Nowadays it is quite difficult to imagine that high-quality repairs was made without using a ceiling plinth or, as it is otherwise called, fillets. The main thing is to know how to bend the ceiling plinth correctly. The fillet is needed in order to perfectly hide all the irregularities made during repairs at the boundary of the wall and ceiling, in order to give the interior some completeness, as well as round out the room. Psychologists have long proven the fact that sharp corners on an unconscious level are associated in a person with aggression and lead to the fact that a person simply feels uncomfortable. But rounded corners, on the contrary, personify comfort and a sense of security.
An important element of their design are skirting boards, which can be decorated in various ways.
Types of ceiling plinths
- Made from polystyrene – the relief is clearly defined, the surface is smooth and matte, it bends hard and breaks.
- Made of polyurethane – great flexibility and strength, resistant to various temperature and moisture fluctuations. Well suited for finishing rooms with high humidity, for example, a bathhouse or a swimming pool, bends easily.
- PVC borders are one of the most economical options. They can be produced with different color treatments and surface patterns. This baguette bends easily and is easy to install.
- Made of wood - more expensive than previous baguettes, but they are famous for their durability, aesthetics, strength and environmental friendliness.
- Gypsum stucco is a very plastic material, real works of art in the field of decoration are possible.
Modern renovations are increasingly moving away from standards. Simple urban style is being replaced by more elegant and flexible ones. design solutions. Straight lines are replaced by curvilinear, smooth, rounded shapes, so there is a need for new technologies for interior decoration.
Facing materials can be very different, but it is difficult to imagine a renovated space without skirting boards; this finishing element is, without a doubt, indispensable in any interior. In the article we will tell you what a flexible floor and ceiling plinth is, and how to bend a plinth from different materials with your own hands.
Flexible ceiling plinth allows you to trim complex rounded shapes
Possibilities
It should be noted that the finishing materials market quickly responds to needs modern renovation. Now on sale different models bendable skirting boards, and if polystyrene strips are very fragile and almost do not bend, then the polyurethane profile with the addition of rubber is very flexible and ductile.
The best solution for finishing a complex curved area with many curves is soft, flexible skirting boards. This is usually vinyl or flexible polyurethane baseboard with a high percentage of rubber. The profile is very elastic and is sold in rolls; it is easy for them to go around both external and internal radius corners.
For example, flexible floor skirting boards are used in rooms with complex shapes, for arches, columns, rounded podiums, etc., and a flexible plinth for the ceiling is used for finishing curved structures from plasterboard or tension systems.
In addition to flexible models, a wide range of bent radius plinths with different diameters and from different materials. As a rule, these are wooden and polyurethane segments for a round corner or column.
Flexible, semicircular self-adhesive vinyl plinth, easy to cut and bend to any radius
How to bend a plinth with your own hands
Despite the huge selection of soft, flexible and radius profiles, it is not always advisable to use them. As a rule, sometimes it is easier to bend a regular bendable baseboard. Plastic, cork, MDF and wooden skirting boards can be easily bent into smooth semicircular bends.
But in order to bend them along the radius of a small circle, you need to know the secrets of technology. Because physicochemical characteristics materials vary significantly, hence the approach to the process of how to round a plinth is very different.
Flexible polyurethane floor plinth allows you to easily bend around semicircular surfaces with a flat radius
Thus, a flexible floor plinth made of composite plastic can be easily bent into a semicircle using a household hair dryer with a power of 1 kW or more. It is enough to heat the profile in in the right place, and carefully round it to the shape of a semicircular wall. Note that a plastic bendable composite plinth with wood chip filling is difficult to distinguish from a veneer profile, so it is ideal for interiors with natural wood floors.
To bend a plastic plinth with a cable channel onto a flat semicircular surface, you will need to cut off all the stiffeners, leaving only the decorative layer intact. Next, to make the molding flexible, it is heated construction hairdryer, and carefully bends at the installation site; during the process, grab the whip so that it “remembers” the required round shape.
