Serpyanka for drywall: characteristics and purpose

Installing drywall structures requires certain knowledge and skills. As soon as you cope with this task, another question will arise - how to smoothly and imperceptibly close up the joints of the gypsum board? After all, this is what will ultimately affect the appearance and stability of the structure. If such work is carried out with errors, then in the future there will be many unpleasant moments. A mesh of cracks can greatly spoil the appearance of the finish coating, which can force you to redo the repair again. In order to avoid negative consequences, you need to use proven and high-quality materials, as well as strictly observe the technology for performing work.

Construction reinforcing mesh called serpyanka has gained wide popularity. Visually, it has a distant resemblance to a medical bandage. This is a large mesh based on fiberglass or synthetic material. An adhesive composition is applied to one of its sides.

Serpyanka is an indispensable assistant when sealing drywall joints, copes well with the processing of corners and irregularities and can be used in many types of construction and finishing work. Serpyanka is used to smooth the joints between the ceiling, floor and walls, before wallpapering and painting, as well as to form a flat surface on gypsum plasterboard structures. The net is wound into rolls 50 millimeters wide.

If there is any contamination on the surface to be treated, there is a risk that the tape will peel off. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the desired area. Serpyanka should be used in the width that is needed, depending on the dimensions of the seam. The coating should be even, without protruding fasteners. The presence of drywall defects is unacceptable. All sheets must be securely fixed in the structure.

At high humidity, the gypsum board can deform, therefore, a favorable microclimate at the place of work is very important. Low as well as too high temperatures can have a negative effect on them. The room should be on average about 10-15 degrees Celsius. The possibility of drafts must also be excluded.

By using a serpentine, you can avoid swelling and unevenness on the surface. However, you need to take into account some peculiarities. The tape is applied only to the putty surface; it makes no sense to glue it on clean drywall. Serpyanka is ideal for gluing seams, smooths cracks well, it is convenient for it to strengthen panels for walls and ceilings. The use of a serpyanka protects the putty surface from adverse external influences and the appearance of cracks, and also fixes its connection with drywall. The tape can be from 20 to 150 meters long. It is produced in a size range from 42 to 230 millimeters. The density of the serpyanka is 50 g / m2.

Serpyanka is waterproof and very reliable, it is well fixed in the required place and does not corrode. Thanks to these qualities, the material can be used for both internal and external work.

The mesh is available in two modifications:

• When working indoors, a tape with small diameter cells is used - 1-3 millimeters. It is mainly used for fixing seams in plasterboard and other structures.
• For external work, the diameter of the tape cells is already larger - from 5 millimeters, and the mesh is wider.The tape may not have an adhesive side. It is made of fiberglass and lavsan. Fastened with a special adhesive without a water base. It is used at the joints of window and door frames. The range of work with this species is not very wide. Lavsan tapes are very thin, so the use of putty with them is not necessary.

Any building material has its advantages and disadvantages, and serpyanka is no exception. One of the main advantages is the affordable price range and ease of use. With its help, the joint seam of drywall sheets is strengthened. The material tolerates aggressive environments well, is vibration-resistant and provides reliable adhesion of materials. The choice of a special putty solution and the insufficient strength of the tape can become a problem.

Before starting work, you need to remember the required temperature regime, which should not change for at least two days. A prerequisite is the elimination of drafts. The room must be dried, for this you can use a special device. If the drywall is wet, the seams may deform, which will significantly complicate further work.

Plasterboard sheets must be securely fixed in the structure, all screws are correctly positioned. Before you start to seal the joints, you need to prepare the surface. It can be cleaned either with detergents or simply wiped with a sponge. First of all, a primer is applied to the drywall. This is necessary to hold the putty and material together. The soil must be laid in a dense layer. Acrylic, acid and alkyd and their varieties can be used.

The most expensive is acidic soil. The price is due to its high performance properties: it absorbs excess moisture well and has a dense consistency. Acrylic primer is very thick and adheres well to the treated surfaces. Most often, a hardener is included with it. The thinnest is alkyd soil. It has the highest flow rate in operation and is used as an intermediate link.

After priming, the surface is putty. In order to avoid defects at the end of the work, the putty should be of medium consistency and always uniform. Serpyanka is applied to a wet layer. It is necessary to completely press it into the surface. After that, a finishing putty is applied in a thin layer. The surface must be dried.

Serpyanka with an adhesive layer has a number of advantages. The roll is easy to unwind and does not create additional problems in use. The tape is similar to a bandage, so the putty easily penetrates the cells and completely fills the seams to be treated. It is the putty in the future that holds the main structure, and the serpyanka, in fact, provides adhesion strength.

Not all adhesives can be used in work. Those that contain water are categorically contraindicated for paper tape or lavsan tape. The fact is that water can come into contact with the main frames of the structure, which are made of metal. In this case, rusty spots can appear through the putty and its appearance will be spoiled. Serpyanka consumption per 1 sq. m is calculated individually.

When buying a serpyanka, you should ask the manufacturer. Basically, it is made by domestic firms, and among them there are reliable and well-proven suppliers. We must not forget that cheap products may not be too solid, and this will certainly affect the entire quality of the finish. If the mesh is delaminated, this indicates poor quality or defective products.It will also be useful to check the adhesive layer.

Despite the fact that using serpyanka is quite simple, you need to know the basic rules for working with it. In order to protect the adhesive layer from drying out, it will be useful to place the tape in the package after work. The surface must also be protected from dust. If air gets between the tape and the putty during the application of the tape, then over time, cracks may begin to appear on the surface. In addition, you need to carefully monitor that when cutting the tape, threads do not start to come out from either side. They can damage the finished layer. The part that has begun to bloom is best simply cut off evenly.

The correct calculation of the required amount of material is also important. It can save you time and money. Material consumption depends on various design factors, types of work and is calculated individually. Serpyanka tape is used in most of the construction work, therefore it is available and available in every specialized store. When buying, it is necessary to control the quality of the product, since it does not always correspond to the manufacturer's assurances.

When installing drywall structures, the use of serpyanka is indispensable. It reduces stress on the frame itself, prevents cracks, and helps to fix the outer corners in structures. If you do not use a mesh when sealing butt joints, then over time they will deform or collapse. It is important to apply the putty correctly and observe the basic conditions when working with these materials. If gaps remain in the structure of the gypsum board, it will lose its reliability and functionality. Therefore, all manipulations must be carried out correctly, accurately and in accordance with technology. The result will not be long in coming, and the finished work will delight you for a long time.

For information on how to properly apply serpyanka to drywall, see the video below.