Plasterboard box for pipes - how to make it yourself, step-by-step instructions

Completion of any renovation work in an apartment or private house consists of finishing work. They are most carefully carried out in bathrooms, toilets or kitchens, where the specific use requires ideal cleanliness and moisture resistance of materials. Water supply and sewer pipes located in these rooms significantly worsen the appearance and require decoration or camouflage.

A common option for implementing these actions is to create a box that hides communications and improves the appearance of the room. This job does not require extensive professional training, but some skills and knowledge will be needed. Let's consider the question in more detail.

Bathroom interior with hidden pipes

Constructions

The market offers cable ducts of various designs and sizes. The choice of a specific design depends on the installation location and the size of the cable to be laid.

Types of plastic boxes:

1. Skirting. These structures are used at the junctions of walls and floors. To install structures of different shapes, manufacturers produce additional devices - bends, plugs, external and internal corners and other elements. Skirting-type cable channels fit well into the interior of most houses and apartments.
2. Floor-standing. They are used for convenient movement when conducting electrical wiring to tables, lighting fixtures, and equipment located far from the walls. The cable channel easily replaces extension cords and carriers.
3. Parapet cable channels are similar in appearance to baseboard ones. They are mounted above the floor level, using additional elements to obtain the desired configuration.
4. Angled cable ducts are used at joints and under the ceiling. Thanks to the triangular design, these boxes fit perfectly into corners and fit into the design of the room. Due to the high possibility of damage due to impacts, these structures are mounted in the upper areas.
5. The smallest type is mini cable channels. Great for telephone wires, television and internet cables. The boxes are attached to the walls and ceiling using an adhesive backing or self-tapping screws. The small size of the cable channels allows them to be organically combined with the interior.
6. Perforated. The open access design has less weight and cost than other options. This option is used when appearance does not matter.
7. Flexible. Ideal for installing electrical wiring on uneven surfaces when it is not possible to use hard options. They are divided into two types - corrugated and chain. Problems with hard-to-reach places are solved by round-section cable channels.
8. Transparent. This look is ideal for the exterior decoration of a room. An LED strip is glued to the partition of the box and covered with a transparent lid. The result is a pleasant light.
9. Metal cable ducts for electrical wiring are often used in industrial production. They are necessary for fixing a large number of heavy cables.

On this topic:

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Skirting

These types of cable channels allow you to quickly lay the cable without the need to violate the integrity of the walls or cause damage to them. The advantage is not only the color variety, thanks to which you can choose a design that best suits the interior design style, but also the complete set of auxiliary devices.

To simplify mounting, you can purchase corners for internal and external mounting, various bends, and plugs. Often, mounting or multimodule type boxes are purchased as a kit. They have sockets and even switches. This solution makes it possible not to focus on the wiring, but creates some inconvenience for older people when accessing connection points.

White, gray and black boxes are sold, as well as wood or metal samples. There are also a variety of standard sizes, but this design is not cheap.

Buying cable channels: what to look for?

It is recommended to purchase a cable channel according to the following algorithm:

1. Draw up a plan for the installation of electrical wiring. It calculates the required number of cables to be purchased and their cross-section. It is also recommended to purchase wires before purchasing cable channels (to take into account the thickness of the insulation).
2. Calculate the length of all necessary boxes for laying the wiring. The standard length of one cable channel is 2 meters. This is not true for flexible grooves, since they are produced in coils. An additional 10 - 15% should be added to the resulting length as a reserve.
3. Decide on the type of cable channels required: plastic for indoors, metal for outdoors, rounded plastic for the floor.
4. Approximately calculate the required size of the cable channel. For calculations, you can use the cross-sectional area of ​​the groove (often indicated in the technical documentation for cable ducts) and bundles of cables (the area of ​​one wire is calculated by the formula S=πr2, where r is the radius of the section taking into account insulation).
5. Make a purchase in the store. It is recommended to buy complete cable channels, which are supplied immediately with fittings, plugs, corner adapters, and locks. If you buy all this separately, it will be more expensive.

As for fire safety, with plastic ones it is enough to set fire to a small piece of the cable channel. It will melt, but should not ignite or smoke heavily. These are the basic safety requirements for such gates. As for metal ones, it is recommended to purchase only with a material thickness of 0.15 mm or thicker. Thinner grooves are short-lived and will quickly become rusty when placed outdoors.

