DIY plastic panels repair

In detail: do-it-yourself plastic panels repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

During repairs, you don't always want to deal with "wet" work - laying tiles, for example. There is a simpler technology - wall decoration with plastic panels. You can cope on your own, even without much experience in construction work, and in a day or two carry out repairs in the bathroom, toilet, balcony / loggia and kitchen.

This type of finishing material is made of PVC - polyvinyl chloride. In a semi-liquid state, this polymer is extruded into a mold. A drawing is applied to the finished panels. It can be first printed on foil, then glued and varnished (laminated panels). Moreover, these panels may not have a flat, but a textured surface. The drawing applied using this technology retains the paints for a long time, but such materials cost about two times more expensive.

Several samples of PVC laminated panels for wall decoration

Another technology is to apply the pattern directly to the plastic, and then cover it with two layers of varnish. Cheaper technology, but the service life and quality of the pattern is lower.

There are two types of plastic panels - for ceilings and for walls. Those intended for the ceiling have a thickness of 5 mm and thinner partitions, and the wall ones - from 8 to 10 mm and a greater thickness of the walls and partitions. You can determine which view is in front of you by looking at the cut. This type of finishing material differs in that it has a flat surface and with a tight joint the seams are not very noticeable.

Plastic panels for wall decoration

There is another standard size, which is also called plastic lining - with a thickness of 10 mm, the panel has a width of 10 cm and shaped edges, which are more characteristic of plastic lining. If you decorate the walls with this material, the surface will not be even, but embossed, similar to a wooden lining.

Video (click to play).

In width, plastic wall panels are most often 25 cm and 37 cm, length - 2700 cm and 3000 cm. There are other non-standard sizes, but these are most common. For the price, you can observe a fairly strong spread - it depends on the thickness of the walls, the type of printing, the manufacturer, the complexity of the pattern, etc.

Above we were talking about products that consist of two layers of plastic connected by jumpers. Along with a lot of advantages, they have a rather serious drawback: if you make enough effort, they can be pushed through. This is often the reason for not using them. Therefore, thin plastic wall panels have appeared on the market not so long ago. Their thickness is 3 mm and no cells. Only a layer of plastic with a pattern applied to the surface. Accordingly, there is nothing to push through. The dimensions of this type of panels are 950 * 480 mm or so.

Their installation method is different - they are glued to the walls. Due to the fact that this finishing material has a very small thickness, it is cut with scissors and, moreover, takes away a little space from the room - 3 mm.

It is clear that the choice begins with the color and pattern. But so that during the installation process there are no difficulties, during the purchase it is necessary to track some points:

Examine the cut of the selected plastic panel. The thicker the lintels and the front and back resin layers, the stronger the finish will be. You can also focus on weight - the larger it is, the thicker the panels will be.
The thickness of the plastic is the same everywhere, without thickenings and thinner places. This is a sign of normal quality.
Pay attention to the geometry. The cells should not be wrinkled, the edges should be absolutely even.Even if everything is packed, it does not interfere with unpacking and inspecting - so that there will be no problems later.
Examine the front surface. The drawing should be applied evenly, clearly, without smeared spots.
If you choose panels from different packs, but of the same color, carefully look at the colors - they may differ.

To make the wall decoration with plastic panels beautiful, check the quality in the store.

It is also worth checking the quality of the polymer used. It is necessary to take one bar so that it bends by about 30% and straighten it. Then examine it. If there is no damage to the plastic or the pattern, everything is fine.

What is good about finishing the walls with plastic panels is that you can do it yourself, it takes a little time. Well, and one more plus - you need the usual tools:

a drill with drills (install dowels) and a wood crown (drill holes for sockets, etc.);
screwdriver or screwdriver, construction stapler, glue - depending on which type of fastener you prefer;
saw with a blade for metal - cut plastic panels;
building level;
sharp knife - cut to width.

The lathing for wall panels must be in the same plane

This is all that may be needed when installing PVC panels on the walls. Time is running out - one or two days, depending on the experience and the areas being repaired.

