How to close the battery with drywall. We close the radiators with drywall

Modern design The interior design offers many solutions that will make the house more beautiful and comfortable, but, unfortunately, the cast-iron batteries familiar to everyone hardly fit into current trends, so the problem arises: how to close the heating radiator with drywall?

Hiding an unsightly radiator with a drywall screen is a convenient and cost-effective way to give a room a modern look.

Is it possible to reduce the loss of heat transfer with this method of masking heating units? How to close the battery with drywall so that it does not affect the temperature in the room?

Choice of design type and marking features

You can hide the heating unit behind drywall in two main ways: build a box around the radiator or hide it behind decorative wall.

The choice of a particular technique depends on the layout of the room and the location of each particular radiator.

The first method, the box, is relevant if the battery is on the surface flat wall. Installing the box with your own hands is easy and fast - this method is economical, since the radiator itself closes directly, which means that the space of the room suffers less.

The design of the box assumes that its edges will protrude beyond the battery by about 10 - 20 centimeters on each side. The specific parameters of the box depend on the size of the radiator.

Important note: the front wall of the structure must be at least 10 centimeters from the front side of the battery, otherwise the installation of a removable screen on the front panel will not be possible.

The box is of two types: it can either hang on the wall (there will be a distance to the floor under the box), or stand on the floor. The choice of design depends on design solution in a particular interior.

After determining the design of the box, you can start marking the wall.

If the box should hang on the wall, then first set aside the desired size from the lower edge of the radiator and draw a line along the level, indicating the bottom of the structure.

Then, using a corner, we draw the side walls of the box at a distance from the edges of the battery. We set aside identical segments on these lines that go beyond the upper boundary of the radiator, and connect them with a horizontal line. All lines must be checked by level.

If the box will stand on the floor, then you need to start from the upper border of the structure, and already lay off the side walls from it.

Plus, on the floor it will be necessary to mark the parameters of the base of the box so that the front border protrudes beyond the front surface of the battery.

The layout of many apartments is arranged in such a way that the heating units under the windows are installed in niches. In this case, it is worth closing the battery with the help of a second type of construction, an alternative wall.

However, you may want to completely change your interior and get rid of the type of batteries in general. Then it will be necessary to build plasterboard wall over the entire height and width of the room.

This way to hide the pipes with drywall will be expensive in terms of material consumption, but only it will allow you to completely hide the radiator from the eyes.

You need to start preparing the frame by marking the vertical lines for the metal profile. Be sure to fix the profile racks in the corners of the wall. Along the entire length of the wall, the step of the racks should be from 60 to 100 centimeters.

To avoid additional metal profiles, it is recommended to place two vertical racks on the sides of the sewn-in radiator at a distance of 10 - 12 centimeters from the edge of the battery.

Vertical lines should be continued in the projection on the floor and ceiling, the depth of the top and base should be equal and in centimeters equal to the depth of the radiator plus 10 centimeters.

The final marking step is to draw two horizontal lines 10 centimeters above and below the radiator boundaries.

Frame arrangement, structure installation and finishing works

Before closing the radiators with drywall, it is necessary to equip the frame of the structure. For mounting the frame with your own hands, channel metal profiles are used, the width of which is 60 - 70 millimeters.

First you need to fix the profiles that will be adjacent to the wall. The technology is as follows: the profile is attached to the marked wall and the wall is marked with a screwdriver for future fasteners, which should be at a distance of 15 - 25 centimeters from each other.

The basting is deepened with a perforator, based on the size of the dowels used for fastening. The dowels themselves are inserted into the holes obtained, the profile is attached to the wall and fixed with screws.

When all the profiles are fixed on the wall, they begin to create the volume of the frame. To do this, the metal profile is cut into segments of the required length, the resulting parts of the profile are cut from both edges by 4-5 centimeters at the bend.

The middle part is bent down, the extreme parts are cut off based on the width of the profile. Sections of the profile are fixed to vertical drains along their edges at a right angle.

If you need to sew up the entire wall along its height, then such volumetric elements must be fixed in increments of 50 - 60 centimeters along the entire length of the vertical racks.

Lastly, another row of vertical posts is attached, which will be the basis of the alternative wall, and to which the drywall will be attached.