Advice: In order not to damage the decorative coating or spoil the structure of the plastic, do not bring the hair dryer close to the profile, do not hold it at one point, but move it back and forth, at a distance of approximately 300 mm from the whip, so the heating will be uniform.
Cork flexible floor plinth can be easily bent, but for small round shapes will have to go around with steam
If the profile is not flexible enough and you need to go around semicircular shapes with plinths made of wood, foam plastic, MDF, and some polyurethane models, then in this case it is necessary to format the fillet. To do this, transverse cuts are made on the reverse side, almost to the depth of the profile, leaving only the front layer of 3-5 mm untouched. It is better to make the slits with a hacksaw for metal with a thick blade, every 5-7 mm.
Formatting flexible PVC profile
When formatting the profile does not help, in order to bend the surface, you will have to use a radical method. The non-flexible plinth is cut into small pieces, and each piece is individually adjusted to fit a round wall. But this method of manufacturing a semicircular shape requires serious skills, so it is very difficult to install such a rounded segment yourself.
As a rule, joining several individual parts is used if the interior includes a wide polystyrene ceiling plinth for a round wall. After finishing, the bent area is carefully puttied, and the plinth is painted in several layers, so the joints become invisible.
The photo shows how to finish a rounded surface with a non-flexible whip
How to make a bent wood segment
Solid wood baseboards are usually bent using steam. It is necessary to measure the round area and cut it out right size profile with a margin of 50-75 mm on each side. Next, a large pan of water is placed on the stove, brought to a boil, when the steam becomes intense, the cut baseboard is placed on top.
Depending on the type of wood, pine, for example, is more flexible, you need to steam the profile for 30-60 minutes, saying the words: “I’m twisting and turning, I want to bend the profile!” When the profile is well saturated with steam, it is applied to the place of fixation and bent along the required radius. In order for the tree to take the desired shape, it should be fixed in several places. But this method can easily lead to deformation of the baseboard after drying.
Bent wood profile in the interior
In order to correctly bend a wooden whip in a semicircle, professionals make a special pattern, then make a template using it. They fix the steamed whip on it with clamps, metal point and tape, so the bent semicircular shape turns out to be more even and accurate. Before making the plinth into a semicircle, it is recommended to soak the underside with PVA glue so that after drying the bent segment will better retain its semicircular shape.
We have also prepared a video for you on how to bend a plastic plinth with your own hands in a semicircle. We hope our tips will help you with your repairs, remember, the deposit beautiful interior- neatness and creativity to the process.
They frame a rectangular room well. But what if you have a non-standard room: with columns, semicircular walls, or suspended ceiling complex configuration?
A flexible floor and ceiling plinth will suit you. With their help, you can hide minor repair imperfections, uneven surfaces, and also frame round structures.
You will learn about the types of flexible skirting boards, methods of bending and fastening them from this article.
Flexible baguettes: their features
If the design of your apartment includes semicircular or non-standard decorative elements, you will need a flexible ceiling plinth. It will not just decorate the ceiling, but will perfectly decorate suspended round structures and hide defects and irregularities at the junction of the ceiling and walls.
Flexible plinth for the ceiling will highlight all the advantages of the room
Sharp angles can cause anxiety and aggression. If you decide to create a calm atmosphere in the room, to give the room softness, use a semicircular plinth in its design.
Curved plank options
How to bend floor and ceiling baguettes correctly
During the renovation process, many people have a reasonable question: how to bend the baseboard to give it the shape of a circle? Depending on the material used to make the baguette, it can be bent in several ways:
- making several cuts on the back side of the fillet. After this, they try to see if the baguette bends. If necessary, additional cuts are made to bend the product;
- cutting into small pieces and combining them on a semicircular profile;
- by heat treatment. The product is heated with a hair dryer, bent, and then cooled in cold water to secure the bend;
- forming a semicircle by cutting off the stiffeners on the back side of the product.
