How to process walls made of tongue-and-groove blocks. Do-it-yourself installation of tongue-and-groove slabs. Preparation of tools and materials

During major repairsredevelopment of an apartment is a common thing; all that remains is to decide on the material and technology for constructing new walls and partitions. We suggest paying attention to tongue-and-groove gypsum boards - a practical, affordable and versatile material.

Tongue-and-groove slabs and their scope

Tongue-and-groove slabs (GGP) are rectangular blocks of gypsum fiber 80 or 100 mm thick. The size of the slabs is standard - height 500 mm, width 667 mm. To strengthen the connection between the plates, their edges are made in the form of grooves and ridges. The technology allows the construction of up to 4 m 2 of partitions per hour.


Standard slabs are used in rooms with normal humidity conditions; moisture-resistant GGPs are used for bathrooms and baths. The slab can be either solid or hollow with horizontal through holes with a diameter of 40 mm. A hollow slab is not only characterized by reduced lightness and thermal conductivity; when laying slabs in one row, alignment of the holes along the cross-section is guaranteed to be at least 90%, which allows the cavities to be used as technical channels for laying electrical wiring or pipes.

Preparing the installation site

PGPs are universal in application and can be installed in almost any construction environment. Due to their low weight, they do not require a foundation and can be installed directly on a screed or even on a solid wooden floor.


The only requirement for the place where the partition will be erected is that the base should not have a horizontal height difference of more than 2 mm per 1 meter. If the floor in the room does not meet these requirements, then a leveling screed 20–25 cm wide is made.

The surface of both the screed and the floor must be coated several times with a deeply penetrating primer, then dried and cleaned. It is optimal to install the PGP before plastering the load-bearing walls, so finishing coating it will turn out more complete.

Damper pad device

To compensate for thermal expansion and settlement of the building, a tape of elastic material is laid at the junction of the partitions with the floor and walls. This could be rubber, balsa wood or silicone tape.


The base is covered with a thin layer of GGP glue and the tape is laid. It takes 6–8 hours to harden, after which you can begin constructing the partition.

Installation of the first row

Installation of PGP is carried out strictly in rows, starting from the bottom. The first row is basic and must be correctly oriented in space, vertically and horizontally. Most common mistake during installation - “waviness” of the partition, which occurs due to a slight displacement in the grooves. To eliminate this phenomenon, when laying each slab, you need to use a rule strip and check the general plane of the partition against it.


The first row should be laid from the corner. The area where the slab touches the floor and wall is covered with GGP glue, then the block is installed with the ridge up and its position is leveled. It is convenient to use a rubber mallet to move the slabs. Be sure to fasten the first block to the wall and floor using L-shaped plates, the role of which is successfully performed by direct hangers. To use them, you need to cut off the toothed comb from the edges and bring the thickness of the plate to the width of the comb. The plates are first attached to the base using quick-installation dowels with a length of 80 mm, then to the slab with black self-tapping screws no less than 60 mm long.

Subsequently, the slabs are attached through one side: on one side to the floor, on the other - to the previous slab, with the joint first coated with a thin layer of glue and pressed firmly. To control the placement of slabs according to the project, it is convenient to use lacing or a laser level. It would also be a good idea to mark the partition on the floor and walls indicating the locations for the doorways.

Construction of a partition and adjoining to load-bearing walls

The second and subsequent rows are laid with a seam offset of at least 150 mm. The slab is located strictly in the plane of the partition thanks to the tongue-and-groove connection. It is enough to control the horizontal installation level and lateral tilt. The end slabs are attached to the load-bearing walls L-shaped plates or reinforcement bars 8 mm thick.


To move the joints and remove the edge of the partition, you will need to trim the additional elements to the exact size. It is best to use a regular wood hacksaw with a thick blade and set teeth. If the partition is not adjacent to another wall, its end can be made perfectly even by increasing the thickness of the glue in the vertical seam from 2 to 6–8 mm.

Device doorways

The vertical edges of the openings do not require additional reinforcement. To lay slabs over an opening with a width of less than 90 cm, it is necessary to build a supporting U-shaped strip, which can be removed after the glue has dried.


Openings 90 cm wide or more require laying on top of a series of support beam slabs - 40 mm boards or reinforced 70 mm CD profile. To reach one level, it is recommended to trim the slabs laid on top of the crossbar. The jumper is placed into the partition at least 50 cm on each side.

Corners and intersections of partitions

At the corners and junctions of partitions, it is necessary to strengthen the masonry. To do this, the slabs are laid across a row, alternately covering the joints. In places where the relaying occurs, it is necessary to remove the ridges; they are cut with a hacksaw into sections of 4–5 cm and chipped with a chisel.


The connection can be further strengthened with sections of straight hangers or welded T-shaped elements made of smooth reinforcement. In any case, additional trimming of the ridge to the required distance will be required.

Top row bookmark

When laying the top row, the largest amount of waste is generated due to cutting to the desired height. They can be glued together and placed in voids, since this row of partitions does not experience a strong functional load.

Electrical wiring is usually laid in the voids of the top row, so it is important to prevent glue from getting into the holes. To facilitate cable pulling, you can additionally drill holes or make transverse holes with a diameter of 45 mm.


When laying the top row, it is necessary to maintain a gap from the ceiling of at least 15 mm to compensate for the deflection of the ceiling during settlement. The top row also needs to be attached to the floor of every second slab. Upon completion of installation, the remaining space is filled with polyurethane foam.