An important condition: the frame of the structure designed to close the pipeline must be strong and stable, and in no case should it stagger.

Drywall sheets are attached to the mounted frame with screws, the distance between which should be 10 - 15 centimeters.

Fasteners must be screwed in carefully so as not to damage the material.

After sheathing the frame with drywall, a “window” remains in the structure through which the radiator is visible. A removable screen is mounted in it, which ensures the flow of hot air from the battery into the room.

The inner part of such a screen should be fixed in the frame even before working with drywall sheets, and the outer part is fixed after the main work on the installation of the structure for covering the radiator with drywall.

The preparation of the rough surface for finishing materials is carried out according to the following technology.

First, with the help of sickle and putty, the seams between the drywall sheets and the screws with which the drywall was attached to the frame are sealed.

Then the entire structure of the box or wall is puttied. After drying, the surface is rubbed with fine emery. Everything is ready for finishing: painting or wallpapering.

unsuitable for modern renovation radiators should not spoil the interior design. With the help of simple installation technologies, it is easy to change yourself appearance apartments, hiding heating pipes and radiators behind drywall.

The main thing in such a case is to accurately make the necessary calculations and carefully translate your project into reality.

Being engaged in the improvement of their own housing, any owner wants to create the most cozy and comfortable design in it. There are a lot of opportunities and nuances that make it possible to realize this task - but there are also a number of difficulties that arise in the process of creating an interior and impede its arrangement.

One of these difficulties is associated with the use of cast-iron radiators, the external data of which always violate the measured and laconic interior of the room. To solve this problem, various options for screens and boxes are used to mask unsightly looking heaters. How to close the batteries in the room with your own hands will be discussed in this article.

Battery masking methods

To hide heaters, you can use one of the following methods:

Acquisition of radiators with individual design. This method, by and large, is a preventive solution to the problem - radiators, the style of which matches the style of the room, simply do not need to be hidden. The disadvantage of this method is the very high cost of unique radiators, and not every owner can afford these devices.
Installation of a hinged screen that completely hides the working surface of the radiator.
Arrangement of a wooden element that will be installed on top of the radiator.
Creation of a drywall box that provides a complete disguise of the battery.

The latter method is the most popular among users, due to the ease of installation and the low cost of the materials used. However, a drywall box for a radiator cannot be called the most the best option, since it completely covers the radiators, and if it is necessary to repair them, the box will have to be disassembled.

Before you close the radiators with drywall, you need to carefully examine all the elements heating system that will be closed. All pipe and battery connections must be reliable and of high quality. If there are old batteries and pipes in the heating system, it is recommended to replace them before the box is installed.

A plasterboard box for masking radiators must meet two important requirements:

The heat generated by the battery must flow freely into the room, i.e. the box should not hold heated air masses;
All cranes and other communication elements must be freely accessible at all times.

Tools and materials

Before you make a drywall box for a battery, you need to prepare the following set of tools:

Drill with impact function;
Building level;
Plumb;
building corner;
spatulas;
roller;
Screwdriver;
Roulette;
Scissors for metal;
Stationery knife;
Mixing attachment for drill.

You will also need certain materials:

profiles;
Plasterboard sheets;
putty;
perforated corner;
Hangers and fasteners.

Before you seal the battery with drywall, you need to purchase such an amount of materials that will be enough to complete the entire scope of work. To guess the materials, it is advisable to have a box diagram on hand and understand how many such boxes will be needed for all radiators in the home.

Drywall box installation technology

The sequence of work required to equip a masking structure for radiators includes several stages:

Foundation preparation;
Structural design;
Frame assembly;
Frame installation;
Finishing.

Each stage of work has its own characteristics - for example, in the process of preparing the base, you need to carefully remove the old coating and eliminate any contamination. If there are certain differences on the base wall, then it must be leveled to perfect condition using gypsum plaster. Also, before you completely hide the radiators with drywall, you should putty the wall, because after installing the box there will be no opportunity to do this work.

Box design

The design of a masking structure always begins with the choice of its device. So, there are two main types of structures - drywall box and drywall decorative wall behind which the radiator will be hidden. Each design has its own characteristics and applications.

The arrangement of a drywall box makes sense if the radiators are installed on the walls. You can mount such a box very quickly, and it has many other advantages - for example, the free space of a room from such structures almost does not decrease. A drywall box for a battery allows you to close only the battery itself.

