Plastering & Dry Lining

Gypsum Plastering and Dry Lining

In recent years, the construction sector has witnessed a number of new trends, technology advancements and innovations across applications, all aimed at making construction faster and delivering higher performance.
However, very few would have imagined that the substitute for the generations old method of sand cement surface plastering will be an even older method of plastering i.e. gypsum plastering. Gypsum has proved to be a miraculous material aiding interior construction. Gypsum surface plaster is one form that has caught the attention on the sector and is growing in popularity.

Gypsum what is it?

Gypsum is a light weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins. In terms of its chemical composition, it is Calcium Sulphate Di-hydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) and inherently contains 21% water by molecular weight. Gypsum products have been used for centuries in the construction space and are the material of choice because of gypsum’s unique properties.
It has excellent insulation properties both thermal and acoustic and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control when used in combination with the right systems.

What is Gypsum Plaster?

Gypsum is a light weight material which is formed as the result of evaporating sea water in massive prehistoric basins.It has excellent insulation properties both thermal and acoustic and can offer very good passive fire protection, moisture resistance, impact resistance and vapour control.

Plastering and Dry Lining Information

Gypsum plaster

When a wall is constructed with brick or block, they are finished with a coat of plaster which is called internal plastering.
Backing coat which is the underlying coat that sits on the substrate can be one of several plasters designed for a particular use.On this is placed a skimming coat again which can be of several types. Some interesting plasters are x-ray plasters which are very heavy and lightweight plasters such as board or multi finish.


Dry Lining

Dry lining is technically the covering of a background surface with a plaster substitute; Masonry, block work and generally brickwork are unacceptable as a finish not only for aesthetic reasons but also because they generally are not as true as a plastered finish.
Dry lining is the fitting of plasterboard or a board material akin to plasterboard to any surface in lieu of a hard plaster.
Dry lining doesn’t require anywhere near the amount of water that traditional plastering needs and to some degree less technical expertise to fit than plaster. Plasterboards are produced by leading manufacturers in huge factories and in great volume. Plasterboard is available in various lengths, widths and thicknesses.
When dry lining and fixing plasterboard to timber or metal this is referred to as ‘tacking’ if using nails, or ‘screwing’ when screw fixings are used.
Screws will always support the plasterboard better than clout nails and we recommend whenever possible to follow this recommendation.
Dry lining to timber or metal is reasonably straightforward providing you follow a few basic principles.
Always choose the most suitable plasterboard or board for the job in hand. If you’re dry lining a wet area, maybe a bathroom consider the extra value moisture resistant plasterboard will give you. Moisture resistant plasterboard is normally green.Moisture resistant plasterboard however will not stand being submersed in water for long periods and the core is like any other board making unbound or cut edges susceptible to water penetration.
Lafarge produce an aqua board and Knauf an ‘Aquapanel’ plasterboard, both of which are extremely water resistant. The Lafarge aqua board can even be used in external lining applications.
The plasterboards are then skimmed with a board finish gypsum plaster and trowelled flat to provide a smooth finish for decoration