How to glue (fix) drywall to a concrete wall – step-by-step instructions

A workable way to achieve smooth, paint-ready surfaces is to adhere drywall to a concrete wall. Compared to traditional framing and drywall installation, this method can save you time and effort when renovating a room or finishing a basement. It also makes the most of the space in your room because it does not require a large frame.

It is crucial to comprehend the process’s steps before beginning. To guarantee a solid, long-lasting bond, the drywall sheets and the concrete wall must be properly prepared. From cleaning and priming the concrete to applying adhesive and fastening the drywall, this guide will take you step-by-step through the entire process.

It can be an easy do-it-yourself project to glue drywall to a concrete wall if you have the right supplies and tools. To achieve professional results without requiring extensive construction experience, follow along as we break down the process into simple instructions.

It’s simple to add drywall to a concrete wall and can make a big difference in how your room looks and feels. You will be guided through the entire process, from priming the concrete surface to using adhesive and fastening the drywall, with the help of this detailed guide. You won’t need specialized tools or a lot of construction experience to accomplish a smooth, polished finish if you follow these easy instructions.

In what cases can drywall be mounted with glue

It is pertinent to fasten drywall sheets to a concrete wall in various circumstances:

• In small rooms, in order to save useful space.
• If it is necessary to level the curvature of the walls and differences of up to 50 mm.
• To create a flat ceiling surface without reducing the height of the ceilings. Such work is complicated by the weight of the sheets themselves, which requires the use of additional fasteners. Dowel screws are used, which are located at a pitch of 60 cm between the fixing points.
• When finishing door and window openings.

Crucial! It is not cost-effective to glue plasterboard sheets to walls that have significant flaws or irregularities.

Plasterboard can be used in a frameless method that is easy to use and accessible to all. You’ll need a specific glue to attach plasterboard to a vertical plane in a high-quality and long-lasting manner. A range of adhesive compositions are employed to ensure dependable fixing to both horizontal and vertical planes. Working with ready-to-use mixtures is simple. You ought to be more familiar with the process of adhering plasterboard to a concrete wall.

Assortment for plasterboard

A variety of adhesive mixtures are available from manufacturers. Plasterboard sheets are firmly and consistently adhered to a concrete wall by the glue.

The most typical arrangements are:

For applying ceramic tile. When applied to smooth plasterboards, the composition adheres well.

(Knaif) is a reasonably priced solution that could work well for attaching gypsum boards to brick and concrete walls. It is used in daily life because it is simple to use.

A specialty mounting adhesive made of gypsum.

• Silicone-based adhesive bonds tiles equally well, as well as smooth gypsum board panels.

– a putty-like dry mixture that is prepared by diluting it with cold water. You will need a drill with a whisk attachment in order to mix. Top with a thin layer applied.

Gypsum board is fixed to a level surface using (Knauf). The addition of polymer has made the mixture more malleable. A thin layer gives the connection its strength.

• Polyurethane assembly adhesive in a container with an aerosol dispenser. Such compositions are resistant to high humidity and provide reliable and durable fixation.

• Mounting foam with a slight coefficient of increase in volume.

• Liquid nails.

• Acrylic putties and sealants. Any type of sealant helps to glue drywall to brick, concrete or foam block walls.

Since leveling walls with drywall and glue is not expensive, this technique is regarded as a low-cost repair. The fact that no assembly is required for a wooden frame or a metal frame constructed of profiles also lowers costs.

Crucial! The back side of the board is primed deeply to enhance the gypsum board’s adhesive qualities when it is joined to a concrete surface.

Preparing the walls

The work surface must be cleared of all debris and dust before drywall is attached to a concrete wall. An angle grinder (AGM) is used to remove the paint layer from the painted wall before installing flap grinding discs. Paints that are water-based or dispersion-based are removed with a hard brush.

The wall surface is thoroughly cleaned and then coated with a unique primer called "Betonokontakt." Better adherence is achieved by using the Betogrunt composition on clean surfaces with an unremovable glossy coating.

In order to choose the best option for attaching drywall, the following mandatory actions must also be completed during the preparatory stage:

• It is necessary to examine the work surface for curvature and the presence of defects. For this, you will need a rule or plumb line.
• Any protruding elements are removed from the walls – screws, nails, concrete bumps.
• Old wallpaper and other finishing materials are completely removed to a clean concrete surface. Such actions are labor-intensive, but they will increase the reliability and strength of the connection.
• To control the correct installation of sheets (in one plane), marks in the form of lines are made on the floor surface. They can also be additionally applied to the ceiling if the vertical plane has large curvatures. The maximum difference should not be more than 2 cm.

Crucial! It is not necessary to add more glue to cover up the wiring if the surface is flawless and smooth. It’s sufficient to create grooves.

Before beginning any construction project, make sure you have enough supplies on hand for attaching drywall to a concrete wall.

• Drywall sheets.
• Glue.
• Primer composition.
• Plaster mixture. Required if it is not possible to level the wall only with drywall.

The area of the walls is used to calculate how much gypsum board is needed. Calculations for adhesive composition are more intricate because the amount of material used per square meter can vary depending on the material. Up to 1.8 kg of glue is used, or about 1 mm of layer thickness. Every package specifies the quantity needed for a particular applied layer thickness.

Necessary tools

The following equipment is needed for the job:

• Assembly knife for cutting drywall sheets.
• Level and plumb line.
• Container for preparing plaster and adhesive mixture.
• Special nozzle – a whisk that accelerates the process of kneading.
• Electric drill.
• Spatulas, including gear to the distribution of the finished adhesive mixture along the surface of the drywall.
• Kiyanka, with which the position of the sheets is aligned.
• Bars in the amount of 2 pcs.
• Pencil for applying marks.