The dimensions of the box must be selected depending on the size of the battery itself, which will be masked. When choosing, you need to take into account that the edges of the structure should be located at a distance of about 15 cm from each side of the battery. The box can be installed on the floor or attached to the wall, which also needs to be taken into account in advance.

The floating box, fixed on the wall, is set as follows:

A certain distance is measured from the bottom edge of the battery, at which a straight line is drawn, indicating the bottom edge of the box;
With the help of a building corner, the sides are also drawn (a distance of 15 cm between the battery and the box must be observed);
All perpendicular and parallel lines are connected, after which they must be checked with a level.

The box installed on the floor must be marked from the top side and all other lines must be taken down. When designing and marking, it must be taken into account that each side of the structure must be at least 15 cm away from the radiator. Floor boxes are ideal for hiding radiators that are deepened in wall niches.

With a strong desire, at the design stage, you can also consider more complete options for changing the design of housing. For example, a rather interesting and popular option is a solution in which not only radiators are masked, but also other elements of the heating system. To implement such a scheme, false walls made of drywall are used. Of course, the cost of work in this case increases significantly, but if the goal is to create a verified style, then these costs will be justified.

Frame assembly

The next step, which will allow you to close the battery with drywall, is the installation of a drywall box frame. To assemble the frame, metal profiles with a circus coating are used.

The drywall frame for the battery is assembled using the following technology:

First, the profiles are brought to the lines marked on the walls. The profiles are attached to the walls with nails and a puncher in increments of 20 cm. The fixed elements must be checked for alignment.
Next, the second level of the frame is attached. The profiles are cut to the required length and cut at the edges by 5 cm along the fold. The ends of the profiles are cut off, and the notched ones are bent to a 90-degree angle so that they can be attached to the wall profiles.
The last stage is the installation of the vertical parts of the frame on its front side.

If all the work was done correctly, then you will get a strong and fairly rigid frame with which you can work further - i.e. engage in its sheathing and the formation of a masking box.

Installing drywall to close batteries

The next installation step is cutting drywall sheets into pieces of a suitable size. To sheathe the battery with drywall, you need to attach the cut elements to the frame with self-tapping screws in increments of 15 cm. You need to tighten the screws very carefully - drywall damage may occur at high speed with a screwdriver. In addition, the caps of the fasteners can simply fall into the material and thereby render it unusable.

However, if you work carefully, then there will be no problems - it is very easy to interact with drywall. In the equipped box, the outer part will remain empty, inside which the battery will be visible. The formed window is closed with a decorative screen, which ensures the full transfer of heat into the room.

Box finishing

First you need to carry out a rough finish, which includes the following operations:

All gaps between different parts of the material and the caps of the fasteners are puttied;
When the putty has dried on the gaps, you need to putty the entire structure twice;
After the putty has completely hardened, the box is sanded.

The rough finish is complete on this, and you can proceed to the fine finish. For cladding, any materials can be used that do not violate the functionality of the structure and suit the specific chosen visual style.

Conclusion

The question of how to hide radiators can have several correct answers. To disguise heating devices, several types of structures are used, each of which has its own characteristics, both functional and visual. Choice of the most suitable option directly related to the planned design of the premises.

Everyone who came across a repair wondered what to do with a heating battery. In many ways, these places of the premises look a little unaesthetic, due to the presence of cast iron. Which are painted with several layers of paint, and that, in turn, begins to crack and spoils the look even more. You can, of course, peel off all the layers of paint and, and even in a different color, let's say under gold, and say that it was so conceived. But then what about the wallpaper that needs to be glued on the back of the battery, and which eventually move away, and all this does not look very worthy.

Actually there is a way out! It is necessary to do that will cover the entire problem area from the floor to the windowsill from the eyes. This solution to the problem has a huge advantage. As a result, it will be very beautiful, including due to the presence of an overhead grille, which I recommend to match with the color of the furniture.

