Tag Archives: Timescale

Dry lining walls

Dry lining walls is the method of fastening sheets of plasterboard to a wall using an adhesive compound and joining tape. This gives the wall a flat smooth finish that you will then be able to decorate over. As with all of the topics covered in our blogs, these things take time and patience to master and to create great results.
First off, remove any skirting boards that are present as they can be reused later. Now you must fit a timber batons at the top and bottom of the wall to create an area to work in, once you have done this attach timber batons from the edges at 16″inch or 400mm centres across the wall. These will be used to fit by nails or screws the tops, bottoms and middles of the boards to the wall. When lining up the boards the joints of the boards must sit center to the batons, as to create a strong joint. To fasten the batons to the wall they require plugs, screws or a strong adhesive, all of which can be purchased at DIY stores such as B&Q or Homebase. Batons will also need to be placed around any switches or fixtures upon the walls as to allow the plasterboard to be fastened to it.
Measure of the size and amount of plasterboard you will need as in the same manner as the two previous blogs, measure the area of the wall then the area of one board of plasterboard and divide the larger number by the smaller number. That’s how many boards you will need, however it is better to purchase a few more than required just in case. You may need to cut plasterboard for some areas, this is quite simple as it is made of a very thin and light piece of plaster and paper squashed together. Once you have measured the size of the cut you need to make on the board against the space on the wall, simply score a line using a rule and a sharp blade and then, once you are an 1/8 th inch or so into the plasterboard turn it onto its side and bend with your knee and two hands until the plasterboard completes the cut.
To fasten the boards to the wall we can use nails, small amounts of pre made plaster or a strong adhesive. If you are using nails hammer them in lightly until the heads are slightly below the surface of the boards. Once the boards are fastened to the wall it is essential to use skrim tape to fasten into all the joints and create a greater bond. Skrim tape is simply a gauze like tape with a sticky underside that molds into the joints as you tape along them. Make good contact with the skrim tape and use pressure to force the tape to mold into any gaps that may be present. You have now completed dry lining walls.

I hope that you were able to find some useful information in this latest blog and that you too now find it a little bit easier to dry line walls. Chris, your dry lining buddy.

 

Planning

As with any DIY job planning is everything. We love Grand Designs and watch as many shows as we can; We’re never amazed like Kevin McCloud when things get out of hand, and the project ends up costing a lot more and over running the original budget. However we have to admire the odd, (may be that should be the exceptional) one or two who bring their project in on cost, or just over, if not on time (for time waits for none), because they have planned very well.

So if you’re planning to change a tap washer or revamp the bedroom, factor in as many stumbling blocks as you can think of, because as sure as there’s snow in the north or south pole, it’s going to take a little longer and cost a little more than you originally thought.

Just one more thought on the planning process is this, our great great and may be great grandfathers over engineered a lot of what they did compared to what we do today, costs as ever got out of hand, but if we over estimate then just maybe we’ll come in on budget and time.

Till the next time, plan for everything plus the devils detail.

Your planning duo Chris & Pete.