A popular cable channel for offices - this way you can connect your workplace without any visible wires at all. Minimalism is trending now

Box surface finishing

The finishing of the box is usually done in the same way as the rest of the room. The most common option is laying tiles. Sometimes they use plastic wall panels, which is somewhat worse, but cheaper, simpler and much faster. Both options do not require preparation of the surface of the box - puttying the heads of the screws, grinding the angular line of connecting planes. Considering the specifics and purpose of the box, these two options can be considered the most successful.

Box with inspection hatches, finished to match the walls of the room

Sometimes the box is built in an already finished room. Then you have to look for a material that is the same or as close as possible to what was used previously. It is recommended to choose moisture-resistant and durable types - tiles or mosaics, plastic panels. It is not recommended to paint the box, since you will have to first putty the bolt heads, grind the edge, or install a perforated corner on it and then putty.

All these procedures require the use of gypsum or acrylic putty, which will gradually absorb water vapor and swell. This will cause the painted surface to become uneven and lose its original appearance. In addition, it is difficult to produce high-quality painting at home.

Also, pay attention to such an option as – Decorating the toilet with PVC panels, where we examined in detail, using examples, an additional option for decorating the toilet and bathroom.

Self-assembly of the box is not difficult, but it requires accuracy and thoroughness. It is necessary to use personal eye and respiratory protection and prepare the workplace to prevent damage to the material. Before starting work, you should acquire tools, purchase components and fasteners, and purchase the required amount of drywall. It is useful to make a diagram of the upcoming work, which will help determine the order of actions and draw up a specification for materials. Careful preparation will ensure maximum success of the entire event.

Prices for popular models of screwdrivers

Screwdrivers

Advantages and disadvantages of various designs

1. For perforated products.

The main advantage of this type of cable ducts is their lower weight compared to products made from sheet metal and solid molded plastic. In addition, the advantages of this design are:

• Ventilation of the internal space allows you to maintain a more favorable operating mode for wires and cables laid inside such products;
• Low cost in comparison with analogues;
• Availability for inspection of laid cables and wires;
• Possibility of installation on curved surfaces.

1. Skirting boards and floor structures.

The use of cable channels in the form of a plinth allows you to avoid additional elements mounted on the surface of the walls. In this case, the wires are laid inside the baseboard, which covers the joint between the wall surface and the floor.

Cable channel plinth, available in various colors and profiles

Advantages:

• A variety of colors and profiles allows use in various rooms (office, living rooms, public buildings);
• Possibility of repeated use;
• Resistant to sunlight (ultraviolet radiation).

Floor cable ducts are used when laying in places where it is not possible to install electrical wiring on walls, ceilings or floors.

Floor cable channels have a flattened shape

Advantages:

• Allows you to lay cables and wires along the floor surface;
• Due to their shape, they do not create difficulties for people to move in places where electrical wiring is carried out using them.

1. Flexible (corrugated) and chain products.

A flexible cable channel is essentially a corrugated pipe

Advantages:

• Possibility to mount at different angles and in different planes of space;
• There is no need to install additional elements (plugs, corners, etc.).

Flaws:

Only one conductor is allowed in one pipe, serving to connect one consumer.

Chain structures consist of a certain number of elements connected into a single chain.

Chain structures are used to connect process equipment

Advantages:

• The ability to make a secure connection in difficult, from a technical point of view, places;
• Easy installation;
• Maintainability by replacing circuit elements;
• Availability of maintenance and repair of installed cable lines.

Parapet

The products are similar to baseboard models. They contain auxiliary elements, thanks to which various structures are assembled. And the laying is carried out at a level slightly higher than the floor and baseboard.

The main colors are white and milky shades. Used to mask connections between indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioning system.

Tips for installing cable ducts

hide wiring

Before attaching the box to the surface, you should check its evenness

It is important that there are no bumps or bends, but the owner must take care of this even before the installation of open electrical wiring begins. The cable duct should be cut using a grinder, as jigsaws and knives leave burrs and damage the integrity of the structure. Try to secure cable ducts with liquid nails or special glue. In these cases, it is better not to use self-tapping screws. It is advisable to buy boxes that have an internal partition - this property is very convenient during installation.