Options interior decoration

With proper installation of the PGP, the curvature of the surface is no more than 4–5 mm per meter of plane. This is an acceptable indicator for wallpapering walls. The outer corners of the partitions must be protected with a perforated corner profile mounted on starting putty. The internal corners are also puttied, strengthening them with sickle. The joints between the plates are cleaned with an 80 grit abrasive mesh, then the entire surface is coated twice with a high-adhesion primer.

Leveling walls made of PGP can be done with any finishing putty, but the coating will need to be reinforced with fiberglass mesh. Often, puttying partitions is used only to hide seams; as a rule, the layer does not exceed 2–4 mm. The tiles can be laid directly on the surface of the PGP with preliminary priming.

http://www.rmnt.ru/ - siteRMNT.ru

Interior wall partitions, in most cases, are not load-bearing structures in the house. They must have sufficient strength and good sound insulation properties. The design of the partition should easily withstand internal communications and hanging furniture.

In this article we will talk about tongue-and-groove gypsum (plasterboard) slabs (GGP). This material is used to create interior and apartment partitions. With a competent approach to construction, partitions made of tongue-and-groove gypsum boards (GGP) will meet the requirements listed above. But you need to focus on ensuring that the installation of tongue-and-groove slabs is competent!

If you neglect to comply construction technology, then the installation of tongue-and-groove partitions will end in the fact that instead of a durable monolith, the builder will end up with a shaky and uneven wall, ready to collapse at any moment.

Kruchenkov User FORUMHOUSE, Moscow.

I have a bathroom partition at home made of tongue-and-groove slabs. Apparently, when a hole was made in it for sewer pipe, something went wrong. Now, if you shake this structure by the edge with your hand, you can hear the blocks hitting each other.

You can find a lot of similar examples on FORUMHOUSE. And if the partition was originally folded contrary to existing technology, then the defects can be corrected only by completely destroying the structure.

But don’t be afraid, because the technology for constructing wall partitions from PGP is quite simple. And if you treat it with due attention, the impression of the work done will be very positive.

AlexDo User FORUMHOUSE

I worked at a construction site. The buildings of the old foundation were reconstructed. So, all the partitions were made from gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs, the work was a pleasure. Just right as a partition. Easy and quick to install. The walls are smooth. After puttying, they are ready for painting or wallpaper. The fasteners in the slab hold well. Sound insulation is also normal. But if anything happens, you can make a sheathing, lay mineral wool and finish it with clapboard or panels.

A little about the practicality of GPP

Manufacturers of gypsum boards guarantee that this material provides reliable fastening standard elements modern interior. This means that gypsum plasterboard partitions can withstand loads comparable to those on walls made of other standard materials. Wall cabinets, household appliances, suspended ceilings– all this can be easily mounted on a tongue-and-groove gypsum partition. You can expand the functionality of a wall partition made of PGP by installing metal-plastic elements into its body. water pipes(with a diameter of no more than 16 mm) and electrical wiring elements.

Grachev68 User FORUMHOUSE

You can also install doors in the tongue-and-groove without additional fittings, install electrics without any problems, and hang shelves and TV more reliably.

Tongue-and-groove slabs - what are they?

Standard PGPs come in two types: solid and hollow. The construction of solid slabs is more durable, but this material is significantly heavier than its hollow counterpart. For this reason it is not recommended
used as part of partitions mounted on the floor with
wooden joists.

Hollow PGPs provide high sound insulation (43 dB) without overloading the floor structure. Some people believe that all kinds of insect pests can live and multiply intensively in the internal space of hollow slabs. But such an opinion has not yet found serious confirmation.

Conventional (solid and hollow) tongue-and-groove slabs are used to construct partitions or wall cladding in rooms with dry and normal humidity levels. If the partition is planned to be installed in a room with high level humidity, then preference should be given to moisture-resistant slabs that have a peculiar greenish tint. Keep in mind that such PGPs are slightly heavier than regular solid products.

Preparatory work

List of tools for working with tongue-and-groove slabs:

  • Marking cord:
  • Hacksaw with a wide blade and large teeth;
  • Roulette;
  • Spatula;
  • Drill with a nozzle for stirring mixtures;
  • Bucket;
  • Construction level and plumb line;
  • Rubber mallet;
  • Square;
  • Screwdriver.

In accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturers, the length of the wall partition made of PGP should not exceed 6 m. The maximum height of the structure is 3.5 m. It is possible to increase these parameters, but the maximum strength of the partition is ensured only if the specified dimensions are observed.

The base for the wall made of tongue-and-groove slabs must be level, stable and completely free of dust. If the floor is concrete and there are differences in it exceeding 3 mm, then before starting installation work it needs to be leveled; create a leveling layer. For this purpose, a mortar based on sand and cement is suitable (grade of mortar is not lower than M50).

Alignment of the wall from PGP.

The solution is applied to a clean, damp floor. To obtain an ideal surface, you can create some kind of formwork and fill it with mortar precisely at a horizontal level. After complete drying, the base must be coated with a concrete primer.

If it is possible to do without a leveling layer, then the base under the future partition, as well as the junction of the partition with the enclosing walls, are covered with 2 layers of primer.

If the partition is mounted on a wooden floor, then the base must be reinforced with a strong, even beam.

Kirill147 User FORUMHOUSE

According to the technology, gypsum tongue-and-groove panels require a flat base - a screed or a separate non-sagging beam under the partition.

When the base is ready, you can mark the locations of partitions and doorways. This is done using lacing, a plumb line and a level.

