DIY wall cladding with plasterboard

Plasterboard wall transformations can significantly improve any space. For people who want a clean, smooth finish without the trouble of traditional plastering, it’s a popular option. In addition, you don’t need to be an expert to do it yourself.

Plasterboard is easy to work with and versatile, perfect for covering up uneven surfaces, creating new partitions, or just freshening up your space. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a professional-looking result with a few simple tools and some perseverance.

This post will walk you through the process of plasterboard wall cladding, providing helpful hints and techniques to make the job go more smoothly. You can find all the information you need to get started right here, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.

Advantages of plasterboard cladding

While plaster can be used for rough finishing, plasterboard offers certain benefits that other materials cannot match.

• GKL makes it possible to quickly and easily obtain a perfectly flat surface;
• it is easy to hide the heating system, electrical wiring under the cladding;
• sheets can be bent, arches, niches, and other curvilinear structures can be built from them;
• thermal insulation materials, vapor barrier films are placed under the cladding;
• sheathing is done in a "dry" way, unlike plastering;
• surfaces covered with plasterboard can absorb excess moisture and release it, so the room always maintains a favorable microclimate.

Excellent to know. Apart from standard plasterboard, there is waterproof and fire-resistant plasterboard that is intended for use in damp rooms or areas with higher fire safety regulations.

It is simple to improve GKL’s soundproofing qualities by placing a frame underneath the soundproofing material. Plasterboard sheets allow for the construction of shelves directly on the wall in small spaces.

Lastly, while plastering calls for expertise, working with this material does not require you to be a highly skilled finisher.

Choosing an installation method

Plasterboard surfaces can be sheathed with or without glue. The decision is based on the condition and type of material of the walls.

The building materials of today’s homes include the following:

• reinforced concrete panels;
• brick;
• wall blocks;
• log;
• timber.

Plasterboard sheathing can be nailed or nailed onto a wooden or metal frame in all situations. Defects are the primary determining factor in the selection process. It is recommended to use the frame installation method if the differences are more than 2 cm. In other cases, it is advised to use putty or glue for installation.

Counseling! There is only one disadvantage to plasterboard sheathing, whether you do it yourself or with professional assistance: the room’s area is decreased by several tens of square decimeters. Select the adhesive-free approach if the goal is to minimize the amount of space used.

Preparing the walls

It will need to be disassembled if the wall has an outdated coating. It won’t take long to prepare the base, particularly if the material is simple to remove from the wall. Nothing should be able to slide off, peel off, or fall off the prepared surface. After the wall has been free of foreign objects, an antibacterial primer is applied. Prime in two layers for dependability. Mark the location where the plasterboard wall’s border will cross the room’s entire perimeter on the floor and ceiling.

Adhesive or frame method?

Prior to plasterboarding the walls, compare two installation techniques based on the suggested standards and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of frame and frameless installation. Let’s first talk about the characteristics of fastening to the lathing.

Benefits

1. The structure is reliable, durable and practically eternal.
2. You can hide communications, insulate and soundproof the room.
3. The method is suitable for covering a surface of any degree of curvature.
4. Drywall on the lathing can withstand the weight of the tiles, so this type of fastening is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, toilets.

Cons:

1. Installing the frame is a labor-intensive task that not everyone can handle.
2. Do-it-yourself plasterboard sheathing on the frame is more expensive compared to the adhesive method: you will have to buy profiles, hangers, fasteners.
3. In small rooms, the frame takes up a lot of space, so the room becomes noticeably cramped.

Suggestions. Do you want to cut costs? You perform the sheathing. It is not practical to save money by purchasing inexpensive components because their quality determines how reliable the entire structure is.

The advantages and disadvantages of mounting on a metal frame and fastening on a lathing composed of wooden bars and planks are the same. Another drawback of wood is that it can swell when damp, so it’s best to use a frame made of profiles as the base in highly humid rooms.

Features of fastening with glue

Benefits

• compactness;
• minimal costs;
• simplicity.

Drawbacks:

• the structure is less durable;
• the method is only suitable for relatively flat walls;
• the surface of the plasterboard cannot be tiled – the structure is not designed for such weight;
• communications cannot be hidden under the sheets, heat-insulating and sound-insulating materials cannot be laid.

It will be evident when you evaluate your skills, requirements, and capabilities for the structure whether gypsum plasterboard wall covering with glue (without a frame) is a good fit for you or if creating a lathing is preferable.

Tools and accessories

What you’ll need for frame fastening is:

• plasterboard;
• guides and vertical profiles;
• fasteners;
• connectors;
• extensions;
• hangers;
• screwdriver;
• laser level;
• construction knife;
• pencil;
• hammer drill;
• finishing materials;
• tape measure;
• metal scissors.

If the purpose of the do-it-yourself plasterboard sheathing is to level out large surface imperfections (depressions, bulges), then the frame method of cladding is appropriate.

If you plan to use glue for the facing, purchase the following parts from a hardware store:

• GKL;
• finishing materials (starting and finishing putty, primer);
• construction knife;
• tape measure;
• pencil;
• paper metallized tape or serpyanka for sealing seams.

You will need a lot of tools for finishing, but since most people have them at home, you can include their costs in your estimate without worrying about them. This includes sandpaper, rollers, brushes, and various-sized spatulas. There is also a container for combining the adhesive solution.

Plasterboard wall cladding done at home is an easy and practical way to get even, smooth walls that are ready for painting or wallpapering. Most homeowners can accomplish this technique, which offers an affordable way to hide flaws, with a little perseverance and some simple tools.

