Pvc panels for the bathroom: design options and installation

Installation methods and rules with video tutorials ↑

There are two ways to fix the panels. Each of them requires special preparation of the walls, tools and steps of action.

The easiest and most common way. Glue installation takes up a minimum amount of space, unlike frame installation, but requires a longer preparation of the walls.

To stick wall panels in the bathroom you will need:

• tape measure and pencil;
• sharp knife or jigsaw;
• "Liquid nails" or waterproof tile adhesive;
• putty knife;
• cladding made of PFC, MDF or chipboard;
• fittings (strips and ceiling molding).

The panels are glued onto prepared walls. The order is:

1. Clean from previous coating.
2. Cut off raised irregularities.
3. Remove indentations with mortar.
4. Apply a primer.

Step by step guide:

1. Measure walls.
2. Fit the sheets and molding under them with a jigsaw.
3. On the back of the plastic, apply glue in thin, winding stripes.
4. Remove glue residues with a spatula.
5. Attach the sheet to the corner and press firmly. There should be no waves or curves on the panel.
6. Glue the next sheet at a distance of 3 mm from the floor and 1-1.5 mm from the first.
7. Finish the joints of the walls with the floor with a plinth, and with the ceiling with a molding.

Video: paneling with glue

This type of fastening of wall plastic panels does not require lengthy preparation of the walls, but the construction of the lathing takes more time.

For work you will need:

• tape measure and pencil;
• knife, jigsaw, or saw;
• drill;
• screwdriver, stapler;
• level;
• dowels and screws;
• processed wooden blocks 1x3 cm or a plastic profile for the lathing;
• panels and fittings.

Step by step guide:

1. Build the lathing by attaching bars or profiles parallel to the floor at a distance of 40-50 cm from one another. Use a level. If the panels are mounted horizontally, then a vertical sheathing should be constructed.
2. Reinforce the battens around the perimeter of windows and doors.
3. Attach finishing pieces to the corners and the molding to the ceiling.
4. Start from the left corner. Insert the first element into the groove of the finishing element and into the molding at the top with a gap of 5-6 mm.
5. Align the sheet and attach it to the crate with self-tapping screws or a stapler. Then insert the next sheet into the groove, securing it as well.
6. After completing the installation, cut the last panel, taking into account the need to leave a gap of 5-6 mm. Insert it into the finishing element and secure.
7. Seal joints with silicone waterproof sealant.

Video: Decorating the bathroom with batten panels

Tools and materials

In order to install the lining of your choice, you can use any of the following tools:

• Staples;
• Self-tapping screws;
• Anti-corrosion nails with wide heads;
• Adhesives and mixtures.

In addition, you will need:

1. Drill;
2. Hammer;
3. Roulette and level.

Video - what you need to know before editing:

Installation technology

Before starting the installation of PVC panels, it is necessary to carry out a preparatory stage. If the walls are uneven, lathing with wooden boards is required.

The distance between them should be about 50 cm, and they should be located perpendicular to the sheathing slats, usually horizontally. If the room is with a humid microclimate, then the crate must additionally be treated with an antiseptic.

The main stages of installation:

1. Installation starts from any corner. The panel is installed 5 cm above the planned level and, sliding down, lowers into the lock of the starting profile. The panel is fixed in any convenient way.
2. All subsequent rails are mounted in the same way.

Video - DIY wall decoration:

In order to cover the trimmed parts of the panels in the openings and at the bottom, as well as at the junction of the panels, special profiles are used.

Price

The price of PVC lining may differ in different regions of our country. Also, the cost varies depending on the size, design and manufacturer of the board.

For example, PVC lining for marble or wood, or a white three-section is more expensive, the price starts from 100 rubles. a piece. Ordinary white or in various colors costs from 40 rubles. a piece. There are also white models with a decorative insert, their price starts from 60 rubles. a piece.

In addition, it is easy to install, which does not require the assistance of specialists during installation.

Comparison of plastic and wooden lining - which is better

If all of the listed advantages of PVC wall paneling do not convince you, we offer a more detailed comparison of two popular types of wood paneling and PVC paneling.

Thus, PVC lining is an excellent, but cheaper, alternative to wooden lining.

In addition to competing with wooden lining, plastic lining (vinyl) competes with similar products from other manufacturers. Comparative characteristics of the average indicators of Chinese and European (including domestic) PVC lining are shown in the table below.