The installation of PVC panels on the walls according to the technology should be done on the crate. The crate is made from:

Wooden blocks. The optimal section is 40 * 20 mm. Before installation on the walls, it is advisable to treat the wood with antiseptic compounds. If wall decoration with plastic panels is planned in a damp room, then special treatment against mold is also required. The panels are attached to wooden planks with wood screws, nails with a wide head, staples from a construction stapler.

Wooden battens for lathing under PVC panels

Metal profiles (galvanized)

This is how the mounting strips for PVC panels look

Of the three materials listed, plastic is best used for mounting plastic panels in a bathroom. It reacts little to temperature changes, does not react in any way to changes in humidity, does not rot and does not crack. Galvanized steel feels good in a humid environment, but it must be of good quality, otherwise it will rust anyway. The most unimportant material is wood, but they, with appropriate processing, also cost for years. And to keep it that way, follow the recommendations for application on the antibacterial composition exactly. In some cases, it is enough to smear a couple of times with a brush, in others - soak for a while and then dry.

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The advantage of the method is very fast, the disadvantage is that it only works on even (or almost) walls. But most importantly, it is simply impossible to remove the trim without destroying the plastic panels.

If you decide to carry out a long-planned renovation of a toilet or bathroom, then you, of course, know that the work of professionals will be quite expensive. Therefore, many people make a choice in favor of do-it-yourself repairs. Having a great desire and financial capabilities, you can choose the option with plastic panels. In addition, the installation of PVC panels in the bathroom is within the power of a person who has never encountered repair work. Especially if you know how to fix the panels in the bathroom with your own hands step by step and what is needed for this.Experts recommend starting repairs with surface preparation, where the frame or plastic materials will be attached. This primarily applies to old plaster, which can slightly expand the space between the wall and the panel. In addition, with the frameless method of fastening, the walls will need to be treated with plaster in order to exclude possible irregularities, and if the presence of small depressions is not prohibited, then large bulges are unacceptable.For any method of fastening with your own hands, the walls must be treated with special solutions with antifungal effect.The better the walls of the room are processed, the less likely it is that fungus or mold will form on them. Therefore, you should not save on them, it is better if you go to a hardware store to purchase them.If the repair has not been done in the bathroom for a long time, then just now it is necessary to start replacing the metal communication pipes. If your repair involves replacing or installing sockets in the bathroom, then before fixing the material, take care of supplying electricity to them. Image - DIY plastic panels repair

Plastic panels can be installed by hand using two mounting methods:

To make it easier to navigate which method of fastening to give preference, here are a few differences between the two methods of fastening:

the metal frame takes up a lot of useful space, which is so critical for placing a toilet or bathroom;
the metal frame consists of separate profiles, so the installed plastic has voids under it that are easy to push;
in the case of the frame method of fastening, there will be a void between the wall and the plastic in which various microorganisms will develop;
to make a frame for plastic panels, you will need to purchase metal profiles and various fasteners, while for a frameless method, you will only need glue liquid nails.

For cladding with a frame method, you will need:

cladding panels for the bathroom;
guide rails for lathing;
finishing profiles made of plastic;
plastic corners;
ceiling and floor plinth for the bathroom;
hacksaw;
self-tapping screws;
dowels;
puncher;
Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver.

For cladding in a frameless way, you need to prepare:

If you decide to do the cladding of a toilet or bathroom with your own hands, using a frameless method of fastening, in addition to preparing glue, liquid nails, you need to carry out some preparatory work. The most important point when performing these works is the preparation of the foundation.

In this case, we are not talking about a perfectly flat wall surface, differences of up to 3 mm are allowed. There should be no hills at all, and shallow depressions are allowed. To correct visible defects of the wall, plaster or putty it.

The next, important point, in the frameless method of fastening, is to work with the corners of the room. Most city apartments have slightly rounded corners, in the case of plastic, such corners will create additional difficulties when installing panels. To correct these shortcomings, you can use a punch and make the corners expressive.

It remains to prime the surface of the walls and you can start fixing the panels. For these works, you will need to stock up on liquid nails glue. Having calculated the area of the toilet and bathroom, calculate how much glue liquid nails you will need if its consumption, on average, is 1 cylinder per 5 square meters.

Having prepared the panel of the desired size, you need to apply liquid nails to it pointwise, placing the glue sections in a checkerboard pattern. Close to the edges, liquid nails are not applied, since, by attaching the panel to the wall, excess glue will come out, smearing the front side of the coating.

