How to fit plasterboard: A step-by-step guide

The use of plasterboard to finish stud walls is an exceptionally effective way to partition rooms due to its cost-effective nature and relatively straightforward installation.

It’s possible to fit plasterboard with reasonable speed, especially if you’ve already got your plasterboard profiles cut to the size or shape required by an expert. At V-Cut, we can deliver plasterboard profiles to suit your design ideas, allowing you to fold it and form simple or complex shapes that create impressive interior aesthetics.

Arguably the most important aspect to remember when fitting your new plasterboard is to never hang it vertically – always position your plasterboard with the grain horizontally. The grain almost always runs horizontally, so you can ensure the most solid and dependable partition when the plasterboard is fitted perpendicular to the studwork.

Another top tip when positioning your plasterboards is to avoid seams ending up on the same stud. The last thing you want is for cracks to develop soon after installation. After all, when properly fitted, plasterboard offers a flawless, smooth finish comparable with traditional plaster in many ways.

What will you need to fit your plasterboard?

Some guides will state that you need other tools such as a Stanley knife, spirit level and a handsaw to get the job done, but if you’re purchasing V-Cut’s cut strips or pre-cut profiles, most of the hard work is already done for you.

Fitting your new plasterboard

1. The first stage of any plasterboard installation is to ensure the edges of your board are in the middle of the uprights. This is not the case with door openings and adjoining walls however, where the plasterboard must provide a snug fit right against the edge of the opening or wall.
2. Ordinarily, when measuring to cut your first plasterboard, you will do so by beginning from the door opening and moving towards the furthest wall. This is where your tape measure comes in handy to mark up when the board is flat. However, by choosing our pre-cut plasterboard – to the measurement you specify – you’ll not need to cut any boards on-site; they’ll already be cut to size for your project.
3. Traditionally, most DIY plasterboard installations require a Stanley knife to cut along the intended cut line – usually made with a spirit level. You don’t have to worry about achieving clean edges and straight lines if you purchase our plasterboard profiles that are machine-cut, creating a precision finish for simple installation.
4. Once you’re ready to fit your plasterboard to the studwork, drive a few screws into the far corners of the board where uprights or noggins are easily visible. This will secure it in place while you mark the centre positions of the studs and noggins elsewhere on the plasterboard.
5. Position your drywall screws at 10-20cm intervals, along the lines of the studs and noggins marked on the plasterboard in step 4. Be careful not to drill them in too deep as you can risk crushing the plaster and ruining its structural integrity.
6. Need to plasterboard around corners e.g. at right-angles? Not a problem. Simply request our plasterboard to be cut in an L-shape profile, with no corner beads necessary and reduced requirement for jointing on-site. We use a simple peel-and-fold plasterboard solution, ensuring a precise prefabricated L-shaped dry lining profile. Simply remove the tape and expose the adhesive, before pushing the sides together to form the perfect 90-degree corner. Should you wish, we can even deliver your plasterboard profiles pre-glued ready for immediate installation and requiring less support framework.

Fortunately, complex design no longer means complicated plasterboard installation. Explore our range of plasterboard profiles and typical applications to discover the design possibilities for your property’s interiors.

For more information and advice, please don’t hesitate to call our experienced team today on 020 3092 1377 or request a free quote online.