Varieties and features of finishing ↑

Bathroom wall panels are seam and seamless, film and printed. Of the whole variety of materials of manufacture, only three types are suitable for finishing a bathroom, on which the features and cost of repairs depend.

Solid PVC wall slabs are a common budget option. Their quality and strength directly depends on the stiffeners that permeate the inner space of the sheet. The more, the better.

Types and sizes of PVC cladding:

• sheet or PVC plates. Width from 80 to 203 cm, length - from 150 to 405 cm;
• rack (lining). Width 10 or 12.5 cm, length - 300 cm. They are made mainly of light colors without a pattern or with streaks of other shades;
• panel. The widespread width is 25 cm, the length is 260, 270 or 300 cm. The difference from the lining is in the inconspicuous seams during installation.

Experts recommend checking the actual dimensions with those indicated on the package.In order to avoid complications, it is better not to purchase goods at dubious points of sale. The key quality of plastic bathroom wall panels is environmental friendliness, and when using cheap plastic, harmful emissions are possible.

The cladding is based on MDF sheets made from finely dispersed dry shavings pressed under high pressure and temperature. From above they are covered with a reliable layer that protects against moisture.

Differences from the plastic counterpart:

• despite the presence of a wooden component, the material is much stronger. It cannot be damaged by accidental impact;
• if you do not hang a cabinet or a mirror on the plastic (they can only be fixed on a rack frame under the wall cladding), then any furniture is attached to MDF;
• if the outer coating is damaged in some way, the board needs to be urgently changed, because MDF without a protective layer is afraid of moisture.

Types and sizes of panel MDF:

• sheet with dimensions 1.25x2.50 mm and a thickness of 3-7 mm with a minimum number of joints;
• type-setting rack, similar to long boards. Standard sizes - 130x2500 and 280x3800 mm, thickness 8-14 mm;
• type-setting tiled. Smooth squares that allow you to lay out a complex pattern. Dimensions - 30x30 or 95x95 cm.

In appearance, the material can be with original patterns, imitate natural stone, tiles or wood.

The basis of wall-mounted plastic panels is a material similar in composition to fiberboard (fiberboard), covered with a dense moisture-resistant layer that imitates tile or stone. Fiberboard consists of wood fibers, and chipboard is made of shavings, which means that in terms of characteristics they are approximately equivalent. Fiberboard is also not afraid of blows and can withstand the weight of shelves and any other bathroom furniture.

Types and sizes of fiberboard panels:

• sheet, allowing you to quickly revet the wall. Standard size - 1220x2440 mm, thickness - 3 mm;
• rack and pinion. The most common option, which is mounted using guides. Standard length from 2400 to 3700 mm, width 125-300 mm, thickness - from 8 to 12;
• tiled - squares for walls and ceilings. Suitable for combining colors and textures. With their help, you can lay out the original contrasting wall. Sizes: 30x30, 98x98 cm.

Installation methods

Today, there are several methods for installing PVC panels, with the most widely used is the installation on the crate. The frame structure is assembled from both metal profiles and plastic or wooden beams. If a tree is chosen for the lathing, then it should be pre-treated with antiseptic agents. Standard metal profiles are usually used for the frame, and the size of wooden and plastic beams should not be less than 4 × 2.5 cm.They are fixed to the wall and ceiling with screws, observing a step of 40 cm.

The battens must be fixed perpendicular to the direction of the panels. Moreover, regardless of whether it is a suspended ceiling, a panel or a screen, the cladding can be carried out both vertically and horizontally. The choice usually depends on the characteristics of the room and style. But it's worth noting that vertical mounting has its advantages. It allows water to flow down unhindered

This is especially important when the shower stall is sheathed. As for the vertical installation, it contributes to the visual "expansion" of the walls

When assembling the lathing, the structure should be additionally reinforced at the corners with supports, which are used as small pieces of panels.

The installation process is as follows:

• Finishing starts from one of the corners of the room or from the door. First of all, the starting corner is fixed, it is attached to the surface with staples or nails. Then, using the fastening system, the first panel is installed, which is hammered into the frame with nails.
• The next step is the installation of the second panel, it is placed close to the first and thus the cladding is continued until the next corner.
• At the end of the sheathing, the finishing corner is attached and the final panel is inserted into it. The joints between the elements are carefully coated with sealant and proceed to the installation of ceiling or floor skirting boards.