With the smeared side, the panel is applied to the wall, and pressed with a palm over the entire area. Then the material is torn off the wall and the liquid nails are allowed to dry for about 5-7 minutes. After 5-7 minutes, the strip is returned to the wall and pressed over the entire surface. This laying technology is not an invention of builders, but the specifics of working with glue liquid nails. If you ignore this technology, then the installed panels can easily move and the installation process will be disrupted.

Particular attention in this work is paid to the fastening of the first panel. To do this correctly, you need to use the level. And in order to avoid shifts of the strip in the process of laying the remaining strips, dowels or self-tapping screws are hammered at the bottom and top. In the finished version, their places of installation will not be visible, since they are usually covered with ceiling and floor skirting boards.

Don't forget about starting strips and corner joints. It is recommended to install them in the places where they are really needed. If the room of the toilet or bathroom will be equipped with a floor plinth, then you should not remember the starting profile.

The plinth well strengthens the fastening of the panel at the bottom, and the frame - of the ceiling at the top, therefore, it is not recommended to start repairs with cladding elements from the ceiling.

You can also mount plastic panels with your own hands in a frame way. The work begins with the installation of horizontal plastic guide rails, along the entire perimeter of the wall. To do this, you need to mark the walls for the installation of metal profiles. Using a punch, drill holes in places on the marking, drive in dowels there and, attaching the guides to the wall, attach them using self-tapping screws.

At the same time, it is not recommended to use wooden panels, since it will not be possible to achieve perfect joints, which will lead to the destruction of the wooden frame due to constant humidity. The frequency of the horizontal battens depends on how strong you want the cladding, but in general it is customary to use the following distances:

when facing the ceiling - 30-40 cm;
when facing walls - 40-50 cm.

In this case, the distance of the first and last slats from the floor surface should be about 5-7 cm. And the end parts of the profiles should exactly fit into the corners of the room. The slats of the future frame must be fixed perpendicular to the panels to be installed. In most cases, the panels are placed vertically, which means that the slats should be perpendicular to them and parallel to the floor. The vertical arrangement of the panels not only visually increases the height of the ceilings, but also better removes the accumulated moisture, since water drops will flow down, and with horizontally installed panels, water will linger on them.

After completing the frame, you can start attaching the panels, but how to do it correctly? The panels must be mounted on the frame using self-tapping screws, which can be easily screwed into them. In this case, you need to start from the corner farthest from the front door. To avoid moisture penetration between the panels, it is recommended to seal their joints with a sealant.

In order for the panels to fit beautifully in the corners of the room, it is necessary to use such a device as an external and internal profile, which in appearance resembles the English letter L. At the junction with the floor, you can use a plinth, then an additional profile is not required.

Having installed the side profile, one panel is inserted into it, and it is fixed to the frame rail. The rest of the panels are inserted into the gaps of the previous one, very tightly. If you have provided an outlet on the wall of the toilet or bathroom, then you need to cut a suitable hole on the panel to be installed and install it against the wall.

To give the room a more complete look, after installing the panels, attach the floor and ceiling skirting boards, in addition to the aesthetic function, they will also perform a practical one, hiding minor flaws.

To work quickly, you should heed the advice of experts:

if the room of the toilet or bathroom is small, then repair with lining is recommended to be carried out in light colors in order to visually increase its area;
If you want your toilet or bathroom renovation to look spectacular and unique, use panels of various sizes or colors for cladding. As a design, you can take panels with pictures, but here the main thing is to harmoniously dock them;
before you start cladding the room with your own hands, bring the purchased panels into the bathroom and leave them there for about an hour to avoid deformation;
you need to fasten the material from the farthest corner from the front door, in this case you can perform the most prominent places without errors and flaws;
before making repairs with your own hands, look at all problem areas where pipes or plumbing are located, this will help to quickly install the frame and plastic panels. For the frame, we usually make markings, observing the horizontal and vertical lines along which you will fasten the crate;
to mask water and drain pipes in the toilet, it is recommended to make a blende panel, which will only improve the interior design.

