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Builders Tips: Plasterboard Ceilings
You can find four basic types of ceiling construction, depending on the style and age of the property. Check which one is used in your home since it can affect the kind of problem the ceiling has and the sort of repair work that might be needed. 1. Plasterboard - this is nailed directly to the ceiling joists. 2. Lath and plaster - the standard way of finishing ceilings. Timber laths are nailed to the joists with a narrow gap between them. 3. Timber or boarded - matching tongue and grooved timber boards can look attractive when stained or varnished. 4. Suspended - typically formed of a light metal framework forming a grid, which is hung from the original ceiling by wires to lower the height. How to fit a plasterboard ceiling A new plasterboard ceiling could be fitted directly under the existing one. But you will have to screw the new sheets in place. By hammering in nails, you could well shake down the original material. It is much better to pull down the old ceiling and replace it with new sheets of plasterboard nailed directly to the ceiling joists. Pulling down an old ceiling is a bit messy, but not very hard. Wear old clothes, a hat, dust mask and safety goggles. Open all the windows inside the room and tape round the door to prevent dust from drifting to other parts of the home. Plasterboard sheets are nailed directly to the undersides of the joists with galvanised nails. Adjacent boards are butt-joined along the centre line of every joist, and board positions are staggered in adjacent rows. The joins are taped over before the ceiling is given a skim of finishing plaster. 1. Take down the old ceiling using a hammer and cold chisel or a wrecking bar, like a little crowbar. This generally has a nail-puller at one end and this is ideal for removing nails from the joists. If this proves tough, drive the nails into the timber instead. 2. If you're replacing the ceiling making use of plasterboard nailed to the undersides of the joists, use tapered edge board in the smallest sizes you can find. Plasterboard is heavy and awkward to lift. 3. Start in one corner and fix the first sheet so that its length is at right angles to the direction of the joists. You will probably have to trim the board so that its end falls midway across a joist. Fix it in place with galvanised large head plasterboard nails with the cream coloured face of the board downwards. Insert the nails 150mm apart and drive them in so that their head just dimples the surface of the board but does not tear it. 4. Cut subsequent sheets so that the joints between the ends of the sheets do not line up. You should butt the lengthy paper covered edges together, but maintain the short cut edges at the ends about 3mm apart. Fill nail heads and finish the joints with filler and paper joint tape. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Article by Scott: A professional Brisbane builder. Scott's company QHI provides the following building services in Brisbane (Australia): Carports, Patios, Decks, Extensions, Additions, Roofing and Renovations. All building work is carried out to Brisbane City Council building standards. QHI are a fully licensed and insured Brisbane Builder. |
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