Installation of the PGP can be carried out at temperatures from -10 to +30°C. Construction material must be brought into the room in advance. This will help him “get used” to the right temperature conditions and will insure the partition from deformation (when the temperature changes, the slabs may slightly change their volume).

Installation of elastic gasket

To ensure that temperature changes and deformation of the load-bearing elements of the building do not lead to the destruction of the partition over time, the structure made of PGP should be isolated from the base and adjacent walls with a special elastic (damper) tape. Damper tape for PGP protects the wall from mechanical damage and increases the soundproofing qualities of the partition. The elastic tape is a special cork backing (at least 75 mm wide), which we will glue to the base and walls in accordance with the markings made. The boards and tape are fixed with the same mounting adhesive.

Consumables intended for installation work (building mixtures, gaskets, dowels, hangers, etc.) should be selected based on the recommendations of the PGP manufacturer. At sub-zero temperatures, the installation of PGP is carried out using a frost-resistant adhesive gypsum mixture.

Apply a thin layer of glue to the prepared surface using a spatula. The tape is rolled out from above and pressed lightly with your hands. The glue sets within one hour. After this period, you can begin building the partition.

Installation of PGP

The damper gasket under the tongue-and-groove slabs is covered with a layer of assembly adhesive, onto which the lower, first row of the PGP is laid. The plate can be positioned with the groove up or with the groove down - it doesn’t matter. But if the groove is at the bottom, then the ridge will not have to be sawed off to make the slab level. It is allowed to install the top row of slabs vertically (if this becomes necessary due to material savings).

When laying the first row, the vertical groove of the tongue-and-groove slab and the base of the floor are coated with glue. Particular attention should be paid to maintaining vertical and horizontal levels. The slabs should be set using a mallet.

The thickness of vertical and horizontal seams should not exceed 2 mm. After installing the next slab in its place, use a spatula to remove excess glue at its joints.

Additional elements for filling gaps between solid slabs, walls and openings are easily cut from PGP using a hacksaw.

The relative displacement of vertical joints in the PGT masonry must be at least 10 cm. This is prerequisite to ensure structural strength.

At the intersection of two partitions made of gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs, as well as in the corners, the slabs are laid in such a way that their joints overlap each other. Tongue-and-groove elements that interfere with proper dressing should be cut off with a hacksaw.

After the partition is ready, its outer corners must be strengthened with a perforated metal profile and puttied.

People often ask whether it is necessary to glue tongue-and-groove partitions with serpyanka. Yes, the inner corners are glued with serpyanka and coated with putty.

Fastening the partition to the wall

The strength of the connection of the tongue-and-groove partition to the walls and base is ensured by the installation of additional elements: mounting angles, fittings or hangers. It is more convenient to use mounting angles or hangers. After all, they are attached to the slab using ordinary self-tapping screws, and to the walls using dowels. The slabs of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th rows are attached to the side walls. It is possible more often, but there must be several (at least three) fastenings. A strong base connection is created for every second slab.

During installation, direct hangers can be installed directly into the groove of the slab, having previously cut them to the required dimensions.

Between the top row of masonry and the ceiling of the room you will need a technological gap of at least 1.5 cm. It must be left and foamed polyurethane foam. After drying, excess foam must be cut off and the seam must be puttied. Between the top row and the ceiling, additional fasteners are installed at the same frequency as below.

Creating Doorways

For installing door or window openings, the width of which does not exceed 90 cm, you can make masonry without additional reinforcement. In this case, an auxiliary structure made of wooden beam, which is removed after the slabs of the top row are laid and the mounting adhesive has set.

If the opening width exceeds 90 cm, then a wooden or metal lintel should be installed above it. The ends of the lintel should protrude 50 cm beyond the opening on each side. This will ensure even distribution of the load on the partition.

The door (window) frame is attached to the partition using frame dowels and mounting foam.

Inter-apartment partitions made of PGP

Apartment partitions made of PGP, unlike interior partitions, are made double. A technological gap of 4 cm is left between the plates. First, one partition is erected, then the second. In order to enhance sound insulation, the space between the slabs is filled soundproofing material, mineral wool, etc..

Installation of communications

The design of partitions made of PGP allows the installation of hidden electrical wiring. Gypsum boards are strong enough to allow vertical grooves to be made into them and are thick enough to install distribution boxes. Technological cavities inside hollow PGP can be used as horizontal grooves.

If the channel chosen for laying the wire is expanded with a crown with a diameter of 45 mm, then the cable will pass through it without difficulty. The main thing is not to clog the side hole of the slab with glue during installation work.

To make it more convenient to pass the wire through horizontal channels, blind mounting holes can be made in the side surface of the partition.

Some doubt the safety of vertical gating of plaster walls. But, according to manufacturers (and the builders themselves), there is nothing to be afraid of.

Hello to all readers and blog visitors.
Just the other day I was considering the topic of partitions from. This became a reason for discussing other modern options, for example, construction partitions made of tongue-and-groove slabs. Moreover, I myself really like this option, and perhaps I will use it in a house that...

Tongue-and-groove slabs - convenient, practical, economical building material for quick construction of partitions

I want to ask you one question. Tell me, can two people install a partition of 20-30 m2 in one day? They can. If gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs were used for the installation of partitions. Yes, perhaps I even thought about 2 people, and one can handle it. Why so sure? With just my own hands I built the walls of a house from expanded clay blocks, and the tongue-and-groove slab weighs a little more, at least hollow - I already held it in my hands while studying it in a construction hypermarket. But this is not the only issue. With my usual pedantry, I studied the issue regarding these slabs, now I will share it, and you will see for yourself. Looking ahead a little, I will say that despite the apparent simplicity of the masonry (due to the magic grooves), nevertheless, the result will be successful only if they are used correctly.