Semicircular radius plinth in the interior
Materials for the manufacture of flexible fillets
Polyurethane baguettes are most often used to frame ceilings. A flexible polyurethane baseboard can bend in any direction. The product can be tried on several times and used to decorate semicircular elements - columns, arches, bay windows.
Flexible polyurethane floor plinth will beautifully decorate ceilings in a semicircle
Remember: polyurethane products bend better than foam products.How to round a wooden plinth so that it does not crack? To do this, it should be steamed first. After just half an hour of exposure to hot steam, the wooden baguette will become pliable for transformation. When the product bends and takes the required shape, it must be fixed until completely dry. This can be done by applying a load, or by making a special form.
Rounding a wood plank - radius bending
How to bend a plastic baseboard? By heating with a hairdryer or hot water, you can also bend a PVC baguette. When exposed to temperatures above 80 degrees, it will become pliable and soft, capable of taking any shape.
The curved PVC floor molding is fastened with glue or self-tapping screws in a circle, and plastic components are installed at the corner and joints.
PVC product, example of how to make a plinth in a semicircle
Advice: When heating the fillet with a hairdryer, be careful not to overheat the product so that it does not become deformed.Special bendable fillets for ceiling and floor
The simplest type of semicircular frame is flexible PVC tape. It is self-adhesive and can be folded in half to form an even angle.
Tape products are available in different color scheme, this is the perfect plinth for a round wall
If you need a high-quality bendable plinth, then good decision there will be a composite wood-filled edging. It is manufactured according to the latest technologies by injection molding and pressing.
Flexible plinth for wood-filled floors
An innovative product for decorating round elements is a flexible PVC floor plinth. It is not exposed to ultraviolet radiation, moisture, solvents, does not burn and can be different colors. These baguettes bend perfectly and are therefore suitable for columns, framing semicircular podiums, and bay windows.
Soft plastic baguette bends smoothly
To form a curved shape, the product is heated to 70 degrees, and then they begin to bend smoothly along required radius. If it hardens, it is heated in hot water and continue the semicircular edging.
A flexible cork edging will help implement non-standard design solutions. Fastening to the walls is carried out using glue, which allows you to bend around even round columns.
Flexible cork floor plinth
Bottom line
If the interior of the room contains columns, bay windows, or semicircular projections, then you can use ready-made bending skirting boards to frame them, or you can bend the floor and ceiling edging yourself. Flexible framing will add style and softness to the room, making it more cozy, individual, and comfortable.
If the perimeter of the room is correct geometric shape, there are no problems with installing finishing elements. What to do in cases where you need to go around a column or a convex/concave section of the wall with a curb. To do this, you will need a flexible plinth that could repeat the geometry of the rounding. Taking into account the fact that many homeowners are now striving to diversify their interiors by including curved sections of various radii, including in the bathroom, they have to start looking for suitable flexible decorative elements. We will look at what manufacturers offer in response to existing demand in the article.
What materials bend
Not every material used to make ordinary straight borders has elasticity, that is, the ability to change shape without being damaged. But some natural and polymer products can be adjusted to fit the existing curvature. The following skirting boards have been created and are on sale that can change shape:
- plastic (PVC);
- cork;
- polyurethane.
There is also the so-called liquid tree, a substance that resembles wood in appearance and hardens when exposed to air. This material is used extremely rarely for installation of floor plinths, since it is not always possible to give it the required configuration, and its cost is rather high ($30-40 for a fragment of 40-50 cm). To create a curvilinear imitation of a wooden border, they resort to all sorts of tricks and technological tricks and do this by installing the materials listed above, so let’s look at what options for plastic, cork and polyurethane soft floor skirting boards are offered by manufacturers.
