GB2220217A - Ceilings - Google Patents

Abstract

A ceiling is formed from plasterboard panels the edges of which parallel to joists are nailed directly thereto, while the edges perpendicular to the joists are received in opposite channels of I-shaped supports. The supports have cut-outs for lightness and to provide a key for plaster and nail slots for attaching them to the joists, and are connected end to end by sleeves.

Description

CEILINGS This invention relates to ceilil,gs.

in particular, this invention relates to ceilings comprising a plurality of panels and means for fastening the panels to ceiling joists or rafters.

In typical house building, parallel wooden ceiling joists are laid at 600 mm centres. Plasterboard panels, of about 2400 x 1200 mm, are nailed to the undersides of the joists. If the panels are arranged so that their longer sides run parallel to the joists, and abut each other directly beneath the run of a joist, the longer sides of the panels can be nailed to the joists at whatever spacing between nails is required to prevent sagging.

However, the shorter sides of the plasterboard panels bridge the 600 mm yaps between joists and need to be fastened to a support above them.

This is generally done by first nailing wooden noggins between the joists above the shorter edyes of the plasterboard panels, and then nailing the panels to the noggins.

This requires the attention of a carpenter before or during the ceiling fixiny operation, which can cause delay. In addition, the use of the wooden noggins is a source of movement in the finished ceiling, and means that special precautions have to be taken before the finishing coats are applied to the ceiling. For example, joints between plasterboard panels normally have to be covered with paper tape before a textured finish is applied, or have to be yiven a scrim coating before the whole area of the ceiling is plastered. Drying time is then needed. This all introduces further delays into the building operations.

The present invention provides a panel edge support member to support the panel edges between joists; a method of fastening ceiling panels to ceiling joists; and a ceiling comprising a plurality of panels fastened to ceiling joists.

The panel edge support member may comprise a stiff beam including first and second channels for receiving and supporting a panel edge on either side thereof. Apertures may be provided in the beam for receiving nails or the like, whereby the beam can be nailed across the undersides of ceiling joists. The surface of the beani that is to be lowermost in use may be provided with a key for plaster.

In particular, the channels may be formed by a web intermediate upper and lower flanges. The web and/or flanges may have cut away portions to reduce the weight of the beam, and may have slotted apertures to receive nails.

The support members may be composite structures comprising a plurality of individual beams as aforesaid joined end to end. Joining means may comprise a sleeve embracing at least part of the abutting ends of two adjacent beams.

The method of fastening ceiling panels to ceiling joists may comprise fastening a first panel edge support merrIber as aforesaid across the undersides of ceiling joists; locating a first edge of a ceiling panel in a channel thereof; locating a second edge of the panel in a channel of a second panel edge support member as aforesaid; and fastening the second panel edge support member across the undersides of ceiling joists to retain and support the panel in the channels of the said support members.

A further panel may then be fastened to the ceiling joists in the same way, by locating its first edge in the second channel of the second support, and continuing with a third support member for its second edge.

This may be continued until the whole ceiling is spanned.

The first and last panel support members of a span may be provided with a single channel, on one side only.

The panels will normally be rectangular, unless specific individual shapes are required at the ceiling edges; even then, the shapes will normally be cut from rectangular panels. The support members will accordingly normally be parallel to each other in the ceiling, lying across the joists at riyht angles thereto. Edges of the panels parallel to the joists will normally be fastened as before, by arranging that they abut one another at the joists, so that they can be nailed directly thereto.

The support rnembers will frequently be aligned in adjacent runs of panels across the ceiliny. Joining rneans as aforesaid may be provided to connect the ends of adjacent support members, and so increase the rigidity of the structure.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a support member accordiny to the invention, with joining means; and Fiyure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation showiny a stage in the construction of a ceiling in accordance with the invention.

In Fiyure 1 there is shown a support member 10 comprising a stiff beam including an upper flanye 11, a lower flanye 12, and an internlediate web 13 connecting the centres of the two flanges. The upper flange has two runs of nail slots 14 on either side of its centre. The web has cut-outs 15 for lightness. The lower flanye has cut-outs 16 both for lightness and to serve as a key for plaster at a later time.

Joining means 17 comprises an open sided sleeve 18 with inturned ends 19 diiiiensioned to eriibrace the upper flanye of the support nieniber, so that the sleeve can overlie the joint between two abutting ends of adjacent support members and ensure alignment of the two. Nail slots 20 are aiso provided in the sleeve.