Important! By following our advice and selection rules, you will get the ideal aesthetic solution for your home

General markup rules

Correctly executed markings clearly indicate how to attach the cable channel to the wall, taking into account all the executive elements of the electrical wiring. To apply marking lines you need to prepare:

• ruler and pencil;
• bubble or other type building level;
• beating cord, also called coated thread, with pigment.

The sequence of marking is as follows:

1. In accordance with the architecture of the room and the electrical wiring diagram from the distribution board, the placement points for sockets, switches, and mounting boxes are determined. The optimal dimensions of their distance from the joints of the floor with the walls, corners, etc. are measured with a ruler. Appropriate marks are made on the walls with a pencil.
2. In all places where the cable route is supposed to be laid, straight lines are drawn with a tapping cord.
3. The construction level controls compliance with the vertical and horizontal lines.

Flexible protection channels

The appearance of flexible protective channels was dictated by the need to conduct wiring along the walls of structures with architectural irregularities. If hard channels are used under these conditions, they will exactly follow the differences in planes, which will ruin the appearance. If in brick or concrete buildings the walls can be more or less leveled, then in wooden buildings traditional leveling is not applicable. In this case, flexible cable ducts will be an excellent solution.

There are the following types of flexible protective channels:

• Tubular. As a rule, they are used when moving to the door plane.
• Rubber.
• Flexible chains (so-called tracks).
• Made from soft plastic by injection molding.

Since the production of flexible cable ducts is quite complex and labor-intensive, they have a higher price compared to rigid ones.

Trucks are widely used in private housing construction to connect small household machines, as well as in factories and factories to connect working equipment. The width of these devices can be from 20 to 234 mm.

Rubber cable ducts, like those made of soft plastic, due to their large wall thickness, provide reliable protection of electrical conductors from various damages. They are well suited for rooms with high humidity (with the exception of a steam room in a bathhouse or sauna).

Tubular channels are a strip of metal twisted into a spiral. Its main advantage is the ability to bend in different directions without harming the structure. A flexible wire is laid inside the device. Typically, electric door locks are connected using these channels.

Mini structures

Such boxes are used for laying television or telephone wires. They are smaller in size. The width varies between 10-100 mm, and the height 10-60 mm. In this case, you can select models with different combinations of dimensional parameters. To bring the tray to an angle, the structure is cut and bent at a given angle.

• 
  External cable routing in corrugation

• Perforated cable tray: characteristics

• Wire connector: instructions on how to make the connection yourself. Instructions for use of clamp, clamp and lugs

Tips for choosing cable channels

Having figured out the type of boxes for laying wires indoors, you should also decide on their dimensions. For this, the following factors are taken into account:

1. There is no point in buying a large box for one or two cables. At the same time, you should not cram a large number of wires into the mini-channel. It is necessary to take into account that the cables should lie close to each other with a small margin. The cable duct needs to be of such a size that it can accommodate a couple more wires in the future.
2. The main channels for electrical wiring should be slightly larger than the outlets for switches, sockets or appliances.
3. The standard length of one box is two meters. To find out how many channels you need to buy, before going to the store you should measure the length of the entire room in which the structure will be laid. Plastic channels break easily, so it is better to purchase 10–15% more material.

One of the main elements of the cable is the lock. When choosing it for a box, you need to make sure that it snaps tightly and can be easily opened by hand. Otherwise, the lock may constantly come off at the slightest touch or become too tight.

In addition to the lock for the cable channels, you need to select fasteners, corners, couplings, and plugs. It is not worth buying a box without fittings. It will greatly facilitate installation, and the finished structure will look much more attractive with it. You need to calculate the number of necessary accessories in advance. If the product was chosen in a certain color, then it will be difficult to find elements of the same shade.

Floor-standing

Their use is not so much aesthetic as functional. The design is used when it is necessary to connect wiring, for example, to a desktop or to the opposite side of the room.

• What is a Power Cable?
• How to conveniently unwind a cable coil on site during electrical installation
• Electrical cables. Purpose and selection criteria

The boxes are mounted on the floor, and therefore one of the horizontal sides has a rounded shape to eliminate inconvenience when moving a person. You won't need to use extension cords or special carriers.

For joints, various shaped angles, joining inserts, and turn signals are used. When fastening, the base is placed, then the cable is placed, and the cover is attached on top.