Choosing glue depending on the evenness of the wall

Selecting the appropriate material is more crucial than adhering drywall to concrete. It is preferable for non-professionals to use universal glue on a gypsum basis for independent work. There are usage instructions attached.

• The mixture prepared at home has a short expiration date – it should be spent in 30 minutes, because after the expiration of the specified time will lose its properties and will be unsuitable for use.
• The finished putty "Fugenfuller" is applied to the working surface with a thin layer. You need to know how to use such a composition, which makes it available only to professionals.

• Silicone compounds are similar to Fugenfüller putty. Their application requires skills, so they are not suitable for beginners.
• Perlfix gypsum adhesive is versatile. Even beginners can use this compound without any difficulty. The mixture is sold dry. For preparation, combine with water and stir until smooth. Apply to the back of the slab or directly to the wall. This adhesive not only securely fixes drywall to the work surface, but also eliminates curvature on the wall.

• Ceresit SM 11, although intended for laying tiles, is identical in application to Perlfix.

• Mounting foam is a reliable connecting material used to fix drywall to the wall. Foam with a low expansion coefficient is suitable for these purposes.

Crucial! Foam requires expertise and understanding to use. All sheets must be installed in planes prior to foaming.

Step-by-step instructions for gluing drywall to a flat wall

There are various methods for adhering drywall to a wall made of concrete. Variations in how such work is executed are directly related to the state of the surface. You should understand how and what to use when attaching drywall to a smooth concrete wall so that the mounted sheets stay in place and don’t come off.

Any adhesive mixtures, such as polymer mastic, mounting foam, or a base of gypsum or cement, can be used for fixing on a vertical plane.

The finished adhesive mixture is applied using a trowel with a notch. The surface is divided into small sections spaced 25 cm apart. The sheet’s lower edge is placed on the lining after the entire surface has been covered in glue, and the vertical position is aligned and pressed up against the working plane. A wooden block is used to support the mounted sheet until the mixture has solidified completely.

Step-by-step instructions for attaching gypsum board to an uneven surface

There are irregularities on the wall’s surface. How should I adhere gypsum board to an uneasy concrete wall?

The degree of unevenness determines which method is best:

• With a slight curvature of up to 2 cm, the adhesive composition "Perflix" is used, which is applied to the back surface of the sheet in small cakes. The application procedure is carried out first along the perimeter with a step of 30 to 35 cm, and then the central part is filled.
• With deviations over 2 cm, the composition "Fugen" is used. The glue is distributed over the surface at intervals of 30-35 cm.

The gypsum board is lifted and put on floor spacers following the application of the adhesive mass. The lines on the floor and ceiling surfaces are followed by the gypsum board. It’s important to make sure the glue doesn’t peek through the seams; if it does, use a spatula to remove any excess.

Crucial! The applied layer will be fairly thick, so this must be considered when selecting a dry adhesive composition.

Walls with large irregularities

Additionally, you should understand how to adhere drywall to a concrete wall that is uneven and has unremovable bumps. Beacons are also necessary in this situation to level the surface. Additionally, you’ll need to construct a sort of frame out of thin drywall strips. Using a knife, the sheet is divided into 10 cm-wide strips that are fixed vertically at a distance of 40 to 60 cm using the Perflix composition. The level is used to verify that the plates are mounted correctly in a single plane. Fugenfüller or liquid nails are used to install the gypsum board once the glue has fully set, which should happen in two to three days.

Crucial! To ensure dependable fastening, the step between the strips must be as small as possible if there is an uneven surface with a large curvature.

Completion of work

It’s time to start sealing the joints once the wall’s drywall installation is fully completed. The first step in the procedure is to level the putty composition. The new layer is then covered with and pressed into the soft mass with reinforcing tape. A finishing layer is added to conceal the heads of nails or screw plugs after the putty dries.

Step	Description
1	Prepare the wall by cleaning it and removing any loose debris.
2	Measure and cut the drywall to fit the wall dimensions.
3	Apply a suitable adhesive to the back of the drywall in small dabs or a continuous bead.
4	Press the drywall firmly against the concrete wall, ensuring it"s level.
5	Use a roller to smooth out the drywall and ensure good adhesion.
6	Allow the adhesive to dry according to the manufacturer"s instructions.
7	Secure the drywall with screws or anchors if additional support is needed.
8	Finish the joints and seams with joint compound and tape, then sand smooth.
9	Prime and paint the drywall to complete the installation.

It’s easy to attach drywall to a concrete wall, and it can make a big difference in how your room looks and functions. You don’t need a lot of construction experience to achieve a smooth and professional finish if you follow the step-by-step instructions.

Careful planning is essential for success. Ensure that there are no loose materials and that the concrete surface is dry and clean. By using the right primer, you can make sure that the adhesive will adhere well and give your drywall panels a stable, long-lasting hold.

Selecting the proper adhesive is essential. The best results are provided by construction adhesive made especially for drywall. Use a pattern when applying it to guarantee maximum contact and even coverage with the drywall sheets. The adhesive will properly bond when the drywall is pressed firmly into place, producing a seamless and durable finish.

The process is finished by taping and mudding the seams after the drywall is fastened to the concrete. This step produces a polished appearance that is ready for painting or finishing, but it also takes time and attention to detail. You can confidently improve your space with professionally installed drywall on concrete walls by adhering to these guidelines.

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