Construction of interior partitions

The most popular material for the device interior partitions in apartments or residential buildings are: brick, slag concrete, expanded clay concrete, gas silicate blocks, drywall, and today the hero of the article is becoming no less popular - plaster tongue-and-groove slabs (GWP). The choice of the most optimal option depends on the specifics of the work. For example, they are often erected where the structural fencing requires special strength and increased sound insulation. But the construction of a brick partition, as well as its subsequent finishing and gating, is very painstaking work. But you really want to make your task easier and choose the best option, especially when you do everything in your own hands. In general, my motto in this regard is “ minimum body movements, with greater efficiency". And for this you need to choose the right material and technology. And tongue-and-groove slabs fit my motto in the best possible way.


Construction of a partition from PGP

Structures made of expanded clay concrete, slag concrete and are inexpensive. And by the way, due to their size, gas silicate blocks are also laid quite quickly, plus they are even lighter than tongue-and-groove slabs (but at the same time less durable). But they however require plastering. And expanded clay and slag concrete are also not ideal in terms of environmental friendliness. In addition, all of the listed options do not have these magical grooves due to which the masonry turns out to be perfectly even. In general, when speed and ease of construction are paramount for us and there is neither the desire nor the funds for it, and with the condition that in the future there are no plans to hang very heavy interior elements on the walls (for example, a 100-liter boiler), then a tongue-and-groove slab would be a very good option .

Characteristics of tongue-and-groove slabs

So what is tongue-and-groove gypsum board and what is the technology for its production? The PGP is a monolithic block with dimensions of 667 x 500 mm and a thickness of 80/100 mm with ridges and grooves along the joining and supporting surfaces. Its weight may vary from 20 to 37 kg, it depends on the type of product and thickness. The technology for producing GGP is quite simple. A solution of gypsum and water of a certain thickness is poured into a special “gypsum cooker”, where the water gradually evaporates and the solution thickens. Next, the resulting mass is poured into molds and sent to the drying chamber, where the material hardens through the hydration reaction of the gypsum binder.



The tongue-and-groove slabs are dried. They are all so white and slender, I just want to take them to my place, to my house)

After which the finished slabs are left to stand for at least another day. The result is an environmentally friendly product that is not hazardous to health. Which is odorless, does not contain any toxic compounds, is characterized by increased vapor permeability and is, as it were, a regulator of the humidity regime in the room, like all products made from pure gypsum.

Gypsum tongue-and-groove boards are fire resistant. Their soundproofing characteristics meet all GOST standards for interior partitions (41 dBA). Among other things, on the smooth and even surface of walls made of tongue-and-groove slabs, after the joints have been erected and puttyed, you can immediately glue wallpaper, and after complete puttying, paint it.


Bathroom partitions made of GGP gypsum boards

Manufacturers, price

GGPs are produced by many companies, the leaders of which are considered to be the well-known, good old one, as well as "BelGIPS", "Volma" And Peshelansky gypsum plant. One of the important factors of these slabs, compared to other wall building materials, is their relatively low price - 150-260 rub. per piece. Full-bodied ones are more expensive. In order not to be unfounded, I’ll visit my favorite Leroy Merlin online right now (by the way, there is also a favorite Baucenter, but since it’s not in all cities, so I’m bringing Leroy), you can see the prices in the screenshot (2019).


The price of tongue-and-groove slabs on the Leroy online storefront

And by the way, they are all quite positive reviews, however, some people complain a little about the geometry (slabs from the Angarsk plant). But here, as elsewhere, it depends on the manufacturer, so pay attention to this when purchasing. But everyone unanimously declares - speed and ease of construction of partitions! What else do you need, strength? They are quite durable, at least stronger than the gas silicate slabs that are also fashionable today. But they are inferior to brick, yes. But we know that construction options that are ideal in all respects do not exist in nature, there are only optimal options in relation to a given situation. But now it’s time to discuss the pros and cons of these plates.

Pros and cons of tongue-and-groove slabs

Like any building material, these slabs have their pros and cons, let's see what's more.

Pros:

  1. Do not contain toxic substances and components.
  2. Not flammable, fireproof.
  3. They have increased gas and vapor permeability.
  4. Partitions made from these slabs are easy and quick to erect.
  5. Simple processing (easy to plan, drill, saw).
  6. The front side does not need additional. plastering.
  7. After finishing the seams, the surface can be immediately tiled, wallpapered and, in some cases, painted.
  8. Small price.

Cons:

  1. Not suitable for load-bearing walls/partitions.
  2. Manufacturers suggest using it only in buildings where all shrinkage processes have already completed (in principle, this is also true for other materials).

Have you considered the pros and cons? Draw your own conclusions.

Types of tongue-and-groove slabs

There are two main types of PGP on Russian markets: standard and moisture resistant(hydrophobized), which include special additives that reduce moisture absorption (not higher than 5%). The former are used in rooms with a normal and dry climate (no higher than 60% humidity), the latter are preferably in toilets, bathrooms and other “wet” rooms where the humidity exceeds 60%.