For installation you will need the following tools:

perforator with 6 mm drill
screwdriver
metal scissors
straight level
tape measure and pencil
utility knife with interchangeable blades
stapler

You will also need the following materials:

drywall 12 mm
profile 60x27
profile 27x28
sickle
perforated corner
self-tapping screws for drywall and metal
dowel-nails 6x40

Box installation

There is one condition for mounting the box: it is necessary that the window sill protrude at least 3 cm beyond the battery. In my example, the window sill turned out to be small, and I had to. It was not difficult to do this, he kept on the mounting foam. Cut out the new window sill to the desired size and insert it under window frame. Under it, you need to put chopsticks according to the level that you put on top of the windowsill. Next, fill the empty space between the window sill and the base with mounting foam. From above, press the load as in the photo below. After three hours, remove the load and proceed with the installation of the box.

The next step is the installation of the frame from the profile. Profile 27x28 must be installed on all adjoining: walls, floor, window sill. Pressing the profile to the base with one hand, make a hole at the same time in it and in the wall with a perforator. Install a 6x40 dowel in the resulting hole and tighten with a screwdriver. A profile 27x28 is also screwed to the bottom of the window sill, only on metal screws, the length of which should not exceed the thickness of the window sill. After that, install jumpers from the 60x27 profile.

Around the battery, decide on the size of the future decorative lattice. This place should be made slightly smaller than the grid. There are three main standard sizes gratings: 60x60, 60x90, 60x120. These dimensions are optimal for apartment renovation, and I recommend focusing on them.

The frame is ready and proceed to the installation of drywall. Drywall is cut with a clerical knife with replaceable blades. You can find out more about how to cut drywall. Drywall is screwed with a screwdriver and nothing else. You can put a cross bit on a drill, but this is not very convenient. Therefore, I strongly recommend buying a screwdriver, but not cheap " bullshit“, but Makita or Bosch. Such a tool will serve you for the rest of your life, it is not for nothing that window companies use these brands exclusively. And so that the price of this tool will pleasantly please you, return part of the money spent,. The cost will drop by 2 times!!!

After the entire frame of the box is sewn up with drywall, proceed with the installation. They are fixed in the corners with a stapler, or you can immediately glue them onto gypsum plaster. Put a sickle on all the seams of the drywall box and cover it with gypsum plaster as well. Before wallpapering, the box must be puttied, sanded and smeared with a deep penetration primer.

Good luck with the repair!

Very often, upon completion of repairs, people are faced with a situation where the appearance of the room is spoiled by the battery. However, many are afraid that closing it will lead to heat loss in the house and therefore leave everything as it is.
Nevertheless, there are technologies and materials that will help not only to avoid heat loss, but also to give the room completeness and beauty.

Today, there are a wide variety of options and materials to Beautiful sew up the battery.
According to the features of the closing structure, experts distinguish the following groups of decorative finishes:

hinged screens with a cover. You can close cast iron batteries;

hinged screens without cover. With their help it is also possible finishing cast iron batteries;

flat screens. They can sheathe modern radiators. In such a situation, the radiator is located deep in the niche;

attachment box. With it, you can completely hide not only the heater itself, but also the place of its attachment.

Finishing radiators is possible with the following materials:

metal;
plastic;
glass;
wood;
drywall.

Since an increasing number of people prefer to use drywall for repairs, it is also used quite often for battery sheathing. Moreover, you can sew up the battery with drywall with your own hands.
Drywall in terms of finishing heating appliances has gained such popularity due to its advantages:

environmental friendliness of the material. Finishing the interior with such material is completely safe;
plasterboard sheets have excellent physical and mechanical properties, so they can be used both in the room and in the bathroom or kitchen;
low price;
ease of installation. You can easily make a screen with your own hands;
the ability to embody any fantasies for interior decoration.

When working with drywall possible the following options radiator closures:

box The fastest and easy way. The finish of the battery in this case exceeds its dimensions on each side by 12-29 cm;

building a plasterboard wall in front of the heater. More costly and laborious way.

The choice of design designed to close the battery should be made based on your own capabilities and desires.

Necessary tools and materials for work

To make a drywall box yourself, you must have the following tools with you:

building level;
drill with a screwdriver nozzle;
screws and dowels;
metal knife;
perforator;
pliers;
tape measure and pencil;
corner ruler.

Required Tools and materials

In addition, to close the radiator you will need the following materials:

drywall sheets. Can be used both ceiling and wall;
metal profiles having a U-shaped section;
putty.