Installation using lathing

Frame apparatus:

1. According to the applied markings, install the guide profiles, placing them along the entire perimeter and taking into account the location of window and door openings.
2. Installation of the guide profiles is carried out using dowels, and the ceiling profiles are attached to hangers.
3. The finished lathing is checked for strength: all fastening points must be well fixed, and the guides must form a flat plane.
4. Soundproofing and heat-insulating materials, communications are laid under the lathing.
5. Use a pencil or marker to make markings and cut the gypsum board.
6. Strengthen the frame parts with self-tapping screws.

Frameless installation

Crucial! As long as there are surface variations of no more than 2 cm, adhesive technology for plasterboard interior wall cladding is appropriate for spaces with ceiling heights under 3 meters. Gypsum putty can be used as a leveling material instead of plasterboard if the defects are smaller than 4 mm.

In certain instances, if there are significant flaws, a frame is not necessary. DIY Plasterboard wall cladding is installed in two steps: first, the irregularity-sized strips are cut and glued to the base, and then the cladding is installed.

It is necessary to install at a minimum temperature of +10 degrees Celsius. High-quality glue is required; Knauf’s "Perlfix" is the best option. Since the adhesive solution must be consumed in ten minutes, it is applied right before work is done. The plasterboard sheet is glued on the back in the form of strips or patches, and then the piece is pressed firmly against the wall. Take off any extra using a cloth. The sheet can be adjusted even though the glue hasn’t set yet. This sheathing is applied to the entire wall.

Sealing the seams

It is necessary to putty the seams or seal them with serpyanka prior to the final finishing. The plasterboard sheathing won’t be dependable without it.

Work process:

• the joints are dedusted, cleaned of dirt;
• if there are no depressions in the places of contact, they are made with a construction knife;
• the joints are glued with tape;
• putty is applied to the depression, it is leveled.

Features of cladding in a wooden house

Electrical wiring

If sheathing walls with plasterboard in a wooden house is carried out with lathing, then upon completion of the work the cable system will be hidden under the gypsum board sheets. The wires should not be in plastic pipes, but in the sleeves made of metal. Firstly, this is dictated by the requirements of SNiPs, and secondly, metal hooks will avoid damage to the cable and short circuit, if for some reason you were sloppy pushed a nail into the wall. This is especially important in a wooden house, because even the slightest spark can lead to a fire. However, the wiring can be located outside. In this case, it will look like a stylish designer element. Which option do you prefer is not so important, the main thing is that the sheathing of wooden walls is carried out with drywall, taking into account the requirements of electrical and fire safety.

Suggestions. Do you not want cables hidden within the wall? Invest in retro-style outlets and switches that complement twisted wires and blend in well with the original interior decor.

The frame for drywall

Metal profiles or wooden blocks can be used to create the frame. When there are no noticeable irregularities in the walls of an old house that has already shrunk, using the first option is preferable. It is preferable to construct a frame out of a metal profile if the walls of the house are composed of pieces that are different sizes or if the structure was recently constructed.

Marking the floor to the ceiling is the first step in the process. Rectangles are marked around the room’s perimeter using a plumb line and a cord for this purpose. It is advised that vertical guides be installed no more than 60 centimeters apart. U-shaped hangers hold the racks in place in case wall alignment is required. Installing bars or ceiling and guide profiles is the next step.

At this point, thermal insulation material is laid if the project calls for it.

Cladding with plasterboard

GKL sheets are cut and marked in accordance with the project.

How to properly cut things:

1. Make markings using a pencil and a measuring tool.
2. Apply a rule to the sheet, cut the top layer along the entire length with a construction knife.
3. Bend the sheet, and it will break exactly along the cut.
4. Turn the sheet over to the back side, make the same cut, then break.
5. Mark the joints on the blanks, stepping back 10 mm from the edge.
6. Make cuts according to the markings using a construction knife, and use it to make a chamfer at an angle of 45 °.

That’s it! You now understand what DIY plasterboard sheathing entails.

Step	Description
1. Measure and Mark	Measure your wall and mark where the plasterboard panels will be placed.
2. Cut Plasterboard	Cut the plasterboard to fit the marked areas on the wall.
3. Install Framework	Attach a wooden or metal framework to the wall to support the plasterboard.
4. Attach Plasterboard	Fix the plasterboard to the framework using screws or adhesive.
5. Tape and Joint	Apply joint tape and compound to cover the seams between panels.
6. Sand and Finish	Sand the joints smoothly and finish with paint or wallpaper.

Plasterboard finishing your walls is an easy and affordable way to give your house a sleek, contemporary appearance. You can save money on labor expenses and get the satisfaction of finishing the project yourself by taking care of the installation yourself. Plasterboard is a flexible solution that works in a variety of spaces, whether you’re hiding flaws or creating a brand-new surface.

Ensuring proper alignment and taking precise measurements throughout the process will have a significant impact on the outcome. Take your time and do the steps correctly; it will be worthwhile in the end. Don’t rush through them. Remember that you can create walls that look professional even if you’re new to do-it-yourself projects. All it takes is patience and attention to detail.

Plasterboard cladding, in the end, improves the look of your walls while also adding an additional layer of soundproofing and insulation. It’s a workable solution that improves your living area’s appearance and functionality. You can makeover your walls and create a more refined, cozy home with the correct tools and a little work.

Video on the topic

DIY plasterboard wall sheathing. THE WHOLE PROCESS!! Frame for plasterboard.

Installing profiles and mounting plasterboard with IVSIL

Do-it-yourself gluing of plasterboard / mounting plasterboard on glue / Leveling walls with plasterboard