The fastening devices snap easily and provide the required degree of protection, as can be seen in the photo of the cable channels. Among the sizes you can choose options 50x12; 75x17; 92x20 and 160x65 mm in gray, white and black.

Corrugated plastic pipes

Plastic corrugation for wiring

Metal and plastic products are used on flat surfaces. But there are cases when the surface has frequent bends and turns. Using a large number of components is difficult and economically unprofitable, so it is better to use flexible pipes that can be bent at any angle. Corrugated pipes are attached to regular clips.

Visually, a corrugated PVC pipe is similar to an elastic channel with a circular cross-section. Such products can be used for laying any cables.

The standard internal diameter of pipe channels is from 16 to 32 mm. Depending on their purpose, they can be light or heavy. The former are suitable for installing electrical circuits inside buildings. Heavy corrugations can be used in difficult conditions and even under water. Additionally, corrugated pipes can be equipped with metal probes. They allow you to push the wire into the tube itself without damaging it.

The ability to install corrugated pipes outdoors is an advantage

Advantages of plastic corrugated pipes:

• Possibility of installation on uneven surfaces;
• tightness;
• reliable protection from external negative conditions and mechanical damage;
• easy to attach with clips;
• ease of installation and maintenance;
• fire safety;
• wide range of applications;
• Possibility of installation outdoors and underwater (depending on the type of corrugated pipe).

Flaws:

• Difficulty working at sub-zero temperatures. They lose their elasticity and break.
• Difficulty in laying wires in case of frequent bends.

Types of distribution boxes

Specialized stores offer customers protective shields, which can be grouped according to individual properties:

• Material of manufacture (PVC, polystyrene, metal);
• They come in round, rectangular or square shapes;
• Degree of housing protection: sealed, with or without protection;
• The input can be different: for cable, corrugation or pipes;
• Closed with a lid with screws and contact installation;
• For different types of installation: hidden or open lines, built into drywall.

1. The desoldering device is intended for tapping and distributing electrical wires in apartments and houses. For example, when installing a switch.
2. A distribution box with a terminal block is used when connecting nodes.

The installation mounting box is a socket box; it is used for hidden installation of dimmers, switches and sockets.

Decorative capabilities of functional products: photo examples of interesting solutions

Such structures are installed in prominent places, so aesthetic characteristics should be studied separately. However, even in this case they must be assessed in conjunction with other consumer parameters.

Questionable decision

Here the author of the project used a floor box that was too high, which creates significant obstacles to the free movement of staff and visitors in the office. Round corrugated cable channels for electrical wiring look like alien elements in this design. They do not provide reliable fixation of cable products, which implies the possibility of accidental damage.

A well-installed decorative cable channel looks impeccable

Example of correct application of flexible design

Harmonious and functional interior design

This triangular cable channel was created as a special modification of the standard plinth. The central strip is fixed with latches after installing the lines

Here a cutout is made in a typical wooden product. Plastic trays are used to secure cable products

Transparent cable channels are produced in different designs

When installing such lamps below, the effect of “floating” furniture is created.

This ensures good illumination of the work area. Another option that increases the level of comfort in the kitchen

Assembling the frame

Take profiles measuring 60x28 and 27x28. First, secure the elements that will not be on the wall:

1. Place the profile against the line on the wall.
2. Secure the profiles with dowels in increments of 20 cm.
3. Check everything with a level.

Then install the second level of the frame. Divide the profile into sections of the required length. Then cut the edges 5 cm along the fold of the profile.

It turns out that the edges of the profile product are cut off, and the middle cut part is bent to the side. At the exit, a structure with an angle of 90° is formed.

Next, secure the vertical products to the front side of the structure. This way you will have a finished frame for drywall.

How to choose cable channel size

Some “experts” advise choosing a size based on the “just fit” principle. That is, the size of the channel must be such that when it is filled with a group of cables, the basic requirement is met - that its lid closes. This is fundamentally wrong.

Cables heat up when exposed to electric current. Regardless of the current and cable cross-section, heat generation always occurs; this is described by the Joule-Lenz law, about which, by the way, there is a whole article on the website. This means that the cables must cool down, and before that they must give off heat to the environment. If the cables completely fill the space of the cable channel, they will transfer heat to each other, thereby heating up even more.