Preparatory stage

After the material and design option has been selected, the work itself should begin. First of all, you need to do the final preparation of the battery, which consists in painting it. Since after the finish is completed, this procedure will not be possible to carry out.
When the paint has dried, you can start marking. We will consider this procedure using the example of a drywall box. For this you need:

measure all device parameters. The accuracy of measurements is up to a centimeter. The exception is projects that require millimeter accuracy;
because the box has small size, then its depth and width are determined by the dimensions of the radiator. Remember that you need to make a minimum indent from the edges of the device at 10 cm;
taking into account the position of the box, you need to draw a horizontal line;

Calculation for the box

Note! All markings should be applied using a level. Otherwise, creating an even and correct design will be very problematic.

if the box will stand on the floor in a room or kitchen, then you need to draw three lines: two on the sides (depth) and one that will connect them (the front edge of the structure);
attach a square to the bottom of the device and draw vertical lines along the wall at a right angle. Bring them up with a level;
above the battery, these lines must be connected with a horizontal segment.

If everything was done correctly, then at the end of the markup you will get a rectangle or a square (depending on the length of the radiator). If the box will stand on the floor, for example in the kitchen, then the markings on it should reflect its base.
When deciding to close the radiator with a plasterboard wall in order to hide the pipe, the markings are done as follows:

markings are drawn from the floor to the ceiling. Vertical lines are marked on the wall. The distance between them is half a meter or a whole meter. Don't forget to use the level;
a vertical line with a corner is extended to the floor. The distance between them depends on the planned offset from the battery;
similar markings are made on the wall. Lines are drawn strictly opposite the floor and parallel to them;
then draw two lines above and below the radiator. In this case, you need to retreat 10 cm;
on the right and left sides of the heater, lines for the profile are also drawn.

Stages of installation work

Finishing the battery with drywall (or any other finishing material) with your own hands is possible only after graduation preparatory work. When the markup is ready, you can begin to mount the profile frame. For this you need:

first, profiles should be fixed, which should be located on the walls;
a screwdriver makes marks in the wall, and with the help of a perforator, the necessary holes are drilled along the entire length of the profile. Dowels are inserted into them;
profiles are pressed to the holes and screwed with screws. Mounts must be installed every 15-25 cm;
further, by analogy, guides that are adjacent to the wall should be fixed;
after that, you need to install the profiles in the depth of the structure. To do this, they should be cut into suitable lengths and attached to long guides that run vertically;
we connect the profile from above and below with long segments.

Finished frame

After creating the frame, you can begin to fasten the material. Finishing with plasterboard sheets involves the following actions:

we apply sheets to profiles and make notes at the places of cuts;
cut the sheets into the desired pieces;
fasten them to the frame with screws. The interval between them should be 10-15 cm;
to create even and neat corners, you should use an aluminum corner and putty.

At the end of the installation work, the drywall box is ready for final finishing. It can be painted, wallpapered or tiled.
The installation of a drywall wall frame involves the use of longer profiles that will run vertically. Everything else installation work are carried out in a similar way.
You can sew up any heater with drywall with your own hands. To do this, you just need to correctly mark up and carry out installation. Thanks to this, your battery will be hidden from view, while it will continue to heat the room, as before.

Creating the interior design of his home, every owner dreams of making it comfortable, attractive and unusual. But there is one caveat - cast-iron batteries that are striking, especially if the apartment is finished in the latest fashion. Consider how to close the battery with drywall yourself.

To give the room modern look it is enough to build a beautiful drywall screen. It will hide the old and unsightly battery from prying eyes. It is worth noting that the work can be done by hand, and the cost of materials is small. Some ordinary people doubt whether it is possible to close the batteries with drywall. Let's consider this question in detail.

There are many ways that help to disguise the heating devices in the apartment, without interfering with maintaining a comfortable temperature in the room.

You can order custom-designed radiators, but this method is quite expensive and not available to a wide range of consumers.

If the financial possibilities of your family do not allow this, then you can close the radiators simple screen. There are several options for such devices:

buy and fix a hinged screen on the radiator;
create a wooden element that is attached above the radiator;
build a drywall box that will disguise the battery.