Equally popular is the installation of PVC on special fastening clips; for this, a strong frame is made at the beginning. In the event that there are significant irregularities on the surfaces, plastic or plywood gaskets are placed under the strips and profiles and fixed with self-tapping screws. Similarly to the first method, an inner corner is fastened with clips near the door or in one of the corners, after which the first plate is inserted into the profile. Then a second one is placed in its groove and with latching clips. Then everything continues according to the previously described scheme.

If the bathroom is small, then frame installation for it is considered not the best option, since the design reduces the useful area of ​​the room. Therefore, for small bathrooms, panels are most often installed in a frameless way, on glue. The only drawback of this technology is that it requires a perfectly flat surface, so the ceiling and walls have to be well prepared for cladding. To fix the material, you should purchase special adhesive mixtures that do not contain organic solvents, since they have a detrimental effect on plastic. A suitable tool for this is "liquid nails", for 5 m2 they require no more than one spray can.

Installation of panels on glue is carried out in several stages:

The first step is to dry the working base well with a heat gun or a construction hair dryer. Then the surface is primed with an antiseptic.
After that, the walls and ceiling should be leveled in such a way that the differences do not exceed 3 mm. The presence of minor bumps and caverns is allowed, they are easy to cut off with a grinder

Great attention is paid to the joints in the corners. They must be strictly perpendicular, otherwise the installation work will be complicated, creating problems with the fastening of the starting and finishing strips of the frame.
When the base for finishing is ready, glue is applied to the panel, leaving a small distance from the edge, and it is applied to the surface at a level, pressing for 5 minutes, until the adhesive mixture sets.

Sheathing elements that adjoin the floor and ceiling are cut, fastened with dowels and decorated with skirting boards.

Mounting

Due to its great lightness, PVC panels can be fixed directly to the wall if it is sufficiently flat. In practice, this method is rarely used, since installation on a frame has more advantages: better heat and sound insulation, there is no need to carefully level the walls, it is allowed not to remove the old finish - wallpaper, paint, and so on.

Wall frame construction

In dwellings, depending on the operating conditions of the premises, three types of construction are used.

• Wooden lathing - its undoubted plus is the ease of installation and ease of adjustment in height. Thus, any unevenness of the base surface can be leveled. Minus - the tree is afraid of moisture and changes in volume with temperature extremes. In rooms where the microclimate is unstable - loggias, kitchens, bathrooms, it is better not to mount a wooden crate.

  In living rooms, the frame is constructed from a wooden bar, pre-treated with an antiseptic. The slats are fixed in 60 cm increments in the direction perpendicular to the laying direction. When it comes to sheet finishing, the direction does not matter. Fastening with dowels, impact screws, galvanized self-tapping screws - depending on the wall material.

• Plastic frame - a U-shaped profile is used for its manufacture. The advantage of the solution is great lightness and perfect insensitivity to moisture and temperature. In addition, the profile groove can be used as a cavity for electrical wiring.Minus - the frame is not designed for a heavy load, but since we are talking about light wall panels, the disadvantage in this case does not matter. The profile is fixed with a step of 30 cm, with dowels or self-tapping screws every 1 m. Another advantage of the material is ease of processing. If it is necessary to join the profiles, then with an ordinary miter box, smooth high-quality cuts are obtained at an angle of 30, 45 or 90 degrees.
• Metal lathing - made of UD- and CD-profiles. It is rarely used for laying wall panels, as a rule, for rooms that are poorly heated - a loggia, for example. For the bathroom and kitchen, a galvanized profile is chosen, as it is resistant to moisture.

Interior decoration of the ceiling

The amount of material required is approximately determined by dividing the wall area by the area of ​​PVC products - slats, plates or sheets. To reduce consumption, the laying method is taken into account - vertical, horizontal, diagonally. The calculation result is increased by 15% - assembly errors or poor-quality panels in a batch are always possible.

Before installation, it is advisable to let the material get used to the microclimate of the room - keep it in the room for about a day.

In addition to cladding panels, additional elements will be needed. The inner corner is needed in any case, and also the starting and finishing profile, if the laying will be done horizontally. To mask the joints between the wall and the floor, the wall and the ceiling, you will need a plinth.