Note: in rooms with high humidity, manufacturers recommend using moisture-resistant tongue-and-groove boards. Finished partitions made of PGP are lined ceramic tiles, and apply waterproofing to the area of ​​foreseeable exposure to moisture.

It is worth noting that some manufacturers paint during the manufacturing process. moisture resistant boards V green, while others apply markings confirming this. But one way or another, there is an easy way to find out which slab in front of you is moisture resistant or not. Of course, just spray water on it. If drops roll off the surface (display of water-repellent properties) and are not absorbed, this is a water-repellent board.

Among other things, both standard and moisture-resistant GGP can be full and hollow. The latter are practically in no way inferior to the full-bodied ones in terms of strength, but they are 25% lighter, and in addition, they are lower in price. For example, the mass of a solid block from Volma, 667 x 500 x 80 mm, weighs 26-28 kg, while the mass of an identical but hollow block is 20-22 kg. Or mass Peshelanskaya a solid slab of the same dimensions weighs 28-30 kg, and a hollow slab weighs 24-26.


Installation of partitions from hollow tongue-and-groove slabs

Knowing this feature and using lightweight slabs, you can increase productivity by reducing the labor intensity of work, and at the same time reduce the load on the floor, or save, for example, on transportation by increasing the number of GWP blocks in one machine.

Installation of partitions from KNAUF tongue-and-groove slabs

The entire technology of laying/installing the PGP is presented step by step as follows (taking into account the recommendations of the manufacturers themselves):



Installation of KNAUF gypsum boards

Gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs are used not only for the construction of interior partitions, but also for interior decoration of external walls. In both cases, work with them begins only after the construction of all enclosing and load-bearing structures of the building, but before laying the finished floor.

IN winter time Installation of slabs can be carried out even in unheated rooms, provided that the temperature is not lower than 5 o C. Please note that the slabs require acclimatization, so they must rest in the room being repaired for at least 4 hours.

The construction of partitions from PGP is somewhat reminiscent of assembling a children's Lego set. An important installation condition is to correctly combine each element and strictly observe the vertical and horizontal position of the rows of blocks. Confidence in the strength of the structure is guaranteed by assembly adhesive prepared from mixtures recommended by the manufacturer of the boards.

Note: to attach various types of objects to tongue-and-groove partitions, a number of requirements must be met. When hanging suspended shelves, sanitary fixtures and other fixtures (weight load from 30 to 100 kg), special corrosion-resistant anchors are used that pass through the entire thickness of the walls. When hanging pictures, mirrors, small shelves with a weight load of up to 30 kg, you can use ordinary plastic anchor dowels. If necessary, place different engineering communications on partitions made of PGP, or in order to increase sound insulation, it is preferable to erect a double partition. In this case, the first to be erected is the partition to which it will be attached. engineering equipment or soundproofing material.

To improve your understanding of the installation of tongue-and-groove slabs, you can watch this video from the manufacturer himself, everything is very detailed and clear:

Installation errors

If a partition made of these slabs “rattles” or allows sounds to pass through when struck lightly, this indicates that some mistakes were made during their installation. For example, maximum permissible dimensions exceeded partitions. They should be: 4.5 x 6 m for slabs with a thickness of 100 mm and 3.6 x 6 m for slabs with a thickness of 80 mm.

Another possible error is rigid connection of the partition with the adjacent structure(should only be done using mounting adhesive), which is only possible in those rooms where there are no regulatory conditions for sound insulation.

And finally, there may be such an option - the partition is poorly attached when the slabs are elastically connected (through the gasket). The technology for installing tongue-and-groove blocks suggests using, in addition to glue, special staples– 100 x 120 x 20 mm. It is worth noting here that the density of the elastic cork gasket must be at least 250 kg/m3, thickness - 5 mm. Instead of cork, you can use a pad made of bumized felt with a density of at least 300 kg/m 3, also 5 mm thick. And if you did everything strictly according to the instructions, then installation errors are excluded.

Video of installation of partitions from PGP

For many it is easier to see once than to read 10 times. One video is good, but two or three are better in order to better understand the material.

This video shows the process of laying slabs on glue:

And in this video the nuances of sawing:

And finally, applying putty on the surface of the slabs:

“I worked in many places, mastered a lot of skills. From construction to programming. And by profession I am an ecologist. A few years ago I took a plot of land and began to actively study the construction business in theory and practice. Now the house is standing, and I write articles :)”

When remodeling an apartment or building a private house, you have to install new partitions. Selecting material for them is not so easy. It should not create excessive load on the floor, must be reliable and have good load-bearing capacity. It is also desirable that the installation be simple and quick, and the price low. There are not many materials and technologies that meet these requirements. These are tongue-and-groove slabs. In this article we will talk about tongue-and-groove ridges.

What kind of material is this and its types

Tongue-and-groove slabs (abbreviated as GGP) or blocks are a large-format building material for the construction of partitions in the form of a slab, at the ends of which a ridge (tenon) and groove are formed. Hence the name - tongue-and-groove slabs. They are:

Plasticizers and hydrophobic (water-repellent) additives are added to the solution to improve properties. Gypsum gypsum boards have another name - gypsum boards. It is understandable: the gypsum solution is poured into molds. Here is the “source” of this variant of the name.

Moisture resistance and hollowness

Depending on the area of ​​use, tongue-and-groove slabs can be intended for normal operating conditions (ordinary, standard) or for wet rooms (moisture-resistant). Moisture-resistant ones are tinted greenish for better identification.

