Installation suspended ceilings has become so popular that many are thinking about how to independently install such structures at home. But with all the skill of home craftsmen, there is one obstacle that often makes it impossible self-installation PVC ceilings. It's about about such an element as a heat gun for suspended ceilings.
This unit, in principle, is not inaccessible, since, if necessary, it can be purchased at a construction supermarket. If you are going to purchase such an installation for single installation, then this is impractical. But if you decide to professionally install suspended ceilings, then a heat gun will pay for itself quickly enough.
Let's take a little closer look at the design and use features of such a tool.
Types of heat guns
Heat guns provide quick heating of the room. They can run on gas, diesel or electricity. The effectiveness of such a heat gun is determined by its power. So, to warm up 1 sq. m of canvas, it is necessary to generate 100 W of energy. Thus, with a room area of 50 sq.m., it is necessary to use heat gun power 5 kW.
In the case of using a diesel heat gun, constant air ventilation in the room should be ensured, so in most cases electric and gas burners are used.
A gas heat gun for suspended ceilings is low cost, while its efficiency almost reaches 100%. This is achieved due to the fact that heating occurs with direct air circulation in closed space. That is, combustion energy is practically not lost.
At the back of the unit there is an electric fan that draws in cool air. It, firstly, cools the internal elements of the unit, protecting them from overheating, and secondly, ensures proper combustion of the gas. Fuel enters the burner through a reducer. Ignition of the gas is ensured through the use of an automatic piezoelectric element.
When working with a gas burner, oxygen is burned. Since the room is essentially heated by an open flame, it is important to ventilate the room in a timely manner.
When buying such a heat gun, you should pay attention to the manufacturer, as well as the main indicator of the unit - fuel consumption. Despite the fact that the fire itself heats equally, the combustion process is highly dependent on the amount of gas and oxygen. So, with incomplete combustion of fuel, it is released into the room carbon monoxide. In addition, in this case much more will be used more fuel. When a flammable substance is completely burned, only carbon dioxide. Thus, with the same burner power, the cost of heating the room can vary significantly.
Drawings of a gas burner can be found freely available on the Internet. The principle of operation of such a home-made unit is often observed, but is it worth spending your energy and money on creating such a device? Moreover, the equipment must work with gas, and any gas supply worker can give you many examples of what happens when an unauthorized connection occurs. gas equipment or failure to comply with safety regulations. And here the question arises: is it worth looking for savings while risking your health or even your life?
An electric heat gun for suspended ceilings is similar in principle to a gas one, but only inside it is located electric heater. As a rule, such devices can have several operating modes, and some models have an automatic thermostat inside. Since in similar units absent open flame, then they can be easily used for heating premises (warehouses, hangars, garages).
Electric Thermal Ceiling Curtain
Such a device acts as an invisible curtain that prevents cold air from entering the room. The ceiling curtain is effective in rooms where front door which open frequently (bars, cafes, shops). Such a device simply cuts off cold air from the street with a hot stream. The principle of operation of the device is similar to a heat gun - a fan drives air through the filaments, and hot air is directed in the required direction.
But in the end, what do we have? Is it possible to install a suspended ceiling without using such a bulky and sometimes dangerous device? It turns out that yes. And it's not even about fabric ceilings, which we talked about in previous materials, but about a new development in the field of PVC canvases, which is called Cool Stretch. Due to its enormous elasticity, such fabrics can be easily stretched without the need to heat it. This allows you to significantly reduce the cost installation work, in addition, simplifying the installation itself.
There are many various options implementation of ceilings. Ceilings can be made with putty, assembled from plasterboard and even special PVC film.
The last method is the most interesting and unusual. Such ceilings are called stretch ceilings. They consist of PVC film attached to a small frame.
Stretch ceilings allow you to organize an excellent design layout in a room, but they cannot be installed manually without additional equipment. A special gun for suspended ceilings is vital for the job.
What is it, and how and why is it used? Now we'll figure it all out.
An electric gun works on the same principle, but it uses one or more powerful heating elements as a heater. In fact, this is a large fan-type home heater.