Plastic panels (lining) are used for interior decoration of houses and apartments. They are actively used to give the desired appearance to various rooms, such as balconies, bathrooms, baths, shops, offices. Do-it-yourself installation of PVC wall panels is a simple matter that will be within the power of anyone who has a desire to make repairs on their own.

First of all, you should decide what is hidden behind the PVC abbreviation.There is nothing difficult and scary in this. Under the three letters is a simple one - polyvinyl chloride, and if it's even simpler, then this is a kind of plastic. It has many advantages that are successfully used in the manufacture of finishing materials.

For greater persuasiveness, you should list the positive qualities that PVC panels have. So:

PVC panels are very popular due to their low price, as well as many other advantages.

It becomes clear that this product can be used in different cases. Of course, it is best to avoid installing panels when making renovations in nurseries and bedrooms.

Any hardware store has a large selection of plastic panels. They can be of various sizes, colors and textures. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain such products that can give a certain elegance to any interior.

Plastic panels are a great alternative to ceramic tiles for bathroom decoration, but subject to the right choice of material

What they pay attention to when choosing such a material:

The panels are quite light, but you should be alert if the weight is too small. This may indicate that there is a fake. Unfortunately, this is found even in large specialized stores.
There should be no imperfections on the front and on the seamy side. Namely, any cracks, chips, color irregularities immediately indicate that the product is of poor quality.
When choosing PVC panels, you need to pay attention to the release date of different packages. It is better to select those that have the same marking. Otherwise, significant variation may occur.

On a note! When choosing PVC products, do not hesitate to ask the seller for all the necessary documents. This is a guarantee of safety and a long service life of the material.

To carry out work on the repair or decoration of a room with plastic PVC panels, there are two main options.

Lathing for PVC panels

This is the simplest option. Various materials are used for its implementation. The following can be distinguished:

Wooden bar. Great for many areas, but cannot be used in humid areas.
Plastic strips. These are specially designed products that allow you to quickly mount panels.
Metallic profile. The same option is used that allows you to install sheets of gypsum board. But this method is quite expensive, although very reliable. Best used for ceilings.

2. Installation of panels without lathing.

Installation of panels directly on the wall

This method requires some skill and fairly flat walls. But, if you understand how this process takes place, then the skills come quickly enough. There is a significant drawback - if one of the elements becomes unusable, you will have to break the entire wall.

Each of the options is selected individually. It is necessary to take into account the size of the room, its disadvantages and climatic features.

To install plastic panels on the walls, a completely ordinary tool is used, which can be found in almost every home owner.

tape measure and level;
pencil and meter ruler;
drills and screwdriver;
screws (nails) and dowels;
stapler;
jigsaw (saw).

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Tools and fasteners for the installation of plastic lining

Do not forget that you will also need consumables. First of all, these are drills, bits, files and staples. It is better to prepare everything in advance, then the repair time will be significantly reduced.

Do-it-yourself installation of wall panels should not be carried out immediately after purchase, you need to give time so that they adapt to the conditions of the room. To do this, they are unpacked and allowed to rest. Better to take a day for this.

On a note! If, during the repair, the installation of plastic panels is planned without using a frame, then the surface is pre-primed. To do this, use solutions that are selected based on the material of the walls.

As already noted, the crate can be of several types. In principle, they are all similar in terms of their installation conditions. The installed frame allows you to correct significant irregularities and imperfections in the walls. And also create an additional layer of thermal insulation and hide numerous communications.

Do-it-yourself wall lathing using wooden slats.

Installation of a wooden frame

This method is used for finishing with PVC panels in dry rooms. First, guides are made in the form of a bar, which are attached to the walls, floor and ceiling. Rails are installed inside the resulting frame, they do this perpendicular to the arrangement of the panels.
Facing surfaces with PVC panels using a metal profile.

All work is similar to creating a drywall frame. As well as when using a wooden beam - take into account the difference in the directions of the facing products and the profile.
Plastic lathing.
This is the most modern version. PVC guides are attached to the wall with dowels. All of them have a special groove where a clip is inserted, which holds the lining.

On a note! It should be borne in mind that the distance between the guides should be from 30 to 45 cm.