1. Installation begins from the corner towards the opening - window or door. The inner corner is installed first.
2. Lamellas are cut to length, slabs - depending on the method of installation.
3. A plastic lamella or tile is inserted into the corner profile and fixed to the lathing. You can use construction brackets, but the best option is the cleats - they are pushed onto the bottom of the groove, and fastening is done through the holes in the cleat. This method does not injure the panels and provides a non-rigid fixation.
4. All subsequent lamellas are installed in the usual way - a tenon in a groove. The panels must fit tightly, so a rubber mallet is used if necessary.

Seamless material requires careful fitting and checking of the verticality of each lamella. Otherwise, the seams will be noticeable.

PVC panels have a fairly wide operating temperature range, but are not universal. The upper limit is limited to + 40–50 C, so the sheathing for a steam room, for example, is no longer suitable. Lower - -5 C: finishing a loggia or a glazed balcony is still possible, but an open one is not. Also read how to glue PVC panels to concrete.

To choose the finishing cladding, read about which stretch ceilings are better: matte or glossy.

Views

Recently, for the implementation of design ideas in the bathroom, many owners of houses and apartments choose PVC panels, as they allow you to create any style, giving the room a modern look.

This material is available in several types:

Rack. It is also called plastic clapboard. Such PVC has a standard length of 300 cm slats and a width of 10-12.5 cm, the slats are equipped with special grooves, so they are installed exactly like siding

Depending on the model range of rack plastic, they can have wide or narrow locking systems, which you should pay attention to when choosing. It is usually used for cladding ceilings in a bathroom, but the slats are also well suited for cladding wall surfaces.

Due to the longitudinal or vertical placement of the plates, a visual expansion of the room can be obtained. Plastic lining is traditionally made in a monochromatic color or imitation wood with colored edging, it is resistant to moisture, but under the influence of low temperature it can deform.

7photos

Depending on how PVC is attached, products are divided into seamless, beveled and embossed. The seamless type is often used for finishing ceilings.During installation, decorative elements are placed tightly to each other, as a result of which a minimal seam is formed. If the installation technology is performed correctly, then the connections between the plates are practically invisible and the finish takes on a holistic look. In addition, seamless patterns can be created on ceilings and walls with seamless panels.

The material made in the form of a chamfer is in many ways similar to seamless lamellas, but unlike them, there is a chamfer in the end part of the product. It is a decorative recess that allows panels to be joined into one sheet. Beveled PVC is also called rustic panels; they can be purchased both for wall cladding and ceilings. If you need to get a stunning effect in wall decoration, then it is best to choose a material with a relief surface. It looks like a lining and has high wear resistance and strength, but compared to other types it costs much more.

Peculiarities

The product owes its name to the field of application in which it was first used. However, earlier, only coniferous and deciduous types of wood, whose main feature was good resistance to moisture, were used as raw materials for the production of the material.

The lining presented on the modern construction market is made from polymer raw materials in accordance with GOST.

Panels come in different sizes, products are sold in a wide range of colors. In addition, plastic slats can have different profiles. The assortment of such products includes products that imitate the finish for natural materials: brick, tile, wood or stone. The material is quite durable and does not rot. In addition, plastic panels are notable for their low cost and ease of installation.

The products are panels with honeycombs located inside - due to such a structure, the products acquire high heat-insulating and sound-insulating characteristics, and polyvinyl chloride acts as the main component of the material.

The lining has a number of positive features, which will be discussed below.

• Durability due to resistance to moisture and UV radiation.
• The products are easy to clean.
• Unlike lining made of wood, plastic panels have a minimum weight, which ensures ease of transportation, and also does not affect the bearing capacity of the walls of the building. Based on this, the material is often used for cladding multi-storey buildings, as well as structures with a pillar type of foundation.

• The products are characterized by high thermal insulation performance. This is explained by the specifics of the manufacture of products, during which, during the casting of plastic in the raw material, pores are formed, where an air gap is formed that retains heat. In addition to reducing the level of heat loss, such a pillow acts as sound insulation.
• The cost of PVC products is several times lower than that of wooden lining.
• Installation of panels can be done by yourself. Raw materials are easily and conveniently cut into products of the required size without the use of specialized tools and the involvement of hired labor.