Diesel guns are similar in design to gas guns, only they run on gasoline. Therefore, they have a small engine. They are autonomous and mobile, but can only work in rooms with excellent ventilation. Otherwise, the air will quickly become soggy, which is dangerous for people working nearby.
The last sample is somewhat out of the ordinary, since it is not a cannon in its full form, but rather a water curtain that prevents cold air from entering the room and warm air from leaving. It is used extremely rarely when installing suspended ceilings, but it would be a mistake not to mention it at all.
2.1 Tool selection
So which gun should you choose? And indeed, with all the variety of products, it is quite difficult for beginners to fully decide and understand what kind of heat gun they need.
We will try to answer this question and give some useful tips.
When choosing a gun, you should not concentrate on its characteristics, although they are certainly important, but on your working conditions. So, whatever the mechanism, if its power is not enough to fully warm the ceilings in the room, then it will not cope with the task.
Therefore, first of all, we evaluate all our conditions. What kind of ceilings will we do, what is the area, in what time frame, etc. Then we go to the store and choose.
Ballu gas guns are a universal option. Work anywhere and everywhere, easily deployed in working position, have high efficiency. At the same time, working with gas is always more dangerous, and they also weigh quite a lot.
Electric ones, in turn, only require an open outlet, weigh less and are much more convenient when you need to move from place to place. But they are not so reliable because electronics tend to break down over time (this, however, depends on the instrument).
A diesel gun is only suitable for large construction sites where performance is needed without regard to comfort. Plus, if you have a lot of fuel and have nowhere to put it, but no electricity, then a diesel unit can really be useful.
2.2 Workflow
Let's tell you a few words about how heat guns are used in general, and how it is usually done.
You can work with them with your own hands, because the mechanism is extremely simple and undemanding. It is enough to simply place the equipment in in the right place, direct to the operating point and connect to power.
All that remains is to press the button. If the gun is advanced, then it may have a control panel for the operation of the device. It allows you to adjust the power and speed of the fan, the level of air heating, etc.
Stages of work:
- We are preparing the ceilings for installation.
- We install the blank frame for the film.
- We unfold the film.
- We fire the cannon and warm up the room.
- We begin to stretch the film from one point on the ceiling.
- We attach the film to the frame.
- Straighten the surface of the film.
- We warm up the room until the work is completely finished.
- Let's check the result.
That's it. The main task of the gun is to heat the room and itself PVC material, giving you the opportunity to do your work in comfortable conditions. Moreover, if the device is installed correctly, it will not unnecessarily increase the air in the room. That is, you will be comfortable working.
Although PVC film is very plastic, constant temperature changes do not have the best effect on it. Over time, from such use it will stretch and become unusable. Which, in turn, will lead to sagging of suspended ceilings.
In the field of interior decoration, the appearance of suspended ceilings has caused a revolution. Technology has proven to be indispensable in offices, residential buildings, government institutions, catering establishments and entertainment centers. Competition in the industry is growing, and there are more and more opportunities. Today you can create a stretch ceiling project of maximum complexity and the best design.
Such technologies require the help of special equipment. A gas gun for installing suspended ceilings is indispensable during installation tensile structures. The thermal device helps to join the canvas to the frame quickly and efficiently. About what it represents this device, and how to use it, you will learn from this article.
The need for a heat gun
If you are not professional builder, and did not work with PVC film, then this device does not play any role for you. On the other hand, you need to understand that polyvinyl chloride fabric is soft, but very durable material, damaging which, or at least stretching it, is not an easy task. However, at temperatures above + 60 degrees Celsius, the material becomes softer and more elastic.
When making a stretch ceiling from PVC film, the area of the canvas is 8% less than the ceiling. The structure must be well tensioned to avoid sagging of the material.
Let's note the main tasks gas guns For :
- uniform heating of the room;
- heating the canvas to the required temperature and ensuring the working temperature regime during the installation of the structure;
- leveling condensation on the base plate during the working process.
The device is turned off only after the installation of the stretch ceiling is completed. When the PVC film cools, it narrows again, shrinking back to its original state, forming a tightly tensioned structure.