After installing the frame, you can proceed with the installation of cladding products. Do-it-yourself installation of PVC panels is carried out according to the following scheme (consider using a wooden frame as an example):

It is recommended to start from the left corner of the room. First, install the inner corner. It is made of plastic and has two connectors that face two adjoining walls.

Then the lower and upper skirting boards are attached. If necessary, cut them to length.

Now the lining is applied to the surface and the required size is measured. It should be borne in mind that this element will be inserted into the connectors of the plinth (bottom and top).

The first panel is inserted into the corner. For this, if necessary, the protruding locking part is trimmed. This is done with a simple construction knife.

Further, the whole work will not take much time. The lining is cut to the desired length and inserted into the upper plinth, then slightly folded and recessed into the lower plinth. If the size is chosen correctly, then the element is level, there is no bending and falling out of the socket. The locks of the adjacent panels are connected.

Each element is fixed on the locking part. This is done with a stapler or self-tapping screws.

At the end of the installation, an external (external) corner is installed (if required, then an internal one).

It becomes clear how to install the wall panels on the frame. In the absence of a lathing, everything is done with glue, which is applied to the finishing element. The main thing is to do everything quickly and do not forget that it will be extremely difficult to fix the flaws.

Interior decoration with plastic panels is gaining more and more popularity, primarily due to the ease of installation. Such panels are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - a material that is durable, durable and, most importantly, cheap.

Wall decoration with plastic panels

Decorating with plastic panels with your own hands

Content of step-by-step instructions:

The positive qualities of the panels include:

low cost;
a wide range of designs and colors;
resistance to moisture, ultraviolet light;
ease of installation;
excellent sound insulation;
ease of use (the surface of the panels can be easily washed with warm water and cleaning agents).

But there are also disadvantages that you also need to be aware of. First of all, these are:

a specific smell, especially in the first few days after installation;
synthetic origin, which is why PVC is not recommended for use in residential premises;
deformation with sharp temperature changes;
low strength (the panel can be damaged even with a slight impact).

We also add that PVC panels, when compared with other finishing materials, are not considered prestigious.

Having figured out the features of the coating, you can proceed with the installation.

Ceiling decoration with plastic panels

Building level.
Guide rails, which are made of wood or metal.
Roulette.
Marker.
Hacksaw.
Perforator.
Square.
Mounting stapler.
Screwdriver.
Stationery knife.

Types and colors of plastic panels

To determine the required number of panels, the total area (ceiling or walls) is measured, and a small margin for contingencies is added to the resulting figure. The thickness (0.5 cm or 1 cm) and width (from 20 cm to 50 cm) are also determined.

Note! The surface of the panels can be of two types - matte and glossy.

Taking into account the selected thickness, a plastic cornice and moldings (profiles for joining panels) are selected. If not only the ceiling, but also the walls will be sheathed, then corner docking profiles will also be needed.

PVC plastic wall panels

The length of PVC panels varies between 2 m and 6 m. The length should be selected so that after installation there is as little waste as possible. Ideally, it should be equal to the length (or width, depending on the installation method) of the wall or ceiling.

It is also worth paying attention to the appearance of the products. The surface of the panels must be flat, without any drops, otherwise the joints will be visible even to the naked eye. In addition, all panels must be from the same batch and have a uniform color.

There are two ways of fixing the panels, the choice of one or another of them depends on the level of humidity in the apartment.

For frame installation, the panels are attached to a pre-assembled frame.
Frameless installation means mounting directly to the work surface.

Both methods differ in both strengths and negative qualities. To find out which one is better, take a closer look at wireframe and frameless mounting.

Suitable for rooms with a high level of humidity (bathroom, toilet), with uneven walls or if you need to install hidden lamps.

It is not necessary to carry out any special preparatory work, but some procedures still have to be performed.Step 1. First, all protruding elements are removed from the walls - paintings, lamps, shelves, etc.Step 2. If the walls were previously tiled, then it needs to be removed, and if with plaster or wallpaper, then nothing needs to be done.Step 3. The flatness of the surface is assessed. All detected defects (grooves or protrusions) are repaired with putty. Image - DIY plastic panels repair

All detected defects (grooves or protrusions) are sealed with putty

Depending on the material, the frame can be of three types:

In most cases, wooden slats are used, but in too humid rooms this is unacceptable (in extreme cases, the wood is treated with an antiseptic). The frame for such rooms is assembled from metal or plastic profiles.

