Profile for drywall: sizes and types

Creating a drywall construction begins with the construction of a strong and durable frame. In most cases, when choosing a material for it, preference is given to galvanized steel. We will find out how to choose the right components of the metal frame - a profile for drywall and fasteners to it.

Types of Metal Profile

The number of structural options from GKL is huge, which required the creation of a wide line of types of metal profile. They can be divided into several types:

• Depending on the place of use - on ceiling and wall.
• On the role performed - on guides and carriers.
• By the nature of the structure being constructed - on profiles for facing walls and ceilings or designing partitions.
• Depending on the cross-section, angular, flat and U-shaped.

All profile types are shown in the photos below.

When installing gypsum plasterboard, various combinations of metal profiles are used, depending on the configuration and design purpose. The parameters and types of parts, as well as the process of their manufacture are regulated by TU 112000-001-12586100-2009, TU 1121-012-04001508-2011, TU 112000-002-94835001-2013. They are made of galvanized steel (GOST 14918, 14918-80, 52246-04, P 52246), sheet steel coils (GOST 1050-88), galvanized steel coils with a polymer coating (GOST R 52146).

Frame profiles for wall alignment

When carrying out such work, two main types of metal profiles are used: guiding and rackmount.

Guide profile for wall cladding

For leveling the bases, a guide metal profile is usually used, marked with the letters PNP or UD, which is also called the starting one. Its purpose is to form the perimeter of the future wall structure, on which the racks will be mounted. Therefore, this type of profile is made of thick steel and has the following overall dimensions:

• The standard length is 3,000 mm. At the request of customers, construction stores are ready to supply items up to 6 meters long. However, if necessary, these parts are built up by the method of overlapping.
• The height of the side wall (shelf) is 40 mm.
• The width of the backrest can vary: rails with a backrest of 50, 65, 75 and 100 mm are available for sale.

To fasten the guides to the wall, floor, ceiling, holes 8 mm in diameter were pre-drilled in their back. If the pitch of the existing holes is not suitable, then it is not a problem to drill new ones using an ordinary drill.

Rack profile for walls

Rack metal profile, designated PP or CD, forms a plane to which drywall will be attached. To distinguish this variety from the guides is simple: its side walls are bent inward, forming the letter “C” in cross section. This makes it more rigid, it is easy to attach suspensions to it. The element has longitudinal stiffeners, which have an additional function: it is convenient to center self-tapping screws in them.

In order not to get confused, we give all the names of the profiles of the CD. They are called ceiling profiles, rack-mount, planar, racks.

Product Dimensions:

• The length is varied: from 2,500 mm to 6,000 mm. Thanks to this, it is easy to choose the required size, since it is undesirable to merge such load-bearing elements.
• The height of the shelf is standard and is 50 mm.
• Widths are 50, 65, 75 and 100 mm.

The rack profile is inserted into the guide, so it must match the width of it.

Profile for ceiling frame

To align the ceilings or create multilevel structures on them, use the same UD and CD profiles. The only difference in the choice of products is their size. For the ceiling, elements with the following parameters are usually taken:

• Guides 3,000 mm long, 28 mm wide and with a side shelf height of 27 mm.

• Ceiling bearing metal profiles of the same length, with the same shelf height and a width of 60 mm. The presence of additional stiffeners along the length allows you to create structures on the ceiling that can withstand solid loads.

Profiles for forming partitions, niches and arches

Active use in the repair of structures built from drywall, entailed the release of a wide range of parts for skeleton formation. The buyer can choose those that are required for him for a particular case.

Guiding partition profile

UW guide metal profiles (PN) have different widths. This is because the thickness of the partition being erected can be different. Therefore, in the assortment of stores you can find UW profiles with a width of 50, 65, 75, 100 mm.

The length of such products is from 2 to 4.5 meters. The height of the side shelves is 40 mm.

Rack partition wall

Rack profiles for CW partitions (PS) have an interesting feature: you can mount drywall on them on both sides. Often they have notches for laying communications. In terms of dimensions, they are selected for the guides used.

Reinforced Metal Profile

To strengthen the doorways, a reinforced version of the profile (UA) is used.