If it is necessary to dismantle the old tension fabric, a gas gun will also be indispensable - it is often necessary to remove the entire canvas to replace the water supply, heating systems, electrical wiring, or in the event of a neighbor's flooding. At normal temperature The ceiling structure cannot be dismantled due to strong tension over the entire area. Accordingly, the gas gun is turned on again to heat the room. In just a few hours you will remove the canvas, complete necessary work and install PVC film back.
From this we can conclude that a gas gun is suitable both for installing suspended ceilings and for removing them.
Why is a gas gun better than others?
A gas gun for installing suspended ceilings stands out among analogues for its unpretentiousness and ability to quickly and evenly warm up a room. All this is thanks to technology using open fire supported by natural gas.
Other advantages of a gas gun:
- autonomy in operation in the absence of negative consequences of combustion - smoke and other things;
- access to the electrical network is only needed for the operation of the fan, and no harmful flammable fuel is required;
- during operation, the equipment does not make noise or vibrate;
- gas is very inexpensive, and the fan can work long time even from car battery, which reduces the cost of the installation process.
What's inside a gas gun for installing suspended ceilings?
Each gas heat gun for installation of ceiling structures consists of several components:
- mains-powered fan;
- electrical board;
- hollow pipe with protective grilles on the sides, mounted on the chassis;
- gas burner;
- valve for flow control;
- piezoelectric element
Despite the simplicity of the device, a gas gun must be handled carefully, because open fire and high temperature require caution. Do not point the device nozzle at a wall, floor or ceiling at close range - a fire may occur.
Safety rules when working with a gas gun
Such a device highlights huge amount heat, which can cause negative consequences, therefore it is important to follow the operating instructions.
- Before using a gas gun, you need to remove furniture, carpets, clothes and household appliances who may be harmed by high temperature air. Metal-plastic windows covered with blankets.
- Rid the floor of rags, old wallpaper and other light material that can get into the bowels of the gun and easily catch fire.
- It is not recommended to point the heat gun at ceiling structure- deformation will occur. It is best to place the equipment on the floor and direct the heat flow in parallel.
- If it is impossible to remove fire-hazardous interior items, get fire extinguishers.
- Gas cylinder should be located in another room to avoid overheating.
Installation of PVC sheets takes no more than 2 hours; a special gun for suspended ceilings is used for installation. On domestic market equipment of Russian, European, Asian production is widely represented. Choose the best and affordable price- that's the task.
Important to know! Among the many options for finishing the ceiling: plaster, plasterboard, plastic panels, PVC film - the latter method is now the most popular. Stretch ceilings are strong, durable, and have aesthetic appeal and unique performance characteristics.
Heating the canvas with a gas gun
Features of guns for installing suspended ceilings
According to its structural design, sources of energy consumed, types heating elements, the presented equipment is classified into:
- Electric.
- Gas.
- Diesel.
- Gasoline.
- Vodyanoe.
Gas gun device
A gas gun for suspended ceilings copes best with the task of heating the PVC sheet to the required temperature (about 70°C). Its design consists of the following elements: a gas cylinder, connecting hose, a device for creating and supplying heat (gun), an electrical wire for connecting to the network. The main cylinder is made of heat-resistant metal with the addition of powder enamel. Inside it there is a burner, an igniter, a fan that pumps in heat during operation, a supply/control valve, and the sides of the device are closed with protective grilles.
How an electric gun works
In its design and operating principle, an electric heat gun for suspended ceilings resembles a large hair dryer. Inside the housing there are filaments that heat up under the influence of electrical energy. The heated air is expelled outside powerful fan, and served in in the right direction. The main advantages of such equipment are high performance, noiselessness, safety for human health and environment(environmentally friendly).
Scheme of operation of a direct and indirect heating gun
Powerful thermal gasoline/diesel guns are available in two types: direct and indirect heating. Their operation requires strict adherence to safety precautions and prescribed technical regulations. Violations lead to serious accidents at sites and injuries. The design includes a system for supplying liquid fuel, an igniter, a glow plug, and a metal spiral. They must be equipped with a system for exhaust gas removal.
Water cannons are used as auxiliary and very rarely
In its design, water equipment is in many ways similar to electrical equipment, its main distinctive feature is that it connects to central system heating, and water is used as a coolant. It is beneficial to use such units in the cold season, when it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of creating and maintaining a thermal curtain. Such units are mainly used in conjunction with other models; performing a full installation with their help is a rather labor-intensive task.
