Plasterboard is a building board with a core of gypsum. In the gypsum plasterboard the core is faced on both sides with strong paper; in the gypsum fibreboard the gypsum is reinforced throughout the mass by added fibres. Plasterboard is used to finish walls, ceilings and roof slopes quickly and flat.
Application
Plasterboard is screwed onto a timber or metal frame (metal stud) and thus forms lightweight, non-load-bearing partition walls and lining walls. Ceilings and the inside of sloping roofs are also lined with it. The joints are made good with jointing compound and reinforcing tape to a seamless surface that can be painted or plastered directly.
There are special versions: moisture-resistant boards (for bathrooms), fire-resistant boards and sound-insulating boards. The choice depends on the room and the requirements set.
Characteristics
Plasterboard is light, fire-resistant and easy to work with a utility knife: scoring and snapping is enough. Standard boards are usually 12.5 mm thick. For hanging heavy objects, special cavity fixings or plasterboard plugs are needed, because the board itself can carry little weight. In damp rooms a moisture-resistant (green) board or a cement-bonded board is wiser.
Related terms
- gypsum
- plasterboard plug
- metal stud
- cavity fixing
- plaster layer
- plywood
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