How To Clad A Stud Wall With Plasterboard

Actually heaving the boards into position and keeping them there whilst they are attached to the wall isn’t easy so it is always best to try and have an extra person to help.

A second person not only helps to make the job easier and quicker they will also help you cut down on the swear box deposits!

The most difficult part of the job is cutting the board to size. The material is extremely fragile and very easy to snap – so take care when preparing the boards to always carry them on edge. Accidents are always likely if the boards are carried flat with them likely to break in two at any given moment.

Of course, once the panels are attached to the stud wall they are very strong – but until they are safely up take extra care.

The boards are usually supplied in large 8’x4’ sheets although different sizes are available. For cladding a stud wall however the standard sized sheets are the most convenient to use.

Cladding A Stud Wall

Using quarter inch board firstly measure the floor-to-ceiling (or bottom plate to head plate) height and cut the first panel to fit leaving a ¾ or 1 inch gap at the bottom to aid fixing. This gap will be cloaked after the wall is finished by the addition of the skirting board.

Cut the panel by sawing or scoring through the backing paper and into the plaster and (carefully) snapping the board over a length of wood – finish the cut by cutting along the split from the opposite side. If preferred the board can be cut all the way through by using a very fine toothed saw.

Before fixing the plasterboard to the stud wall cut out any apertures for sockets etc., as it is much easier to do this now then when the board has been nailed into position.

Begin cladding the stud wall from the top left hand corner by placing the panel flush with the ceiling (or top of head plate if working on a new loft wall) and fix into place with galvanized plasterboard nails driven through the panels and into the timber framework of the stud wall with the nails being around six inches apart.

Fit the rest of the panels by butting the edges together but be prepared to ‘jigsaw’ fit the last couple of panels as they never seem to fit without being cut down in width.

After cladding one side of the wall, and before beginning on the other side, lay insulation blankets between the studs unless you are using thermal boarding.

Types Of Plasterboard

Standard panels, as used for cladding stud walls, can be supplied with either squared or tapered edges and with either 3/8” or ½” thickness. For best results it is advisable to use the ½” size with (my preference here) squared edges. Where extra insulation is needed special thermal panels can be used.

For more info see the related pages below or complete the form at the bottom of the page for a free no obligation quote from tradesmen near you for your loft conversion project...

Plasterboard And Making a stud wall

DIY Loft Conversion overview

How to install loft insulation

Enlarging a loft hatch

Loft Conversion