In addition to the advantages, plastic lining has some disadvantages.

• The main disadvantage is its flammability. For plastic products, there are no compositions that reduce this property of the material.
• Some colored materials quickly lose their color saturation, but this largely depends on the manufacturer and the materials used for the production of products.

Standard lining is a wide panel equipped with stiffening ribs. In appearance, plastic panels are the same as wooden counterparts.

Products are of two types:

• seamless elements;
• products with seams.

The latter type is used for outdoor work, since it has increased strength indicators.Such products are easier to fix, the material is more resistant to mechanical stress. In appearance, such products are very similar to siding.

Seamless panels are large in size: the width of the panels can be about 2.5 m. Basically, seamless products are used for wall and ceiling cladding. The panels are smooth, and the seams between the elements are visually almost invisible. However, the products cost several times more in comparison with the lining with seams.

Dimensions (edit)

Hardware stores offer a wide range of PVC panels in different sizes and colors. They are all made according to the same principle.

But in order to visually present them in the interior, it is recommended to visit exhibitions and not to ignore the exhibition hall in hardware stores. There is a wide range of panels that differ in their sizes, they can be in the form of PVC sheet panels or rectangular or even square

The main dimensions of the panels

It is worth noting that sheet panels are more flexible, elastic, soft and pliable in work, this is an indispensable material for performing arched work, which greatly simplifies repairs, since all this can be done by hand. In order to give the panel the desired bending, sheet panels are required for interior decoration. It is worth choosing a plastic material, the width of which is small, and the thickness is thinner than that of rectangular models of PVC panels. The panel should be brought into a warm room for 10-12 hours, in the immediate vicinity of a heat source. Due to the thin plastic, with a slight heating, the material can be easily bent into an arched string.

The average thickness of a PVC sheet panel is 4-8 mm, but to create a bend, it is better to give preference to panels with a thinner thickness. Thanks to their flexibility, sheet metal wall panels for interior decoration have become a godsend when sheathing curves. Of course, only an experienced specialist in this field will tell you how to sheathe an arched opening with PVC panels and how to bend a large panel correctly without damaging it.

PVC sheet panels

Square PVC Panels

The height of the ceiling dictates its own terms, which types of panels should be chosen. The sheet panel is indispensable for covering rooms with high ceilings. Often, the length of the panel allows you to lie down as a single flat sheet from ceiling to floor. When carrying out repairs in small rooms, for example, when sheathing with PVC panels in bathrooms, you should give preference to rectangular or square models. There will be much less waste of material, and it is easier to work.

Rectangular PVC Panels

The range of panels in the construction industry is striking in its scale. It can be MDF or PVC panels, wood panels. Each of them has its own technical characteristics, thanks to which the consumer makes a choice in favor of a particular model. Modern materials used in the production of PVC panels do not emit a smell at all, they come in different sizes, wider and narrower, with very small sizes for creating individual compositions. Interior wall panels can be made of thin and soft plastic that does not smell at all. But the biggest factor influencing the choice is the price, which sometimes differs significantly depending on the type of panel.

What is the difference between plastic lining and plastic panels

Plastic lining can be used for both interior and exterior decoration of premises. In appearance, PVC lining is a cross between polycarbonate and wooden lining. It has a porous "honeycomb" structure in common with polycarbonate. And with wooden lamellas - an aesthetic appearance and a convenient "tongue-and-groove" mounting system.

External plastic lining always has a seam joint.This is due to the fact that the plastic has a high coefficient of linear expansion. And the wall paneling mounted outside the building must be able to "play", i.e. move under the influence of temperatures. Another difference between PVC lining and panels is that the color pigment is added to the raw material, and not covered on top (painted), thus, the lining does not lose its color for a long time.

The plastic panel is wide and provides a seamless connection. The panel is covered with paint only on the front side, which can lead to abrasion of the face layer and excludes the use of the panels as an exterior finish. In addition, the composition of the panels does not always include components that give them resistance to temperature extremes and ultraviolet light.

In a nutshell, plastic lining is better suited for outdoor use, and panels for indoor use.

But at the same time, both the plastic lining and the PVC panel allow for a beautiful and budgetary interior surface finish.