Both gypsum and silicate tongue-and-groove slabs are either solid or hollow. Solid ones are more durable; hollow ones, due to their lower weight, create less load on the floors. The choice between solid and hollow must be made based on several factors:

  • Soundproofing characteristics. Monolithic material without voids conducts sounds better, so it is used if sound insulation will be made in a separate layer (the best option) or if it is not so important.
  • Loads on partitions. If you need to hang shelves, furniture, or fasten some heavy objects on the walls, it is better to use a monolith.
  • . On wooden floors or on old ones wooden floors It is better to install less heavy (hollow) blocks.

If several factors need to be taken into account, sound insulation is considered last. You can increase noise protection by using special technology installation (on vibration-damping pads), as well as by adding an additional layer of soundproofing materials.

Specifications

If we compare conventional and moisture-resistant tongue-and-groove slabs, the differences in characteristics are only in water absorption and strength. Moisture-resistant, due to the large number of hydrophobic additives, they almost do not absorb moisture. Due to the large number of these additives, they are more expensive, since these additives are expensive. At the same time, they increase strength (M50 compared to M35).

By the way, you can check “without leaving the checkout” whether this is really a moisture-resistant PGP or just a standard one painted green. Just pour some water on the surface. Standard slabs will quickly absorb it, but on water-repellent slabs it will remain in a puddle for a long time.

If we compare gypsum and silicate partition blocks, the increased strength of the latter immediately catches the eye - M150 compared to M50 and M35. That is, the strength of silicate slabs is comparable to concrete of a good grade. If you are going to hang something very heavy on the partition, it is better to use silicate. Manufacturers also produce blocks 115 mm thick, which are called inter-apartment blocks.

How else do silicate slabs differ from their gypsum counterparts? Because in the standard version they do not have such a high absorbency. It is not as low as that of moisture-resistant blocks, but this material can be used in any wet areas without problems (13% compared to 26-32%). The disadvantages of this material are greater weight (with equal dimensions) and lower thermal insulation characteristics.

Silicate or gypsum?

If we compare the soundproofing characteristics of gypsum blocks and silicate ones, the latter, with equal parameters, conduct sounds worse (40-43 dB for gypsum and 48-52 dB for silicate). So for better sound insulation we choose silicate.

But silicate blocks of the same size have greater weight and higher thermal conductivity (they conduct heat better). The key in the choice is weight, since sound and thermal insulation can be improved with the help of additional layers of special materials, but there is no way to reduce the weight of the partition. And if its mass is critical for the overlap, nothing good can be expected.

How to build with tongue-and-groove slabs

In order for a partition made of tongue-and-groove blocks to be reliable and stable, certain conditions must be met:


In general, it is necessary to strictly follow all recommendations and strictly follow the technology. Then tongue-and-groove partitions do not differ in strength and reliability from brick ones, but are erected many times faster.

Marking

The laying of the tongue-and-groove wall begins with markings. If you have a laser plane builder, everything is simple: unfold the plane, draw lines on the floor, walls, ceiling. If there is no such tool, you will have to spend more time. A plumb line will be required. The one that won’t fit in a smartphone is not a measuring tool. It’s better to buy one at a hardware store or make one from twine and a centered weight.

We draw the first line on the ceiling and use a plumb line to transfer it to the floor. By connecting the points on the floor and ceiling, we get lines on the walls. As a result, a closed marking was formed to align the partition.

We inspect the base on which we will place the blocks. It should be perfectly aligned when viewed along the partition line, and should not fall forward or backward when viewed across.

If there are door or window openings in the partition, they must also be marked. With doors everything is simple - we mark them on the floor. It’s more difficult with windows - you need beacons on the walls and ceiling.

Preparing the base

As already said, the base must be perfectly level without tilting in any direction. If there are deviations, concrete floor fill in the leveling screed (not lower than M150). To do this, you will have to assemble the formwork into which the solution is poured. The minimum layer thickness is 3 cm. To get a guaranteed high-quality result, use a self-leveling composition. Just keep in mind that the errors “correct themselves” are not too large. You still need to distribute the composition manually. Simply run a spatula, dispersing the solution along the entire length, and small irregularities are leveled out due to the increased fluidity of the material.

Cover the poured concrete with polyethylene and leave it for about a week. This is if the room temperature does not drop below +20°, during which time it will gain 50% strength. This means that you can work with it. If the temperature is lower, the period increases. At a temperature of 17°C and slightly lower, 2 weeks are already needed... We coat the even base with concrete contact - it will improve the adhesion of the base to the adhesive composition on which we will place the PGP.

If we place tongue-and-groove blocks on a wooden floor, the partition must pass over the beam - this is it. Second, we level the base using dry timber. It must be secured so that it is also horizontally aligned in all directions. We fasten the timber to the floor with nails or self-tapping screws. If there is a joint, we connect it into half a tree, additionally coating the joint with wood glue and fastening it with nails.

To improve sound insulation

The main disadvantage of gypsum tongue-and-groove partitions is that the sound insulation is not very high. The situation with silicate blocks is better, but also not ideal. Therefore, we recommend laying vibration-absorbing tape around the perimeter of the partition. It is no secret that most sounds are transmitted through vibrations through the floor, ceiling and adjacent walls and elastic gaskets significantly improve the situation.