Flexible plastic
The very name of the material speaks of its plasticity. The name “plastic” is general and includes several polymers. We are interested in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used to make ordinary floor plinth and its flexible version. The fact is that a regular plastic border also bends well, but the cable channel and longitudinal ribs used to secure it to the installation clips give the product rigidity. Some examples of ordinary floor PVC profiles you can bend them and make them correspond to a certain radius of curvature (rounding). How this is done in practice, watch this video.
If there is no desire to experiment, purchase a ready-made flexible PVC skirting board You can do it at any specialty store. What he really is? This roll material, which is sold by linear meters. It is often called plinth tape, since it bends without problems and takes any proposed shape, so it will not be difficult to go around a column or any other curve with it.
There are self-adhesive options for floor plinth tape, although experts still recommend additionally using suitable contact adhesive for reliable fixation (any acrylic-based “liquid nails” will do).
PVC skirting tape It is available in various sizes (40-150 mm), so choosing it to the desired height will not be difficult. The texture of the front side is varied. It imitates a tree a natural stone, or painted in certain colors, so there is a suitable pattern or color scheme for laminate, linoleum or tile in the bathroom. Often, small-width skirting strips are used for joining to the wall. kitchen countertop or bathroom fixtures where you just need to stick it on.
In addition to self-adhesive PVC tape, there is a bendable plinth made of the same material, which is attached to installation clips. Before installation, in order to give the product elasticity, it must be warmed up, for which it is placed in water for a while (more precisely indicated by the manufacturer) at about 75-80˚C. The installation itself is carried out like this:
- On a curved section of wall or column in the usual way(on dowels or self-tapping screws) the mounting strip or clips are fixed.
- Plastic flexible floor plinth is kept in hot water until the required elasticity appears, after which it is cut to the required length.
- Installation is carried out, for which the curb is snapped onto the installation fasteners.
When the temperature of the product drops to room temperature, it becomes hard again, acquiring qualities characteristic of ordinary plastic skirting board. The instructions given are also valid for installation in the bathroom.
In addition to the versatility of flexible plastic floor edges, their price is attractive. Skirting tape domestic producers will cost from 1.2 to 3 $ per linear meter. It’s hard to imagine how else you can make a high-quality edging of a column, for example, so inexpensively.
Flexible cork border
Recently, floor coverings and other Decoration Materials, made with the bark of a cork tree. Demand is not only due to environmental friendliness natural product, but also its functional qualities. One of these is the pliability of cork products and the ability to take the required shape. This characteristic is used in the manufacture of skirting boards, which easily cover rounded sections of the wall.
With the help of cork borders covered with a thin lamella of valuable wood, the issue of decorating curved areas in rooms where the main plinth is wooden (solid or veneered) is solved. Laminated transparent film a flexible cork border will successfully complement a wall with embossed wallpaper and a floor made of the same (cork) flooring. Regular products, made with the bark of a cork tree, lend themselves well to painting; the material itself, having good adhesion to most adhesive compositions, usually you just need to stick it to the wall, which is what installation is all about.
Besides the fact that such products cannot be used in the bathroom and other places with high humidity, cork skirting boards have one drawback - their price, which exceeds $20 for one product (length 240 cm). However, if necessary, nothing can be done - you will have to spend money and qualitatively edge a rounded section of the wall.
Flexible polyurethane
Conventional polyurethane products simply break when you try to bend them. Despite the strength, the material is fragile and does not differ in elasticity. What to do if there is a rounded area or column in a room where there is a high polyurethane baseboard? Manufacturers found a way out of the situation and created flexible versions of similar curbs that contain rubber, and therefore are sometimes called rubber. Externally, they are the same as polyurethane ones, have the same dimensions and cross-sectional shape, and are just as easy to paint, with the difference that they are pliable and do not collapse when bent. The material is hydrophobic, so nothing prevents you from installing such a product in the bathroom.
Installation of polyurethane flexible plinth is carried out using special adhesive mixtures; self-adhesive product samples, unfortunately, are not provided. Look at the photo to see what the combination of regular and flexible polyurethane borders looks like in the interior of a room.
