Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't leave boards outside without covers |
Boards may get damaged |
Don't store in the open |
Boards will absorb moisture if covers have been damaged, removed or blown off, risking deformation, decoration problems, delay in the jointing process and/or mould growth |
Don't place pallets on uneven ground |
Boards may deform |
Don't place pallets or board on wet ground |
Board may absorb moisture |
Don't use less than 5 bearers under a pack if not on a wooden pallet |
Boards may deflect |
Don't use damaged boards |
Broken edges & cracked cores are unacceptable |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't forget to check board weight |
HSE max is 25kg per person. If you exceed this weight you may get injured |
Do lay boards flat |
Vertical boards may bend and take on a set deflection |
Don't single-handedly try to carry two boards |
Injury could result |
Don't forget to carry board on edge |
Boards may bend if carried horizontally. This may lead to core cracking. |
Don't use wet board |
Use of wet boards is not recommended |
Don't slide boards off the pack if the paper is damaged |
You will get paper 'roll-ups' |
Don't damage corners and edges when manoeuvring around |
Can't use damaged boards. If damaged cut down to next lower size |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Do fix boards according to plasterboard manufacturer's recommendations |
|
Do follow plasterboard manufacturer's guidelines regarding minimum timber stud/joist dimensions |
|
Do stagger the boards on opposite sides |
System is weak, reduced fire resistance |
Don't fix boards if they are wet |
Use of wet board is not recommended (staining, mould or /and sagging may occur) |
Don't fix boards if plaster core is cracked |
Affects fire rating |
Don't use boards with broken corners |
End cracks in joints |
Don't fix boards to wet timbers |
Board joints may crack and nails pop as timber shrinks |
Don't screw or nail board to narrow timbers < 38mm |
Manufacturer's recommendations regarding board end / edge distance for screws / nails cannot be met |
Don't forget that screws are better than nails and you need less of them (use screws where possible) |
Nail pops are a serious maintenance item |
Do use a drill with gauge depth adjustment to fix drywall screws |
A drywall screw gun is preferable, otherwise screws may fracture the paper liner and sink below the surface rendering them ineffective |
Don't restrict ventilation (ventilate rooms) |
Moisture, if not free to escape, may cause condensation and may be absorbed by boards |
Don't use a blunt Stanley knife |
You get jagged edges to the board and there is more risk of injury |
Don't cut service holes with a board knife and hammer |
Back of board may have damaged the paper liner. Use a pad saw. |
Do use vapour resistant board in a location that is likely to have high moisture (bathroom/kitchen) |
Avoids moisture damage |
Don't attempt to wet plaster moisture resistant board |
Such board is designed to resist moisture and the plaster may not bond |
Don't install wallboard onto misaligned timber framing |
You may get a ridged joint |
Don't use nails to fix ceiling boards to engineered joists e.g. TJI, JJI, type |
You may loosen the floor boards above and they will creak and it is more difficult. Use screws. |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't 'knock up' the bonding compound with more water when it starts to set |
It may not bond |
Don't use small dabs far apart. Do follow manufacturer's recommendations on dab size and location |
Incorrectly fitted board |
Don't direct bond onto wet masonry |
Dab will dry out into background instead of through board and pattern staining may occur |
Do use continuous dabs joined up where specified |
Loss of thermal insulation due to 'chimney' effect, also sound insulation and cavity barrier requirement |
Don't bridge the joints with dabs |
Joints may crack |
Don't use vapour control (foil backed) boards with plaster bonding dabs |
Bonding compound will not stick to polyester foil |
Don't attempt to dab plasterboards if the background material is in doubt |
You may get bond failure |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Do use nailable plugs in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations if you are fixing by direct bond method |
Board may delaminate in a fire. Plasterboard may fall over and block an access route. |
Do fill the gap behind the skirting |
You will get a thermal loss. Also required for sound insulation and cavity barrier |
Don't fix these boards with dabs if they are bowed |
Linings will be out of range / plumb |
Don't use thermal boards on ceilings unless phenolic |
Appropriate building regulations regarding surface classification of both sides of ceiling boards should be followed |
Do check condensation risk, as you may need vapour check layer |
Otherwise, condensation problems may result |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Do adjust bracket length so that the finished lining will be plumbed and ranged |
|
Do use protective gloves when handling metal |
Minimise the risk of injury |
Don't go wider than 800mm with brackets (unless brackets are adjustable) |
Boards may flex too much |
Do screw boards to bottom track. Do fix boards to framing in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. |
Sound loss, danger of joint cracking , poorly fixed board |
Don't forget that this system may need a vapour control plasterboard lining in some circumstances |
|
Do use a DPC if used on new concrete |
Chemical alkaline attack to zinc under J track. Also moisture may travel up the plasterboard core |
Don't forget that with 'I' studs you may need special drywall screws |
Normal S point screws will not penetrate |
Don't forget that if you have an uneven floor surfaces you need to provide a timber sole plate prior to installation of the floor track |