The PUE states that when laying cables in a pipe, it is not recommended to fill it more than 40%. We believe that it is reasonable to apply the same rule when choosing a cable channel for wiring. But you can make the fill factor a little higher - up to 50-60%, otherwise you simply will not be able to make a turn when installing the cable, or the box on it will not close.

That is, the cable channel must be selected according to the cross-section of the wires and their number. Therefore, if you are planning to lay two cables in one box (for example, 3x2.5 for a socket and 3x1.5 for lighting), based on the size of the cables, the dimensions of the cable channel should be from 25x16. By this logic, count for a larger number of cables of different sections.

Table for filling the cable channel, which will help you choose the appropriate size according to the cable cross-section (click on the picture to enlarge):

Finally, we recommend watching a useful video on the topic:

To summarize, I would like to note. To choose the right cable channel for electrical wiring, first of all you need to decide on its type based on the installation method and location in space, then on the required size, and only then on the appearance and color. Do not forget about the required dimensions of the cable box, otherwise the wires will heat up, and in case of wiring repairs, it will be difficult for you to find the right cable if there are too many of them in a small volume of the channel.

You probably don't know:

Precautionary measures

When installing the distribution box, it is important to follow safety precautions. If the wires contain different metals, they are connected with adapters. You cannot twist different materials directly.

Be sure to find out where the ground, phase and neutral are located. Before installing the cover, you need to check the functionality of the line.

To do this, connect a powerful household appliance to the network and check the twist: does it heat up or not. If suddenly some wire becomes warm, it means that the contacts need to be better fastened, or replaced with wires with a larger cross-section.

What is a cable channel?

The use of narrow and long protective boxes for laying wiring is practiced not only in warehouses or workshops; this method is often used in residential areas to avoid costly repairs. These products are now available in attractive designs, different colors, and have a wide selection of standard sizes. The design of the cable channel depends on its type and material. There are floor, parapet and baseboard options. To improve the aesthetic appearance and ease of assembly, the boxes are supplied with additional elements:

• plugs;
• L-shaped and T-shaped corners;
• tees;
• internal and external corners.

Why do you need a cable channel?

Open wiring is cheaper. With this installation method, there is no need to cut recesses in the walls and do labor-intensive plastering work. The main disadvantages of this method are that bundles of wires are poorly protected from mechanical damage, often interfere with movement and look unpresentable in the interior. Cable channels for electrical wiring can perfectly hide all the listed shortcomings, simplifying repair work and reducing the cost of the estimate.

Advantages of using cable channels:

1. Exposed electrical wiring does not spoil the interior.
2. Wires are better protected from damage.
3. When repairing the cable, it is easy to pull it out of the boxes for replacement.
4. Reduces the risk of flame propagation during a short circuit.

Disadvantages of cable channels:

1. They do not always match the interior style.
2. The tray takes up some wall space.
3. In areas of movement, the channel can be accidentally knocked off the fasteners or damaged.
4. Laying cable channels in many cases requires the use of additional accessories.

What is the cable duct made of?

Depending on local conditions, budget, installation method and interior style, the choice of material for electrical installation products may vary. For example, concrete trays are easier to install in high-rise buildings, while steel and aluminum boxes have good rigidity and will protect wiring even in the most dangerous places. PVC boxes are the most inexpensive in cost, are famous for their varied designs, and are excellent for routing lighting or communication cables in the private sector and residential premises.

Types of cable channels according to materials:

1. Metal
   cable channels are durable, strong, covered with an anti-corrosion layer of the product, their base is often perforated to facilitate installation. The disadvantage of steel trays is their relatively large weight.
2. Aluminum
   electrical installation cable channel - famous for its strength, fire resistance and moisture-resistant qualities, the rigid housing provides excellent protection.
3. Plastic
   cable channels are available in shaped shapes and different colors and are inexpensive. PVC trays have acceptable flexibility and fire resistance; they are easier to choose according to design for any interior. ABS plastic is a self-extinguishing material.
4. Concrete
   cable channels for wires are relatively heavy and cause installation difficulties. They do not conduct current, are fireproof, and are used in high-rise buildings in emergency evacuation areas.

Junction box Legrand Atlantic IK10

The box is large in size and quadrangular in shape, and also has its own characteristics:

• Height 8 cm, area 15x15 sq. cm;
• Intended for indoor use;
• Made of metal;
• The cover is attached to the body with screws;
• Mounted on brick and concrete surfaces;
• You can mount the housing to the wall or use brackets;
• Paired with the box are mounting perforated slats;
• There is moisture protection;
• The top and outside of the box is varnished and painted.