A flexible polyurethane plinth costs about the same as its rigid counterpart. Prices vary depending on the manufacturer and the height of the products and range from $5-15 per m2.
Conclusion
No matter where to finish finishing works needed a flexible skirting board in the bathroom, living room or kitchen, now you can find it on sale necessary option similar product. So edging a column or rounding a wall is not a problem. Moreover, there are materials for every taste and “tightness” of the wallet.
When conducting repair work From time to time it becomes necessary to use a floor plinth to go around a curved section of a wall, a podium, a column, or to install a profile in a bay window. For such work, a flexible plinth is used, which allows for high-quality installation. On the market building materials Flexible skirting boards made of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (plastic), and cork are presented. Which one should you choose?
Plastic flexible skirting board
Most popular look floor plinth - plastic. This is determined by its versatility and affordable cost.
Dimensions of plastic plinth
The length of a standard plastic profile is 2.5 meters - it can be transported in transport and is convenient to work with. The cross-section of the profiles is different, it usually varies between 15-22 mm. The height of a narrow product starts from 30 mm, wide baseboard can reach 100 and even 150 mm.
The most common size is 50-60 mm with a cross section of 20 mm. A profile of this size can be used in most standard apartments.
Important! There is a rule according to which products with a height of up to 70 mm are recommended for use in rooms with a ceiling height of up to 2.5-2.6 m. For ceilings with a height of 3 meters, the profile should be in the range of 70-90 mm. Skirting boards with a height of 100 millimeters or more are optimal for very high rooms with ceilings above 3 meters. This rule is considered quite universal, but it is necessary to take into account the interior design of the room and the size of the decorative elements already used.
What is the difference between a flexible plastic skirting board?
Peculiarities:
- Flexibility of the planks, ease of installation and low weight. This profile can be pressed tightly against the surface of almost any wall.
- Sufficiently high strength and durability.
- Moisture resistance.
- Resistance to ultraviolet radiation - plastic plinth does not lose its color in sunlight.
- Flexible plastic profile retains its properties at relatively low and high temperatures, but it cannot be used outside the home.
- Very important feature- it is non-toxic and fireproof.
- The flexible plastic skirting board is ready for use without pre-treatment.
- Variety of surface patterns and color solutions. Plastic products can imitate a traffic jam, natural wood, ceramics, metal.
- A flexible plastic profile with a cable channel makes it possible to covertly lay any number of wires and cables, and subsequently provide simple and convenient access to them during operation.
- Flexible plinth does not require special care.
Flexible profile design with cable duct
In the main part of the product there is a cable channel into which the wires are laid. There is enough space even for thick antenna cables. Before laying the wires, this part is attached to the wall, and after laying it is covered with a decorative panel. You can replace or remove unnecessary wires very simply - remove the top panel, replace, then install decorative panel into place and click into place.
Advice. Consult with specialists about the size of the cable channel you will need. You need to choose a model with a cable channel of sufficient size.
Installation of flexible plastic skirting board
The flexible profile can be installed using self-tapping screws, hidden mounting clips or glue. Installation with self-tapping screws and clips is usually used.
Accessories (components) for installation
Required to purchase before installation required amount items that will be required during installation. These are external and internal corners, right and left side plugs (they are always sold in pairs) and connecting elements for joining two planks. Make calculations of internal and external corners in the room, the number of plugs (they are installed in places where the baseboard fits the doorway and elements that would make direct installation impossible. Connecting elements are also easy to count. Buy these elements in the color of the product and with a small margin.
Remember that the profile in the corners is cut flush with the wall and inserted into the corners.
To work you need to prepare:
- A hacksaw or knife.
- Screwdriver or screwdriver.
- Hammer.
- Tape measure and pencil.
Important! Before installing the profile, check the color of each strip, and install strips of a darker shade opposite the window. So sunlight will make the difference in shades unnoticeable.