It is mounted in them as racks and has the following dimensions:

• Lengths are 3,000, 4,000 and 6,000 mm.
• The height of the side shelves is standard - 40 mm.
• The width of the back is 50, 75 and 100 mm.

Increased strength provides a metal thickness of up to 2 mm. The back of the part is provided with perforations and holes to facilitate installation.

Corner profile

The corner profile is designed to protect against accidental damage to the corners of drywall structures. As a rule, it is attached to putty, therefore it has a perforation through which excess solution is squeezed out. Available in strips of 3 meters long. The width of the sides of the corner is 25 or 31 mm.

When transporting these parts, care should be taken as they are easily deformed.

Arched profile

The arched profile differs from other types by the presence of cuts on the side shelves, which allows it to be bent, giving the desired radius of curvature.

Arched elements can be convex or concave. Their characteristics are slightly different:

• Convex are available in lengths of up to 6 meters and can provide a minimum bending radius of 1000 mm.
• Concave - 3 meters long, the minimum radius is 500 mm.

Often, masters when forming curved surfaces do without using this type, replacing it with guides. Cutouts in the form of petals are made in its side shelves at a certain interval, as in the photo. The smaller the bending radius, the more often cutouts are made.

How to choose the right profile

A reliable frame is the key to the strength of the construction of their drywall. Therefore, do not save on materials necessary for its manufacture. It is better to choose profiles of a well-known company, even if the price of products is higher. But in this case you don’t have to worry about the quality of the metal profile.

Mr. Build recommends: choose products with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm. Ideally, from 0.55 mm. Profile rigidity is our everything!

Qualities that the profile for the GCR should correspond to:

• strength and rigidity - are provided by the thickness and proper processing of the material in the manufacture;
• reliability - it determines the quality of steel;
• lightness - too thick material is heavy and inconvenient to work with.

When buying profiles, you should pay attention to the storage conditions. Despite the corrosion resistance of galvanized metal, the products are supposed to be stored under a canopy. The profiles should not be scratched or scratched. It is good if the parts are delivered in packaged form.

The products from world leaders Knauf and Giprok have proven themselves best.

Profile from Knauf

Features of Knauf products:

• galvanized steel 0.6 mm thick;
• special geometry for creating tight joints without gaps and deformation of the shelves of elements;
• stiffeners for frame strength and easy orientation during assembly;
• holes with a diameter of 33 mm for dowels, installation of communications.

Knauf has only one drawback - the high price.

Gyproc-ultra

Gyproc-Ultra Profile Advantages:

• cold hardening of steel using UltraSteel® technology;
• harpoon effect: the self-tapping screw is easily screwed in, but it is difficult to get it;
• holes closed with a tongue, which in a bent form prevents the bending of the part when screwing in screws;
• corrugated surface with symmetrical recesses, allowing self-tapping screws to easily enter the metal and not slip;

• connection of elements by the thorn groove method.

Note! There are many fakes and imitations of the Giprok Ultra profile on the market. When buying, carefully consider the detail: the corrugation of the original goes to the entire thickness, the recesses are clear and symmetrical.

In terms of price / quality ratio, Giprok beats Knauf.

Fixture for mounting the frame

Assemble the frame does not work without a variety of fasteners. Depending on the type of construction, the following elements can be used:

• Direct suspensions - for mounting supporting profiles on a ceiling plate or wall. On the surface they are fixed with dowels. Bearings are fixed in suspensions with screws. For adjustment in the side wings of this fixture there are a number of holes. After fixing, the protruding parts simply bend at an angle of 90 °, so as not to interfere with the installation of drywall.
• Anchor suspensions - for mounting the ceiling frame. They have traction, adjusting the length of which, you can set the required distance between the frame and the ceiling.
• Extension cords - for connecting profiles. This need arises quite often, and the use of an extension cord allows you to get a stronger and more rigid connection.
• Connectors - for fastening profiles perpendicular to each other. There are single and two-level. A sibling is often called a crab because of its shape.

• Small metal screws - for fastening metal frame parts to each other. However, professionals are advised to use for these purposes cutter. It provides a smooth surface at the interface, while self-tapping heads can interfere with the tight fit of drywall to the frame.

Dear readers! Please write in the comments which metal profiles you use. If you used a Chinese profile to assemble the frame, tell us what came of it.