The support rnember and joining means are iiiade of a suitable rigid, corrosion free, load carrying niaterial. Preferred n1aterials are alurrlinium alloys and stainless steel.

Fiyure 2 illustrates the method of using the support member 10. A single channel 21, corresponding to one half of the support member 10, is nailed across the undersides of ceiling joists 22 ayainst a wall 23, the channel faciny into the rooni. One edge, noriTially a shorter edye, of a rectangular plasterboard panel 24, is located into the channel. A support member 10 is then fitted to the opposite edge of the panel, and is raised to the joists as shown by the arrow.It can there be nailed to the joists: on the side of the channel of the support member 10 that contains the panel, the nails pass throuyh the plasterboard panel before yoiny through the nail slots 14 into the joist, but in the second channel, which is still empty, the nails pass only through the nail slots.

After nailiny the longer sides of the panel to the joists above them, the next panel is fastened to the ceiling. Now the first shorter edge of the panel is located into the empty channel of the support member, and a fresh support member is used to fasten the opposite shorter edye, as before.

The support members may be cut to length so that they abut under the joists. Alternatively, they may be joined between joists by usiny the joining means 17.

The whole ceiling may in this way be constructed by means of successive spans of plasterboard panels 24, without the need for rmore than one man.

If a textured ceiling paint is to be applied, it is only necessary to prepare the ceiling beforehand by skimming each joint with plaster; no preliminary tapiny is needed. If plaster is to be applied, no preliminary preparation is needed at all.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific elements and corlibinations of elements, it is envisayed that each element may be combined with any other or any combination of other elements. It is not intended to lilllit the invention to the particular coiiibinations of eleirients suyyested. Furthermore, the foregoiny description is not intended to suggest that any elenlent mentioned is indispensable to the invention, or that alternatives may not be enlployed. What is defined as the invention should not be construed as limitiny the extent of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (17)

1. A ceiling comprising a plurality of panels fastened across ceiling joists, panel edges being supported between joists by at least one support member comprising a stiff beam including first and second channels receiving and supporting a panel edge on either side thereof.

2. A ceiling as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said support members parallel to each other in the ceiling, lying across parallel joists at right angles thereto.

3. A ceiling as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each support member is a composite structure comprising a plurality of individual said stiff beams joined end to end.

4. A ceiling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of individual said beams abut end to end under the joists.

5. A ceiling as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said beams are joined by a sleeve embracing at least part of the abutting ends of two adjacent beams.

6. A ceiling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein edges of the panels parallel to the joists abut one another at the joists, and are fastened directly thereto.

7. A ceiling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a said beam is provided with apertures for receiving nails or the like, whereby the beam is nailed across the undersides of ceiling joists.

8. A ceiling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the channels in a said beam are formed by a web extending between upper and lower flanges.

9. A ceiling as claimed in claim 8 wherein the web and/or flanges of the said beam have weight-reducing cutaway portions.

10. A ceiling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lowermost surface of each said beam is provided with a key for plaster.

11. A ceiling as claimed in claim 10 wherein the panels are of plasterboard and the lowermost surfaces of the panels and the beams are coated with a layer of plaster applied directly thereto.

12. A method of fastening a ceiling panel to ceiling joists, comprising fastening a first ceiling panel edge support member, which comprises a stiff beam including first and second channels, across the undersides of ceiling joists; locating a first edge of a ceiling panel in a channel thereof; locating a second edge of the panel in a channel of a second such panel edge support member; and fastening the second panel edge support member across the undersides of ceiling joists to retain and support the panel in the channels of the said support members.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein further panels are successively thereafter fastened to the ceiling joists, by locating a first edge of each such panel in the second channel of each channel edge support member; locating a second edge of the panel in a first channel of a further such panel edge support member; and fastening the further panel edge support member across the undersides of ceiling joists to retain and support the panel in the channels of the said support members.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 including the steps of abutting adjacent edges of the panels over the joists, and fastening the said abutting edges directly to the joists.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the panels are of plasterboard, including the step of applying plaster directly to the lowermost surfaces of the panels and of the support members.

16. A ceiling substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of fastening a ceiling panel to ceiling joists, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.