Under tongue-and-groove slabs, you can use a strip of bituminized felt or cork with a density of 250-300 kg/m³. The width of the strip is slightly less than the width of the blocks. It is laid on a leveled base using the same binder that you will use to seal the seams between the slabs. The solution is applied to the surface treated with concrete contact (after drying) in a layer of 2-3 mm. Lay the tape by rolling it with a roller, expelling air bubbles. The protruding solution is removed with a spatula. In this way, the tape is glued to the floor, walls, and ceiling. Levelness is checked using a bubble level.

Preparing slabs for installation

If silicate tongue-and-groove slabs are used, no preparation is required - their upper and lower surfaces do not have a groove/ridge. They are absolutely smooth (as in the photo below).

When working with a gypsum tongue-and-groove, first you need to decide whether you will place the blocks with the tongue or groove facing up. It is more convenient to work when the groove is directed upward, but the reverse position is not a mistake.

If you decide to lay the PGP with the groove up, you need to cut off the tenon on all blocks of the first row. The most convenient way to do this is with a hacksaw. The resulting cut is uneven. We level it using a plane.

Pay attention! The cut of the slab must be absolutely even. This determines how firmly the wall of tongue-and-groove slabs will stand. And the cut tongue-and-groove slabs must be the same height.

The seam between the blocks does not exceed 2 mm, so it is almost impossible to correct even small deviations. Therefore, we align carefully and carefully. After leveling, the dust is swept away with a brush and you can begin to build the wall.

First row

The sequence of actions when laying a wall made of tongue-and-groove slabs is simple and very similar to a brick one. There are only some features. Since the partition is usually adjacent to the wall, if a tenon is turned towards it, it is cut off with a saw, the surface is leveled with a plane, and the dust is removed. The next procedure is as follows:


In this way the entire row is lined up. The last slab usually has to be trimmed. This could be the beginning of a doorway or simply the last slab in a row. Its length should be 3-4 mm less than the remaining gap - the seam gap. You should not increase the gap - stability will decrease. For greater confidence, the joint can be reinforced with a metal corner. Two or three corners for each row. That's enough.

Second and subsequent

Tongue-and-groove slabs are laid with staggered seams - like bricks. The shift of the second row can be half or a third of the length. Best option- half. We cut half of the whole slab, cut off the tenon if necessary, and install it. Further masonry is no different. The third row again starts with a whole block, the fourth with a half, etc.

After laying each block, check whether it is positioned correctly. With such block sizes, the error accumulates very quickly. Therefore, we first check each installed block with a level for verticality/horizontalness. and then, placing the bar horizontally, grabbing the adjacent blocks and moving them from top to bottom, make sure there are no gaps. We also check that there are no deviations in the vertical plane.

Control of verticality and horizontality is one of the main tasks

Corner

If the wall being built from tongue-and-groove blocks has an outer corner, we begin the laying from there. To make the work easier, we create a corner support. This could be a corner with fairly wide shelves or two boards connected at 90°C. We put the structure in place, check the correct installation, and temporarily fix it to the ceiling and floor.

We cut off the side tenon of one of the slabs, rest its edge against the installed stop, level it, using a mallet to set the direction. We also cut off the side tenon of the second slab, apply glue to this edge, and join it to the side surface installed slab, tap until there is tight contact (diagram in the figure above).

To install the second row, you need to make a cut in the already installed slab for the lower tenon of the next block. We take a hacksaw for metal and make cuts. Then, using a wall chaser (a tool for working with foam concrete, but it is also useful for laying wiring in the PGP) or any hard tool, we remove the excess, align the groove, making it the same size and shape as the groove. Use a brush or a construction vacuum cleaner to remove dust.

We place the second row starting from the other side - so that the seam is on the other side of the corner. Apply the solution to the end of the lower block. We take half of the block, cut off the side tenon, and install the bottom one in the prepared groove (far right diagram in the figure below). He must also rest against installed corner. We carefully align the installed tongue-and-groove slabs, checking for verticality and the absence of even the slightest deviation.

Branch

We also need to consider the branch from the partition at a right angle. The partitions will be more reliable if they are made with ligation (middle diagram in the figure). All three slabs that are being installed have the side tenon cut off. The joints are coated with adhesive, and the three blocks are driven close to each other with a mallet. In this case, it is also necessary to ensure that the partition is perpendicular - that is, the angle is 90°.

We line up the second row so that the middle of the block is above the junction. To install it, you will also need to make a groove in the protrusions of the lower block. These rows are then alternated.

There is another way to install a T-shaped partition from a tongue-and-groove - without ligation. To do this, simply lay out the wall (which in the letter T is the top crossbar). Attach a second partition to the finished wall, end-to-end (left diagram in the figure above). To increase the reliability of the connection, metal reinforced perforated corners are installed at the junction.

Doorway

A doorway in a wall made of tongue-and-groove slabs can be made with or without a reinforcing beam. It can be done without a reinforcing beam if the width of the opening does not exceed half the length of the block. So a doorway 900 mm wide can be made without a beam if the ceiling is made of 900 mm long GRP. Moreover, the joint of the plates should be located almost in the middle. A slight shift is allowed (by 10 mm), but so that the length of the entire part of the block to the right and left of the opening is not less than 445 mm.

During installation, before the glue sets, the lintel above the door is reinforced with a stop (a board supported by a pole resting on the floor) or a structure assembled from boards as in the right diagram. In this case, first assemble a U-shaped lintel from boards and secure it with self-tapping screws to the blocks located below (check the horizontality of the lintel). Apply a block and mark how it needs to be cut. It turns out two L-shaped blocks of the same or almost identical sizes. After applying the solution in the right places, they are installed.