The only negative is the high cost of the device.

No. 4. Types of cable channels according to installation features

Wiring, telephone and internet lines can run along walls, ceilings, floors and corners. Each case has its own type of cable channel:

• wall products have a square or rectangular cross-section, sizes vary in a wide range, which allows you to equip systems of any complexity;
• mini cable channels - a variation of wall boxes. The main feature is its minimal dimensions, which allows the product to fit very neatly into the interior. The channel remains almost invisible, especially if you match it to the color of the wall. This product is designed for laying single wires or several thin cables, often used when installing television, telephone and Internet lines. To create various configurations, corners, plugs and tees are used, but these elements are not cheap, and they are rarely found on sale, so craftsmen simply file the channels at the desired angle to create a right angle, which works out well. Attach mini cable channels to self-tapping screws, dowels or adhesive tape. The latter option is especially convenient when laying wires along furniture (for example, under a table);
• The floor cable channel has a hemispherical cross-section. Thanks to this solution, the risk of tripping over the box and getting injured is eliminated. In apartments, this type of channel is not used very often. The products are much more popular in large office spaces such as open space, when it is necessary to provide appropriate conditions for many workplaces in one area. In this case, electricity, Internet, and a telephone line are supplied to the tables in floor ducts. The requirements in terms of strength for such products are increased. It's better to take an aluminum box. Plastic will also work, but not ordinary, but reinforced, with additional partitions that can also be used as a separator between wires for different purposes;
• corner ones have a cross-section in the form of a right triangle, designed for installation under the ceiling, at the junction of the surface of the wall and the ceiling. In appearance, such a box can easily be confused with the simplest ceiling plinth, so the product cannot harm the aesthetics of the room. Like other cable channels, it consists of a tray and a cover, and the latter can be transparent or opaque. Products with a transparent cover are used for installing LED strips;
• A plinth with a cable channel is the best example of combining business with pleasure. In appearance, the product is no different from a regular floor plinth; it can be of almost any color and shape. The internal cavity is intended for the location of wiring cables, the Internet, cable television, and thanks to the external and internal corners, turns and splitters, a very complex configuration can be created. There are even sockets and socket groups that can be successfully fitted into the floor plinth. If you need to stretch a whole bundle of wires, then this option is unlikely to work, since there must be enough space inside. The main disadvantage of such channels is their high cost, but they allow you to avoid the dirty and complex process of wall slitting;
• parapet cable channels resemble baseboard ones, but are installed at a small height from the floor (80-100 cm), they have a symmetrical cross-section and sufficient width. The products have gained wide popularity when laying wiring in offices and various institutions; such channels are not suitable for home interiors, as they will be very noticeable, with the exception of loft-style interiors.

Accessories for drywall

Drywall does not have a high load-bearing capacity, being, in fact, a cladding. It requires a supporting structure (for volumetric figures) or a sheathing (for planes). There are frameless structures made of gypsum plasterboard, but they have only a decorative purpose and are installed, as a rule, in the upper tiers of rooms.

The frame for the plasterboard box can be made from wooden blocks, or standard metal guides can be used. There are three main types:

• Ceiling guide (main) profile (PN, UD) . It is used to form the base or frame for the frame posts.
• Ceiling transverse (PP, CD) . Used for making crossbars.
• Bearing profile (PN, UW) . Its other name is rack profile. Serves as the main supporting element of the frame to which gypsum plasterboard panels are attached.
• Partition rack (PS, CW) . Also used to create vertical support structures.
• Arched profile . Used to create curved shapes. It has multiple cuts to facilitate bending in the desired direction.

Profile types and sizes

Prices for ceiling profiles

Ceiling profile

The names of the metal strips do not indicate that they can only be used for their intended purpose. All these elements are a kind of construction kit that allows you to assemble frames as the situation requires.

In addition, there are various types of connecting and fastening elements on sale:

• Single-level crab-type connectors providing a cross-shaped connection of the guides.
• T-shaped connectors for right angle connections.
• Extensions with plug-in fixing element.
• Two-level connectors providing a criss-cross connection of one guide profile over another.
• Direct hangers for ceiling mounting.
• Sliding hangers capable of moving inside the guide profile.