Installation methods:
- To install on hidden clips, first, clips are mounted along the walls in increments of 300-500 mm, fixing them to the walls with self-tapping screws. Avoid distortions during installation! The flexible plinth is placed on the mounted clips with light pressure with your fingers until it clicks. This method is used when smooth walls, because the curvature of the surface will make installation very difficult.
- The easiest way to install a flexible plastic skirting board. Installation begins from the corner of the room, markings are made for dowels in increments of 300-500 mm, and in these places through holes are drilled in the main part of the profile (directly in the cable channel). Plastic dowels are installed in the wall and the profile is fixed with self-tapping screws. They will be covered with a decorative panel.
- You can attach a flexible plinth with a cable duct using glue, but experts recommend using the fastening method with self-tapping screws for reliability. When removing the decorative panel to access the wires, it is easy to damage the reliability of the adhesive connection. It is better to glue the connecting elements, because when cleaning the room they can be knocked off with a vacuum cleaner or mop.
Floor flexible plinth made of polyurethane
Flexible polyurethane profile (Flex) - decorative element to complete the registration flooring, allowing you to hide uneven areas where walls and floors meet, and also to lay wires unnoticed. Flexible products made from polyurethane repeat the line of standard products in size and shape, and differ from them in the composition of the material - for their production, rubber is added to polyurethane, which allows the product to bend along a radius of 0.5 m.
Flexible profile dimensions
The standard length of a flexible polyurethane profile is 2 m, but there are products on the market up to 2.5 m long. The cross-section is usually 20-25 mm, the height can reach up to 150 mm. A number of companies offer profiles with a height of 250 mm.
Properties
The characteristics of polyurethane depend on the polymers it contains. However, a profile made from this material is distinguished by:
Relatively light weight.
Product flexibility and ease of installation.
High strength.
No restrictions on installation in children's rooms and bedrooms.
Easy to care for.
Possibility of painting in any desired color.
Advice. For painting it is recommended to use acrylic paints V aerosol cans. Painting is carried out no earlier than 24 hours after installation of the profile. When painting, the junctions with the walls and flooring are sealed with masking tape.
Installation Features
Work begins from the corner of the room. In the corners, the profiles are cut at 45°, for which a miter box is used. Before installation, be sure to check the accuracy of the joining of the cut pieces of plinth.
Other tools you will need are a square, a tape measure, a fine-tooth hacksaw, a caulking gun and a pencil. You can sometimes use self-tapping screws to fix the flexible profile, then these places will need to be treated with sealant.
Installation will be facilitated by the flexibility of the plinth, which will fit snugly even to uneven walls. The wires are laid in special grooves of a flexible profile (cable channels).
You need to choose high-quality glue. Many manufacturers of flexible polyurethane skirting boards also produce adhesive putty for it, which is packaged in cartridges. It will be optimal solution. Liquid nails, synthetic adhesives such as “Titanium”, and styrofoam glue are also suitable.
Using a gun, glue is applied to the back side of the flexible plinth in two or three continuous strips so that when pressed, the glue fills the entire back side of the profile. When the profile is installed, glue is also applied to the joint on one side.
The product is pressed against the wall surface, removed and the glue is allowed to dry a little. Then they press it again with force and hold it in this position for some time, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Excess glue must be removed immediately with a rag or sponge. If necessary, glue is added until it begins to protrude when pressed.
Advice. Additionally, you can secure it using furniture nails. They do not have a cap, but these places should still be treated with sealant.
It should be remembered that the flexible profile must be glued only to the wall surface. Under no circumstances should you glue the baseboard to the laminate.
Conclusion
A flexible polyurethane plinth for the floor allows you to design radial and curved junctions of the floor covering to the walls, as well as solve many other important practical problems. Right choice This is not as easy to do as it first seems - you need to choose a profile that is suitable in size, texture, shape, color, and even with a cable channel of the appropriate size. But installing it won’t be particularly difficult if you follow simple rules.