If we use tongue-and-groove slabs 667 mm long, a reinforcing beam must be installed under an opening larger than 660 mm. To make a beam, you can use a metal corner, channel, reinforcement, or strips of metal of considerable thickness. It is possible to use dry wooden beams with a thickness of 50 mm or more (pre-treat with an antiseptic). The beam should protrude 400-450 mm beyond the doorway.

Partitions made from PGP are used for redevelopment of premises or delimitation of apartments in new buildings. They are distinguished by their smooth surface, ease of installation and budget cost. The blocks are connected using a tongue-and-groove system, the seams on the finished structure are minimal. This makes it possible not to putty, but to immediately coat the wall with a primer and decorate it.

Tongue-and-groove slabs for partitions are rectangular elements with longitudinal grooves and protrusions (ridges) at the joints, necessary for a strong and seamless bond. Their standard sizes- 667x500x80 mm, thickness can be 100 mm.

There are tongue-and-groove slabs for large partitions, with a height from floor to ceiling.

Their installation is very fast, but you can’t handle it yourself - due to the large weight of the building elements, a whole team is involved in the installation.


Types of tongue-and-groove blocks for interior partitions, depending on the material of manufacture:

View Manufacturing method Positive qualities
Gypsum boards Made from gypsum with plasticizing additives. Gypsum blocks for partitions are divided into moisture-resistant (green) and those whose moisture permeability is high. Allowed for installation in children's rooms. Another advantage of gypsum blocks is their ease of processing. Gypsum blocks can be sawn at any angle - gypsum elements can be used to create structures of various shapes and configurations.
Silicate blocks From quicklime and water with the addition of quartz sand using an autoclave. They have significant noise insulation qualities. Compared to gypsum, they are resistant to moisture and have greater strength and durability.

PGP partitions can be solid or hollow. The latter weigh less (22 kg compared to 28 for monolithic ones), but cannot withstand hanging massive household items.

Advantages of GGP partitions

The general advantages of partitions made of gypsum or silicone tongue-and-groove plates are:


The use of hollow slabs reduces the load on the supporting base.


The main advantage of such building elements: installation of tongue-and-groove partitions is not difficult. Finished design does not require special finishing work. There is no need to plaster the wall, just cover it with a primer and decorate it.


Installation of partitions from PGP

The installation of partition elements made of gypsum or silicate in the apartment begins after the construction of load-bearing parts, but before laying the subfloor and starting painting and plastering work.

Installation of a partition made of standard-sized tongue-and-groove slabs takes only two to three days. This is due to the convenient tongue-and-groove system and the absence of the need for additional reinforcement.

When docking, any deviations along the planes are excluded, which allows you to assemble in a short time flat wall without even a millimeter error.

If you need to hide communications, special grooves are made in solid blocks. In hollow ones, wires and pipes can be laid in the internal cavity. If the construction of partitions from PGP does not involve gating, the double wall method is used. But they “eat up” twice as much space.


Materials and tools

To build a partition from tongue-and-groove slabs you will need the following set of tools:

  • roulette;
  • electric drill;
  • mallet;
  • construction level;
  • spatula;
  • hand saw;
  • ruler, pencil;
  • screwdriver;
  • mixer for mixing glue.


The materials you will need are the blocks themselves, a cork or felt seal, edge tape, rope, glue, and primer. Fastening elements are also needed: screws, dowel-nails, fixing brackets - straight hangers or corners.


Preparatory work

The construction of a partition created from tongue-and-groove blocks requires certain preparation. First of all, you need to check the compliance of the floor and ceiling horizontal levels, and make sure that the tongue-and-groove slabs are closely adjacent to them: smooth out prominent irregularities, fill cracked areas and depressions with a solution of cement and sand.


The blocks are brought into the room no later than 24 hours before installation so that the material “adapts”, that is, has the necessary humidity and temperature.

To build the wall, gypsum-based acrylic adhesive is used.

But it is very expensive, so many people replace it with regular tile adhesive or a solution of cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3 with the addition of polyvinyl acetate glue. If everything is thoroughly mixed, the result is a fairly plastic and finely dispersed mixture, which can be easily applied with a spatula. It is easier to make masonry with mortar, since its setting time is longer than that of gypsum glue.


Before constructing interior partitions, all surface areas in contact with them are primed and marked according to the previously created drawing.


Laying tongue-and-groove blocks

It is not difficult to assemble a partition from tongue-and-groove slabs with your own hands. The main thing is not to violate the technology when constructing a bulkhead from PGP.


Installation guide for partitions made of tongue-and-groove slabs - step-by-step instructions:


If the structure of a false wall requires an opening for a door, it is necessary to fix the blocks located on top. When installing one row of blocks over an opening up to 0.8 m wide, it is permissible to install them on a door frame or a non-permanent wooden lintel.

If the width is more than 0.8 m or it is necessary to lay several rows, you will need to install a lintel for tongue-and-groove slabs made of wooden blocks or a metal channel.

It is mounted with glue in specially made cuts approximately 5 cm deep in corner blocks. After the solution has dried, the upper rows of slabs are installed.


After finishing the work, the tongue-and-groove partitions need to be primed. Especially if tongue-and-groove gypsum boards were used. The primer ensures adhesion of the decorative layer and will avoid the appearance of surface defects.


Any type of wallpaper and painting are suitable for finishing. It is better to finish the kitchen and bathroom tiles or plastic panels. For the living room, children's room, and bedroom, wallpaper or decorative plaster is often chosen.