Suspensions and connecting elements

To work with metal guides, you must have the appropriate tool:

• Metal scissors.
• A hacksaw for metal.
• Electric drill or screwdriver.
• Self-tapping screws with a drill tip.

Tools for installing drywall

Prices for popular hammer drill models

Hammers

If using these tools is difficult or they are not available, the frame can be assembled from wooden blocks that are commercially available. Working with wood is easier, but the properties of wood are somewhat worse than those of metal parts. Wood rots, warps, and is capable of absorbing moisture and changing linear dimensions. A box assembled on such a frame can come apart at the seams, and the finishing can peel off or bounce off. These disadvantages must be taken into account when choosing material for the frame of the box.

What are the advantages of plasterboard structures?

How to hide heating pipes in an apartment or house

It may be necessary to hide heating pipes so that only heating devices and outlets that go into the floor or wall remain visible. To prevent them from being visible at all, they use the lower connection of the heating radiator, which can only be seen by bending down and looking under the radiator. In the case of individual heating, the most correct solution is to lay pipes with coolant in the floor screed. This ensures both minimal installation costs (the pipes just need to be spread on the floor) and additional floor heating, since the lower the heat source is located, the more efficient the convection of the heat flow. In the case of central heating, it is prohibited to hide heating pipes in a screed for a number of reasons:

• First, you need to obtain permission from the management company or service organization to reinstall the pipes. This requires the development of a new project. In addition, the housing department is extremely reluctant to make any kind of alterations, and in case of any problems, you will be independently responsible for your desire to hide the water pipes.
• Downstairs neighbors may be harmed if water leaks occur in a bricked-up pipe due to a broken connection, loose seal, or worn-out pipes. In addition, it is difficult to check the quality and technical condition of installation when there is no direct access.
• The third reason is a weakening of heat transfer and a decrease in temperature in the apartment, which can lead to condensation, increased humidity or fungus.

Stage 1. Checking and Troubleshooting

We check the condition of the heating system in the house. We estimate wear and approximate remaining service life. Then we decide on the feasibility and possibility of installing hidden wiring. It is highly undesirable to install metal pipes (especially old ones) in a wall, in a screed or even in plasterboard boxes. It would be more correct to replace them with plastic ones, which are more durable and not subject to corrosion. In a newly built house, it is necessary to plan all communications and hide heating pipes at the design stage.

Stage 2. Pipeline laying plan

It is better to draw the location of the future heating system on a paper drawing, since after installation and completion of repairs it is very difficult to remember where they are and not get into them while drilling fastening and mounting holes, for example, for furniture.

Stage 3. Preparing the grooves

The grooves can be prepared manually or mechanically. If there is no special tool, then you should use a regular hammer and scarpel. In places with limited, inconvenient access, this is the only way to prepare a groove. Where space allows, it is better to use an angle grinder (“grinder”) equipped with a metal disk with diamond chips. The fastest way is a wall chaser, which is a “grinder” with two discs, a vacuum cleaner for sucking out dust and a large, comfortable handle. After two grooves have been cut, we remove the remaining material between them with a hammer drill or jackhammer. The groove to hide the heating pipes is ready.

Stage 4. Pipe installation

We lay heating pipes in the finished grooves and connect them and tie them with radiators, a boiler, a pump, and sensors.

Stage 5. Pressure testing of the system and sealing the grooves

After assembly, it is necessary to carry out crimping before the grooves are sealed. This is done in order to avoid leaks that may occur due to improper installation, defective pipes, fittings or shut-off valves. In addition, the entire system must be securely fastened using special clips or binding wire if the width of the groove does not allow hiding the pipes along with the clips.

Pressure testing is carried out under pressure exceeding the operating pressure of the system by 20-100%. Exact data can be taken from the instructions for the boiler to which the system is connected. In a central heating system, pressure testing is more difficult to do, since it is performed collectively for the entire house and usually only at the beginning of the heating season. Test pressure - 10 atmospheres. At startup, it can be even greater due to water hammer. Therefore, the requirements for the tightness of the central heating system are much higher, and it may be better to hide the pipes in other ways.

