Plasterboard walls - dont like them - what are the options?
Plasterboard walls - dont like them - what are the options?
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KevF

Original Poster:

1,996 posts

229 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all

Having a fairly decent sized two storey extension to the cottage planned soon. It will double the footprint.

Now, the previous owners did the renovation work which knocked the two small cottages into one. It has left the place with a lack of 'feel' of character if that makes sense.

Upstairs, all the internal walls are plasterboard and I am getting fecked off having to repair the blown nail holes....

So, for the build, I am thinking of pushing for more 'solid' internal walls.

This may be a really daft question but what are my options? Brick, Breeze block.....anymore. Has plasterboard fixing technology come on leaps and bounds in the last 7 years hehe

I know the costs of putting up a partion wall versus a brick one is by fair a lot cheaper but by how much?

I really hate the flimsy feel of plasterboard and having three young kids who are growing up fast and wanting to put stuff on walls, want to put the new walls up without having to do anything to them other than a coat of paint every now and then.

Reading this back makes me sound a bit of a numpty but hope someone understands what I mean? hehe


ColinM50

2,699 posts

206 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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Blown nails in plasterboard? Not in my experience. Maybe the skim over top was suspect. As reagrds your new extension, there's nothing that says it HAS to be p/b. How about traditional plaster on breeze blocks as you put it.

Or better still since you've got an older property would a lime plaster leaving a rough texture be appropriate? Easy to just schlapp a coat of paint on if it gets grubby.

cjs

11,709 posts

282 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
They use screws now, not nails, if done properly you should have no issues. Alternatively go for light weight Thermolite blocks. Remember running services, cables, pipes, is a lot easier/cheaper in stud walls.

Evo141n

274 posts

191 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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Lightweight Aircrete Block, with plaster finish?
You'll have to watch the dead load to your floor though.
Other than that you can get some strong 'plaster'boards these days.. Gypsum do Glasroc Rigidur which is used in prisons, so could be perfect for your kids! ;-)

VxDuncan

2,850 posts

265 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
Blown nail holes in the plasterboard is likely to be because the board is able to move. Which it shouldn't. I'm guessing the batons where either too far apart, or weren't level enough, bowing the board - the flex causing movement on the nails. A decent well constructed stud wall with 12.5mm plasterboard should be okay, but if it's an issue you could use lightweight blocks and float out with browning or backing plaster (I think browning is suitable on aircrete?) then skim with multifinish. will give you around 13mm of plaster. Check the building regs are being met though w.r.t. internal sound deadening.

KevF

Original Poster:

1,996 posts

229 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all

Wow not one sarcastic comment...thanks guys...thumbup

Seriously though, the previous owner, I think, did the majority of the work so can safely say it was done to a tight budget.
However, all the stud walls are upstairs and most are being removed or modified for the plans so will have opportunity to check measurements and make changes.

New walls will be built tougher and stronger. Will use the advice above when discussing with builder.

It just grates on me, that when my 11 year old daughter (going on 15) gets in a strop and storms upstairs slamming her bedroom door in typically dramatic 'I hate you' fashion, that the bloody door frame moves, pictures fall off the wall and the plasterboard flexes.....




freecar

4,249 posts

218 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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KevF said:
It just grates on me, that when my 11 year old daughter (going on 15) gets in a strop and storms upstairs slamming her bedroom door in typically dramatic 'I hate you' fashion, that the bloody door frame moves, pictures fall off the wall and the plasterboard flexes.....
Whoah, what's wrong with your house??

All our upstairs walls are plasterboard and nothing moves at all! Sounds like it is very under-spec.

andy43

13,291 posts

285 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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freecar said:
KevF said:
It just grates on me, that when my 11 year old daughter (going on 15) gets in a strop and storms upstairs slamming her bedroom door in typically dramatic 'I hate you' fashion, that the bloody door frame moves, pictures fall off the wall and the plasterboard flexes.....
Whoah, what's wrong with your house??

All our upstairs walls are plasterboard and nothing moves at all! Sounds like it is very under-spec.
It's a Barratt new build cottage?

anonymous-user

85 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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Our house has block walls downstairs which is pretty rare for a new build. Looking at the plans I'm guessing it is because of the joist spans required. Anyway, these walls feel so much nicer than the wood/plaster board shat that is upstairs. Not sure if these can be used for upstairs too but if they could I would deffo go for it. I guess the downside is the walls will be so much thicker.

S70JPS

621 posts

251 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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After over 3 years work i have just finished my renovation. I have used block render and skim where possible. Makes for a much more solid wall. Still managed to use 300 plasterboards for cielings and some studding. I am starting to get a few (screw) nail pops below where my 7 year old going on clog dancing centipede dances to her music. For me block and render where possible.

CO2000

3,177 posts

240 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
I was speaking to a Mate the other day about nail heads popping in my old house (built in 99) versus his new build going on now, would there have been a move away from nails to screws in the last few years ? Screws should be far less likely to pop through I would have thought. Also look at insulation in the walls to cut down on the sound travel.

freecar

4,249 posts

218 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
andy43 said:
freecar said:
KevF said:
It just grates on me, that when my 11 year old daughter (going on 15) gets in a strop and storms upstairs slamming her bedroom door in typically dramatic 'I hate you' fashion, that the bloody door frame moves, pictures fall off the wall and the plasterboard flexes.....
Whoah, what's wrong with your house??

All our upstairs walls are plasterboard and nothing moves at all! Sounds like it is very under-spec.
It's a Barratt new build cottage?
So it really is a case of "they don't build them like they used to!"

benmc

546 posts

279 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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I have the same view I really hate plasterboard walls.

Where I have had to fit them I have done the following.

12mm ply skin on each side behind the plasterboard. Also fill the wall with insulation.

Overall this creates an OK wall

Ben