If we consider the last option, then it is the most popular. This is due to the ease of assembly and the inexpensive material used for the construction. But this method cannot be called perfect, since in case of unforeseen breakdowns or leaks, the box will have to be completely dismantled.

Hinged battery screen

Before constructing a structure, a thorough inspection of the heating system should be carried out. Check how reliable the joints and connections are. If the pipes are old, then it is better to replace them, old battery must be replaced if it is unreliable. Only after repairing the heating system in the apartment can work begin on creating a screen for a drywall radiator.

There are parameters that a drywall construction must meet to mask a heating battery:

Important! Some apartment owners completely cover the batteries with GKL sheets - in no case should this be done.

Necessary tools and material

Before starting work, prepare the tool. To build a structure around the battery you will need:

hammer drill;
level;
plumb;
building corner;
spatulas;
roller;
screwdriver;
roulette;
metal scissors;
stationery knife;
mixer attachment.

Algorithm of actions when creating a box to hide the battery

There are two ways to mask heating battery behind a drywall construction: close the radiator with a decorative plasterboard wall or build a regular drywall box around the radiator.

Which way to apply? It all depends on the layout of the apartment and the location of the heating communications in the room.

The construction of the box is advisable if the radiator is located on the wall. You can do this with your own hands from drywall quickly enough. This method is more preferable, since only the battery is masked, and the usable area is not affected.

The dimensions of the box will depend on the battery to be hidden. It is important to consider that the edges of the box will be about 15 cm further from the battery, from all sides.

Whether the box will be hovering or standing on the floor depends on the interior of the apartment and the designer's decision. Once a decision has been made on, surface preparation and marking should begin.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Foundation preparation

For the construction of the structure, the base must be properly prepared. The old coating is cleaned from the surface, dirt and dust are removed, primed.

If the wall on which the battery is located has significant irregularities, then it should be made even with gypsum plaster. Then it is desirable to putty the surface, since it will be impossible to do this after the construction of the structure.

Markup and drawings

If it is supposed to make a floating box to mask the battery, then:

If a standing one is mounted, then the markup starts from the top edge of the battery, and perpendicular lines are drawn from top to bottom. See how to do it in the photo.

In addition, the box is marked on the floor in such a way that the end of the box on the front side protrudes 15 cm relative to the radiator.

Screen frame drawing example

In some apartments, heating radiators are installed in niches that developers provide under the windows. In this situation, only the second method of constructing the box is suitable.

Frame collection

The first thing to do in order to close the battery with drywall is to mount the frame. To do this, you need to take metal profiles, galvanized 60x28 and 27x28.

First, the elements that will be on the wall are fixed. The algorithm is this:

After that, the second level of the frame is mounted. Cut the profile into segments according to the desired length. Cut the edges of the elements by 5 cm, along the fold of the profile.

box frame

The edges of the profile are cut off, and the middle notched part is bent to the side, fixing the segments at an angle of 90 degrees to the wall profiles

In the case of constructing a structure along the height of the entire wall, the profile step will be 60 cm.

The next step is to attach the vertical segments to the front of the structure. Once the frame is ready, you can proceed to its sheathing.

Important! The frame, made of a profile for masking a radiator, must be strong and rigid.

Fastening drywall to the frame

Cut the plasterboard into pieces right size. Fasten them to the frame with black self-tapping screws, in 15 cm increments.

Self-tapping screws are screwed in very carefully, with a screwdriver at low speed. Make sure that the head of the fastener does not fall into the drywall and does not spoil the material.

It is worth noting that working with the material is quite simple. You can equip a corner false fireplace made of drywall, which will heat the room.

Heat Hole Installation

As soon as the drywall box for the battery is built, a “window” remains in it from which the battery will be visible, it is covered with a decorative screen, it will help warm air distributed evenly throughout the room.

Finishing the finished structure

Rough finishing of the box is carried out according to the following technology:

the seams between the pieces of material are sealed with sickle and putty;
putty is applied to the caps of self-tapping screws;
as soon as the seams dry, the entire surface is puttied in two layers;
after the structure has dried, it should be sanded.

On this, the rough finish of the drywall structure that covers the battery is ready.

Design options

You can decorate a box that serves to mask a heating radiator with any material: paint, glue wallpaper, finish with decorative plaster. Facing will depend on the overall interior of the apartment and the preferences of the owner of the premises.