Read material on the topic: How to choose heating pipes: types, criteria, manufacturers

Wall mounting options

There are several ways to attach cable ducts to a ceiling or wall:

1. Glue the structure with superglue or a special solution. Not the most reliable option, since under the influence of moisture or other harmful factors, the integrity of the adhesive base may be damaged and the cable channel may come off. And there is also no way to dismantle without harming the repair.
2. Screw to the surface using galvanized self-tapping screws. Suitable for wooden or plasterboard surfaces.
3. For a concrete or brick wall, dowel-nails are used.
4. Combine the method of gluing and screwing in screws.

In specialized stores you can find a separate type of cable channels, which have one adhesive side. For their installation, no additional devices are required, only the material itself.

Important! The boxes must be cut with the lids snapped on them. And when constructing several sections into one route, ensure that the joints match.

How to hide pipes in the kitchen (photos and recommendations)

Hiding sewerage and plumbing in the kitchen is quite simple. Most often, the kitchen set completely covers all communications, since they pass above the floor, and the set has a special indentation from the wall. The top of the cabinets is covered with a tabletop and the resulting niche is not visible from the outside.

Vertical pipelines, the so-called risers, can be hidden in a vertical column, which is made of plasterboard and lined with ceramic tiles or wallpaper. If the walls of the bathroom are finished with plastic panels, then the column can also be covered with them, having first made a wooden or metal frame to secure them. Don't forget to make hatches for access to valves and inspections. It is also advisable to have access to plug connections, meters and flexible connections. They require maintenance much more often than the pipes themselves. Before hiding the pipes, it is advisable to replace them with plastic ones. They are not subject to corrosion and are not afraid of moisture and condensation that can form in the confined space of the box.

Fantasy and modern materials allow you to hide pipes in the kitchen in other ways:

• Skirting boards hiding pipes

• Hide the pipe with tiles

How to hide pipes in a toilet (photos and tips)

The bathroom and toilet rooms contain the maximum number of pipes per square meter of area. These are, first of all, hot and cold water risers and sewer pipes. A water supply manifold and an exhaust hood complete the picture of communications. Moreover, the matter is not limited to pipes alone: ​​there are a lot of valves, meters, filters, audits and other elements that need to be hidden.

Despite the fact that the bathroom is usually the smallest room in the apartment, it is the most logical place for their location. The easiest way to improve the aesthetics of your bathroom is to hide the pipes in the wall. If at the design stage it was possible to collect all serviceable and access-requiring elements into one cluster, then this is the best option for compactly hiding them.

First we need to decide which material is best suited for our purposes.

However, you should not limit yourself to appearance alone. The properties of the materials used must be selected according to their purpose. The result should be a structure that will faithfully serve for many years. We will take into account the following material features in order to aesthetically hide pipes in the bathroom:

• The materials used should provide a lightweight and compact design that is easy to use and does not take up much space.
• Materials must be wear- and corrosion-resistant and can withstand interaction with water and other finishing materials.
• Moisture resistance and temperature resistance must correspond to operating conditions and ensure safety.

The construction industry offers a variety of materials for finishing and improving bathrooms. First of all, these are various plastic structures. The next most commonly used material is aluminum. And finally, the last one is waterproof MDF (as well as plywood and chipboard). This is by no means a complete list.

Let's look at interesting solutions that were used at different times on real objects in order to hide pipes in the bathroom:

• Blinds

Blinds

- the best option for cases where the possibility of hiding the pipes in one way or another was not provided in advance. Blinds are a simpler option compared to drywall and even plastic structures. Installing blinds takes little time and produces a minimum of construction waste. In fact, it consists only of installing the upper fasteners. Blinds can be either floor to ceiling or from the middle of the wall to the ceiling.

Not every structure can be installed in one way or another. This is explained by the peculiarities of fastening, the number and intricacy of pipes and risers in the bathroom.

• Special furniture

Special furniture.

Furniture in this case can be divided into two types.

• Ordinary furniture that is used in rooms or in the kitchen. It is not highly moisture resistant, therefore, before hiding the pipes, they must be additionally insulated to avoid condensation and, as a result, warping and cracking of the furniture.
• Specialized furniture for bathrooms and toilet rooms. It is initially made from moisture-resistant materials that are resistant to possible condensation.

Sometimes you have to use combined solutions to hide pipes in the bathroom.

• Design solutions

In conclusion, a few words must be said about creative solutions that defy classification and logical approach. They are completely based on your preferences and taste.