Assembling the timber frame

Note! There are two ways to assemble the frame - vertical and horizontal. The first method is used for horizontal installation of panels, the second - vice versa.

Panels are often installed horizontally, so this article describes the vertical mounting of the rails.

Step 1. Horizontal lines are drawn on the working surface with a step of 0.5 m. For this, you can use the building level.

Step 2. Along each line, fastening brackets are installed (they come with the rails) with a pitch of 60-70 cm. Screws are used to fix the brackets.

Step 3.The staples located at the lower and upper points are bent in the form of the letter "P".

Step 4. Slats (metal or wood) with dimensions of 2x5 cm are inserted into the staples and fixed with 25 mm and self-tapping screws. It is important to keep the plane, so the level is used again.

Note! The frame assembly technology is the same for both the walls and the ceiling.

After checking the strength of the assembled frame, you can start sheathing.

Step 1. Along the entire perimeter, an L-shaped profile is attached to the rails.

Step 2. Corner profiles are installed at the joints of the walls.

Step 3. The distance between the outer sides of the guides is measured, 5 mm is subtracted from the resulting figure.

Step 4. Installation of panels should be started from any corner of the room - this will reduce the consumption of materials. The panels are fixed to metal slats with screws, to wooden ones - with a mounting stapler.

Note! If no stapler is available, small nails can be used.

Step 5. Each next panel is installed in the corresponding grooves of the previous one. Due to the well-thought-out design, even an inexperienced person can handle the installation.

Step 6. The most difficult step is installing the last panel, as it will most likely need to be trimmed. To do this, you need a hacksaw. The cut panel is first inserted into the profile, and only then into the grooves of the previous one.

Step 1. First, a pre-cut plastic baguette is installed around the entire perimeter of the ceiling. In the corners, its segments are docked at an angle of 45ᵒ, and they are attached to the frame in the same way as when cladding walls - with screws or a stapler.

Step 2. Then the first panel is taken, bent in the middle, inserted with its ends into the grooves of the baguette, pressed against the frame and advanced until its narrow shelf completely enters the groove of the parallel baguette. Then the panel is fixed with a fixing shelf.

Step 3. The second panel is installed in much the same way, except that its narrow fixing shelf is docked with the groove of the first.

Step 4. All panels are fixed in the same way. Traditionally, when installing the last of them, difficulties with the size may arise - you will have to cut the panel.

In dry rooms with fairly flat walls, PVC panels can be installed directly on the walls using liquid nails. In this case, the mixture is applied in the same way as when laying tiles - with dotted or straight lines in the center and along the edges of the panel.

Wall decoration with plastic panels

This method of installation saves time and money, but there are a couple of important points to consider:

liquid nails are also expensive;
with frameless installation, installation of recessed lamps is impossible.

There is a wide selection of fittings, corners and fasteners for plastic panels.

When decorating walls, you should decide in advance on the location of mirrors, furniture, paintings, shelves, etc. Where they will be attached, additional fasteners are located even during the assembly of the frame - so there will be no problems with installation.
How do I install the panels - vertically or horizontally? It is worth knowing that in the first case the height of the room visually increases, in the second - the width. You can resort to a very original method - diagonal fastening, but this will complicate the work several times and increase the amount of waste (read: costs).
If the ceiling is sheathed, then you need to think over the lighting of the room in advance in order to complete the wiring even before installing the panels. Mortise lamps look great on ceilings of this type, in particular, LEDs that save energy and do not heat up as much as incandescent lamps we are used to.
When installing panels in the kitchen, a slight gap must be left between them in order to compensate for thermal expansion (it will certainly occur, because gas and electrical appliances will generate heat).

Balcony trim with plastic panels

To clean PVC panels from dirt, use a soft cloth and detergent (always without solvent). Do not use a washcloth or hard cloth - they will damage the surface and leave behind scratches. At the end of the wash, the walls are rinsed with water, the remaining detergent is removed.

Panel care features

We also recommend watching the video, which discusses the technology of finishing with PVC panels in the bathroom.

Video (click to play).