Which gun is needed for frequent or commercial use?
Before proceeding with the installation of PVC film, it is determined what power the equipment will be used. For high requirements, you need to choose a gasoline unit (but also ensure proper operating conditions), for medium requirements - gas, low - electric.
In addition to the power parameter, you also need to consider:
- Frequency of use of the device.
- The scale of the facility where the work will be carried out.
- PVC film heating rate.
- What energy sources are there at the site?
- Fuel consumption level.
- The unit is intended for private or commercial use.
- Device autonomy.
The use of gasoline/diesel units seems appropriate and safe only in large, well-ventilated areas. With their help, suspended ceilings are installed at commercial, construction, and industrial sites.
Compared to other units, a gas gun for suspended ceilings uses a minimal amount of electricity. It is used for installation of PVC sheets at dachas, in country houses. They run on natural or bottled gas - a fuel that is cheap and available in most regions. For gas guns it is also required to provide good conditions ventilation of the room, since when the surface of the film is heated, they burn oxygen.
Formula for calculating thermal power
Important! In order to avoid an emergency, before installation, the gas unit is checked for compliance with the following parameters:
- The gas content in the cylinder must be at least 90%. It is best to refuel them at specialized stations.
- The strength of the connection between the hose and the main cylinder (to prevent the possibility of leakage of an explosive mixture).
- Checking the functionality of shut-off valves.
- Additionally: all debris is removed from the floor (paper, rags - anything that can get inside the cylinder or catch fire from hot air).
The main advantage of electrical equipment is its compactness. The gun is easy to transport from place to place; it fits in the trunk passenger car, quickly assembled on site. Great for private or commercial use. Disadvantages - compared to gas, diesel, gasoline models, it has lower power and service life. May overload electrical networks, so it must be used under the control of the counters.
Important! For complete heating of air in a room with an area of more than 45 square meters It is advisable to use not one, but two heat guns with a power of 5 kW each.
If we consider which heat gun is better for the price, then a lot depends on the manufacturer and model of equipment. On average, the cheapest are gas units, then there are electric ones, and the most expensive ones are those running on liquid fuel (diesel and petrol models). There is no need to save money; it is better to choose high-quality equipment that will last for 10-20 years than to buy a cheap Chinese equivalent, and it will fail within a year.
The best manufacturing companies and models of thermal equipment
According to their own operational characteristics, good gun meets the conditions:
- Heats the entire room evenly.
- Promotes high-quality heating of the canvas to the desired temperature.
- The achieved temperature is maintained throughout the installation.
- Prevents the formation of condensation at fastening points.
- Can be used both during installation and dismantling of canvases.
Presenter Russian company for the production of electrical and thermal equipment is "INTERSKOL". If you look through the catalog and decide which heat gun to choose for private use (apartments, country house, garage, greenhouse), then you should pay attention to the TPE-3 model. This electric unit It has compact dimensions and light weight, has an adjustable power mode of 1.5 and 3 kW, overheating protection, and tilt angle adjustment.
The best foreign company The American manufacturer of heat guns for suspended ceilings is MASTER. Gas BLP 17M is universal equipment for large and small objects, used not only for quick installation PVC sheets, but also after heating the walls finishing works. It is used in apartments, garages, warehouses, and commercial premises. Power is adjustable from 10 to 16 kW. Ignition is of a mechanical type; the gun itself is connected to an electrical network with a voltage of 220 W.
Among the diesel models, we can highlight the Russian PROFTEPLO DK-36PL and the American MASTER BV 77E. Both units have durable, reliable design and high thermal power. In the BV 77E, combustion products are vented outside, so the canvas and the room where installation is taking place are not only heated evenly, but the air here remains clean. There is a safety thermostat that prevents overheating.
Cheap Chinese and Korean heat guns for suspended ceilings are also widely available on the market. As a rule, these are simply copies of popular European or American models, only they are made from cheaper materials. Typically, the period of intensive use of such equipment does not exceed one or two years, so you can only buy it for private use for two or three times. Savings in in this case– a losing, not a profitable solution.