Shadowline Drywall Picture Rail hides in the ceiling joint to create an invisible 10 mm / 13 mm shadow line rated to 20 kg per metre. Architects love it for crisp square-set ceilings; builders love it because it sets the ceiling height in one step.
- Load capacity: 20 kg / m (art + wires)
- Rail length: 250 cm · profile 28.5 mm H × 34.5 mm D · 10 mm or 13 mm gap
- Ceiling-fixed: screw to rafters / battens before plasterboard
- Colour & finish: powder-coated vivid-white primer – ready for acrylic setting compound
- Clip spacing: fix every 600 mm with 6 g countersunk screws (38–50 mm)
- Setting edge: 2.5 mm lip hides the extrusion after setting
- Hanging wires: insert 1 mm or 2 mm Twister wires anywhere along the slot
- Hooks: Micro Grip, Ratchet, or Frame Hanger (4 kg–20 kg per hook)
- Sustainability: recyclable aluminium, no wall damage, so zero plaster & paint waste when you redecorate
- Warranty: 10 years & TÜV-certified safety factor 3
“Shadowline Drywall picture rails are my default for high-end residential and commercial jobs: you see art, not hardware.”
Greg Helbig, licensed picture-rail installer (23 yrs) – Reviewed July 2025
Last updated 7 July 2025
Prices
- 05.08400 Shadowline Drywall 10 mm × 2.5 m – $61.52
- 05.08420 Shadowline Drywall 13 mm × 2.5 m – $63.33
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How do I install Shadowline Drywall?
- Screw-fix the rail into joists or steel battens before plasterboard. Use 6 g countersunk screws (38 – 50 mm) at 600 mm intervals for the full 20 kg / m rating.
- Capture flange step – slide sheet fully in. Push the plasterboard ceiling sheet up into the 13 mm (or 10 mm) capture flange until it hits the stop; this sets the perfect shadow-line height.
- Screw through board & rail lip every 600 mm to lock the sheet; the 2.5 mm setting edge hides the extrusion.
- Tape & set. Bed adhesive paper tape along the junction and finish with acrylic setting compound for rock-solid adhesion to the primed rail.
Finishing & plasterer tips
- Gap consistency – keep the 10 mm or 13 mm P50 gap continuous round corners; use a spacer block if needed.
- Square-set feature sections – stop the rail short and cap with P50 trim ends where you want a picture-display bay.
- No pre-drilled holes – drill through the rail exactly where joists fall; countersink lightly so the screw heads sit flush.
- Adhesion – acrylic compounds bond best with the rail’s vivid-white primer; avoid gypsum-only finish coats on the first pass.
10 mm vs 13 mm gap?
Match your ceiling spec: 10 mm shadows standard P50; 13 mm suits thicker 13 mm board or an accent reveal. Both hide the track completely.
Which wires & hooks?
Insert 1 mm or 2 mm Twister wires anywhere along the slot; pair with Micro Grip (4 kg – 20 kg) or Auto Grip hooks.
Shadowline Drywall vs Shadowline Masonry?
Drywall screws up into joists and sets with ceiling plaster; Masonry bolts to walls and sets under the ceiling sheet. Same invisible result, different sequence.
Related reading:
Built-in Picture-Hanging Systems Guide ·
Bulkheads & Shadow-Line Ceilings Explained
