Laying in two layers of sheets is performed with an offset, that is, in a checkerboard pattern. The joints must not overlap. The step is usually 40 cm.

All these little things at first glance will lead to an excellent final result. With a minimum investment of funds and efforts, you can get a base that is fitted to the horizontal level.

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