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Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

This WordPress post provides a comprehensive overview of the types and sizes of profiles available for drywall. It explains the importance of choosing the right profile and offers some key advantages of certain profile types. It also explains the various drywall profiles available, including two- and one-inch drywall, and various types of profile sizes, such as standard, rough cut and square cut. This article provides all the information necessary to make an informed decision when selecting the right profile for drywall applications. It also highlights the importance of correctly measuring the wall thicknesses to ensure a secure installation with an even finish.

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Despite its technological simplicity, plasterboard structures require careful calculations and impeccable adherence to technical recommendations. For the most part, this applies to the frame profile – the supporting element of the entire system. Let’s talk about the types, sizes and purpose of the profile for drywall.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

The best way to choose a profile in exact accordance with the specifics of the project is to use albums of technical solutions, where manufacturers indicate the technical parameters of profiles of all standard sizes and give recommendations on the installation process.

General specification of profiles for gypsum board

There are four main types of profile: CD, UD, CW and UW according to the Knauf marking, which is considered generally accepted. The first letter designates the type of profile C – rack, U – guide. The letters in the marking correspond to the shape of the profile: U has no curved edges so that the post profile fits freely into the groove.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

The second letter indicates the scope of application: W-type profiles are used for wall cladding, and D-type profiles for ceiling works. All products with an average shelf wider than 27 mm are marked with the letter W (from the English wall – walls).

The profile for the gypsum board is massively produced by domestic enterprises, therefore, an additional designation system was adopted, which has recently been used by manufacturers in Russian-language albums and price lists. Alternative names in Russian better explain the purpose of each type of profile:

  1. СD – PP (ceiling profile).
  2. UD – PNP (ceiling guide profile).
  3. CW – PS (rack-mount profile).
  4. UW – PN (guide profile).

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

There are two additional types of profile: PU – angular profile and PM – beacon profile. They are intended for plastering work and are not used when assembling gypsum plasterboard structures..

The main standard sizes of the profile and their application

In construction practice, the profiles used are usually combined into sets. The dimensions of the guide and rack-mount profiles in width are always equal to each other, they determine the kit number: 27, 50, 75, etc. So, the mention of the 27th kit makes it clear that we are talking about a ceiling frame made of CD 60×27 profiles and UD 27×28, and having heard about kit number 100, an experienced craftsman will always understand that he means a frame for a double partition made of UW 40×100 and CW 100×50 profiles.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

Wall profiles mean the entire assortment of CW and UW grades, that is, sets 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150. The width of the wall profile determines the thickness of the partition or false walls, excluding the gypsum board sheathing and finishing layer.

For ceiling work, the UD-27 kit is usually used. In the assembly of wall frames, such a profile is almost never involved, with the exception of rare cases when the weight of the wall and the load on it are minimal, or you need to save the useful area of ​​the room.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

The smallest set is numbered 17 and consists of CD 47×17 and UD 17×18 profiles. It is a very thin and light profile, its main purpose is to assemble a frame for high-detail embossed elements, usually on the lower tiers of a suspended ceiling. The use of this profile significantly reduces the load on the harness and makes it possible to produce smaller figures. The kit can also be used to decorate niches, shelves and all kinds of decor, the only requirement: the structure from the 17th set should not experience any other applied loads, except for its own weight, in other words – it should not be responsible.

Special types of profile

There is a fairly large number of special types of profiles. The most extensive category is UA brand profiles. It includes all dimensions of the UW profile, but the metal is 2 mm thick. The profile is used for assembling the frames of walls and partitions that experience extreme loads in operation. This applies to structures with three-layer cladding or walls with a suspension of heavy cabinet furniture, traditionally UA is used instead of wooden beams to strengthen openings. It is noteworthy that both guides and rack elements of the frame can be made from the UA profile..

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

In the frame of walls and ceilings with a convex or concave main plane, flexible varieties of CD 60×27 and UA profiles of sets number 50, 75 and 100 are used. It is not recommended to replace the flexible profile with a self-cut “snake”: unlike similar products, the factory profile has connections between segments , they give the structure more rigidity and form a more uniform arc when bent.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

Flexible profiles bend well only in the longitudinal direction, forming a curved base plane. For example, a flexible UA profile can only bend a wall vertically. The Knauf Sinus profile for sets 50, 75 and 100 has a transverse bending function.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

There was no mention of the MW brand profile, which is essentially a double rack profile for walls. It is used in conjunction with kits 75 and 100, differs from the usual large rack profile in that it has a central longitudinal partition. Thanks to it, the frame receives additional axial strength and better isolates structural and vibration noise. During installation, the profile is always oriented across the partition; the casing is not attached to the central shelf. The MW profile is often mistakenly used instead of the CW-100 cross-double profiles, designed to impart high diagonal rigidity.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

Features of profile stamping

The most obvious difference between profiles from different manufacturers is an individual bending and stamping scheme, which determines the location of stiffeners and the availability of additional options.

The rack profile, for example, can have a high variety of cutouts on the center shelf. By bending the petals, you can get holes for laying communications in the walls, or use the folded elements to temporarily fix the connecting beams.

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

There are also more exotic features: for example, Gyproc profiles have a relief surface that allows you to do without fastening the racks to the rails, but at the same time the racks are deprived of the usual ability to slide and move freely inside the rails..

Types and sizes of profiles for drywall

Metal thickness and types of coatings

The original profile is made from cold rolled steel sheets with a thickness of at least 0.6 mm. This is according to the standards, but in practice such consistency is found only in well-known brands. The thickness of the profile can be underestimated by the manufacturer up to 0.45 mm, which is not always a bad thing. For example, a lighter profile reduces the load on the suspensions, at the same time, the quality of fixing the self-tapping screw in thin metal does not allow anything other than sheet sheathing to be fixed on the frame.

Traditionally, profiles are treated with galvanizing, the quality of which can be guaranteed only with a product certificate. Additionally, for profiles operating in extreme conditions, polymer protective coatings are provided, but this is a rare exception. It is much more common to find profiles painted in different colors, but this is nothing more than a signal color to visually indicate dissimilar elements of the frame.

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Comments: 1
  1. Avery Foster

    Can someone please provide me with information on the different types and sizes of profiles used for drywall installation? I am looking to understand the various options available and their specific applications. Thank you!

    Reply
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