Installation on flat walls

If you managed to prepare the walls so that they became perfectly even (or they were), then you can simplify your task and lay the PVC lining directly on the wall plane without lathing.

To do this, you will have to purchase liquid nails in sufficient quantities. If the surfaces are large, then this method will not allow you to save a lot, since liquid nails are not very cheap. But this method will make it easy to replace damaged panels without disassembling the entire wall.

Work surfaces are carefully brushed and degreased. The glue from the tube is applied to the back of the lamella, after which it is docked with the already installed panel.

It will not be possible to lay the lining without lathing only if it is necessary to lay insulation or sound insulation.

Features of PVC panels for ceilings: sizes and prices of products

Unlike wall products, ceiling panels are lightweight. Taking into account that the strength characteristics are not so important for the ceiling decoration, the manufacturers have focused on the maximum lightening of the lamellas and the creation of various design options.

To save money on the purchase of material, panels should be selected taking into account the dimensional parameters of the room. In this case, it is desirable to achieve an optimal indicator at which after the installation procedure there will be a minimum amount of construction waste (scraps).

If the width of the ceiling base in the room is 2 m, then it will be most profitable to buy a PVC ceiling panel 4 meters long as a finishing unit. During installation, these panels are cut in half. This doubles the number of lamellas, which, after cutting, acquire a length of 2 m. The same can be done with 3-meter panels, provided that the width of the ceilings is 1.5 m.

Installation diagram of plastic ceiling panels

Before purchasing material, a preliminary calculation of the required quantity should be performed. As an example, you can take a bathroom with parameters 1.5x1.7 m. In this case, it is advisable to take PVC panels for a bathroom measuring 0.25x3 m. Taking into account the above, the lamellas will be cut in half.

Formula for calculating bathroom cladding: 1.7 m (room length) / 0.25 m (lamella width) x 0.5 (coefficient of cutting lamellas in two) = 3.4 lamellas.

The result obtained must be rounded to the nearest whole numerical value. In this case, it will be equal to 4. This is the number of PVC panels required for cladding the ceiling base in the bathroom.

The main types of PVC ceiling panels, sizes, prices

The standard thickness of ceiling panels is 8-10 mm. It was these parameters that formed the basis for the creation of moldings, which are selected taking into account the size of the lamellas.

Examples of finishing ceilings with plastic panels

Types of moldings:

• F-shaped;
• ceiling plinth;
• connective;
• starting or edging;
• inner corner;
• outside corner.

Fastening plastic ceiling tiles

According to the type of construction, the following types of PVC ceiling slats are distinguished:

1. "European" or eurolining - long panels with a wide locking system. Standard width 10 cm, length 3 m.
2. "Polka" - lamellas 3 m long and 10 cm wide with a narrow locking system.
3. Reinforced lining - it is distinguished from standard panels by the presence of a double profile, as well as dimensional parameters. In this case, the width corresponds to 12.5 cm, and the length remains unchanged - 3 m.
4. Slab - square-shaped panels that do not have a locking system.
5. Expanded panels - the width of these elements is in the range of 15-50 cm, and the length can correspond to the following parameters - 2.6 m / 2.7 m / 3 m.
6. Sheet panels - sheet material that does not have a locking system. In width, sheet elements can reach 0.8-2.03 m, their standard length is in the range of 1.5-4.05 m.

The lining can have several sections. On sale there are one-, two- and three-section products with various designs.

Prices for PVC ceiling panels:

For economy lining, the cost of any of the moldings is on average 75 rubles / piece, for sectional - 85 rubles / piece.

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Scope of application

Initially, the lining was used only for cladding wagons. But over time, comfortable and beautiful material migrated to homes. This type of cladding is suitable for rooms where a large amount of dirt, moisture, and other unfavorable conditions are concentrated, in which lining made of natural materials will not last long.

Now plastic is used for cladding bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, loggias and bathrooms. After all, he will not absorb unpleasant odors. But in other rooms, the lining can perfectly match any interior and become part of modern design.

PVC panels are suitable for cladding a country and country house. Due to their low cost and high reliability, summer residents choose them. Also, plastic is very plastic, thanks to this PVC lining can be used in the most inconvenient places. Also, this type of cladding is lightweight. This removes unnecessary stress from the load-bearing walls of the house.

Also, the lining is used to create window slopes, despite the fact that special materials are intended for this.