How to choose plastic panels for walls and ceilings

Plastic panels are an inexpensive, moisture resistant and lightweight coating for walls and ceilings. Plastic panels are widely used in the repair of rooms where high humidity is possible: bathtub, toilet, balcony, kitchen, less often in other rooms.

What are panels?

Plastic panels are made of solid polyvinyl chloride; they are two sheets connected by stiffeners - internal longitudinal honeycombs. Plastic panels are fireproof, hygienic, easy to install.

On a note!

By appointment, the panels are divided into ceiling and wall, while the ceiling panels are longer and thinner. But if you wish, you can use the ceiling panels for the walls, and wall - for the ceiling.

Read more: How to glue the ceiling plinth

The advantages of plastic panels include:

light weight;
billeting installation;
good soundproofing properties;
moisture resistance, environmental friendliness and fire resistance;
easy care;
low price;
large selection of colors and textures.

Along with that, there are some disadvantages that should be taken into account:

low strength;
new panels sometimes leave a specific odor that will fade over time;
panels are used mainly where moisture resistance is important.

Manufacturers produce panels with suture and seamless locks. There are on sale panels with rust - a deep seam. Suture panels have a raised edge and resemble a wooden lining.

On a note!

In appearance, the surface of the panel can be matte, glossy, semi-gloss, and according to the technological features of the production - varnished and laminated.

How to choose the right plastic panels:

carefully inspect the panels for defects, since during installation such defects will be noticeable;
all panels should be the same size, color, texture;
check for signs of damage or deformation on the stiffeners, the panels should be easily and tightly inserted into the docking groove - this will be important during installation and further operation;
stiffeners should be located strictly perpendicular to the front and inner panels that they connect;

the thickness of the front panel must be at least 2.5 mm, as this will affect the strength and durability of the material;
the number of stiffeners should be from 20 to 29;
the quality of the panels can be checked by weight comparison: the more weight, the denser and more reliable the panels;
appearance: before buying, inspect the material for absence of external defects, uniformity of color and texture of each panel, there are no signs of damage or deformation on the stiffeners, which indicates a violation of storage conditions.

Installation of plastic panels

Plastic panels are installed on a specially prepared frame or directly on the wall. The frame mounting method allows you to not carry out preparatory work to level the surface of the walls or ceiling and subsequently make it easy to replace a damaged panel. Frameless installation is faster and cheaper.

On a note!

For self-installation of panels you will need to accurately calculate the amount of material.

For installation work you will need tools:

screwdriver;
hacksaw for metal;
hammer drill or drill;
roulette and level;
construction stapler;
fasteners.

Surface preparation is the dismantling of the old finish: tiles, wallpaper, panels, alignment of the walls, if necessary, and installation of the frame - laths of wooden, plastic or metal battens.

The frame slats should be perpendicular to the plastic panels at a distance of not less than 500 mm, it is important to place the frame slats under the edges of the panel. It is necessary to constantly monitor that the frame is smooth, since all the bumps will be very clearly visible.

In order to finish the walls or ceiling beautiful and even, it is necessary not only to choose high-quality panels, but also to correctly install them. In this case, the panels will last a long time and will delight the owners with their appearance.