Floor track may bow if not adequately supported along its length |
Don't forget that when using mineral wool with this system, the wool go behind the metal but should not be in contact with the wall |
Can get moisture tracking from wall back into wool |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't mix and match, boards, studs, accessories and finishings from different manufacturers |
No warranty, no performance guarantee |
Do read manufacturers specifications first |
|
Do use an acoustic sealant under tracks, where specified |
Leakage/optimum acoustic performance |
Do provide a timber sole plate if you have uneven floor surfaces |
Floor track may bow if not adequately supported along its length |
Do provide a DPC over new concrete floors |
Without a DPC, you may get corrosion of zinc, DPC aims to avoid moisture in the new concrete from travelling up plasterboard core. |
Do use protective gloves when handling metal |
Minimises the risk of injury |
Do use the appropriate deep (or extra deep) leg track where high partitions and / or deflection heads are specified. Obtain manufacturer's advice if necessary |
Crispin - the text outside the brackets already refers to 'high' partitions. Do all members accept 4.2m ? |
Do use the correct width, gauge and spacing of stud to suit the height |
Partition will not be strong enough if incorrect framing members are used |
Don't use blunt tin snips with thin metals |
Metal will have corners like 'fish hooks' and you risk personal injury |
Don't provide less then 600mm overlap when splicing studs |
Join will be too weak |
Don't start screwing boards near return flange side |
Screw will push stud away and cause a step in the joint |
Do back support horizontal board joints with a suitable section |
Joint can crack and give reduced fire resistance |
Don't have vertical joints above each side of door opening |
Joints may crack when door slams |
Don't screw boards to top track if there is a deflection head |
Deflection may be restricted |
Don't forget that there are special details for movement joints and service baffles |
Technical performance of partition will not be maintained |
Do screw boards to resilient bars ensuring the screw does not penetrate through to studs |
Otherwise, acoustic insulation will be short circuited |
Do comply with all relevant guidelines / legislation relating to electrical installations and use of electrical tools |
|
Don't forget special detail at T junctions when fixing acoustic partitions |
Sound insulation expected will not be achieved |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Do follow manufacturer's advice regarding board thickness, joist size and spacing , noggings, suspended ceiling framework |
|
Do use protective gloves when handling metal |
Avoids the risk of injury |
Do use correct screw type and screw length as specified by the manufacturer |
Avoids risk of loosening of the ceiling boards |
Don't fix boards direct to ceiling joists if they are not level |
Joints may cracks and nails may pop, use metal furrings instead or counter battens |
Don't (never) use plaster skim or undercoat more than 6mm thick on ceilings |
Boards may get too wet, core may soften and ceiling could fall down |
Do start board fixing from the centre of the board |
Unsupported ends may sag down & crack board core |
Don't use single layer 9.5mm wallboards if fire rating is required |
No fire rating with these boards |
Don't fix suspended ceiling hangers to concrete soffits with shot fired pins |
Ceiling can fall down |
Don't overload ceilings with services - follow manufacturers recommendations. Contact the manufacturer for advice. |
Ceiling may fall down |
Don't use heated ceiling panels & membranes behind MF ceilings |
Joints may crack and board may calcine, depending on temperature |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't start jointing and finishing if the temperature is below 4 0 C |
Joint cements may not dry and set |
Do address any protruding nails or screws prior to the jointing process but don't sand nail and screw heads (may give a rust spot) |
|
Do use plasterboard manufacturer's proprietary drywall primers |
These have been specially developed to achieve the best finish |
Do plaster on the prepared face. This face has been prepared to accept plaster and provides a superior bond |
|
Don't mix & match filers & finishes from different manufacturers |
There might be a compatibility problem |
Don't use watered down emulsion paint as a primer or so called 'mist coat' |
It puts too much water into the paper & core and can cause staining |
Don't fill and tape with air drying compounds then finish with setting compounds |
Tapes may peel off bedding compound cannot dry out |
Don't use fibreglass tape if you wish to reduce the risk of hairline cracks. Do use paper tape rather than fibre mesh. |
Fibre tape does not bond strongly to board. Paper tapes achieves a stronger joint |
Do box out as wide as you can then sand & leave to fully dry before painters come |
Joints may shrink & become visible |
Don't think that you have to use square edge boards for skimming and texturing |
Joints between TE boards are generally stronger |
Don't use air drying compounds for corner beads |
They will not stick |
Action |
Likely consequences (results) |
Don't try to repair boards which have been subjected to flood damage |
Even when dried out the boards may have deteriorated. Use new boards |
Don't try to repair boards where there has been fire or smoke damage |
Board will have been subjected excessive heat. Black soot will not wash off. Use new boards |
Don't try to straighten or level up sagging ceilings where there has been high humidity |
Boards will have taken on 'set' and cannot be flattened. Remove and fit new boards |
Don't repair holes by plastering with scrim tape over hole |
Hole area may be too weak. You should use a backer board bigger than the hole |
Don't try to repair damage to fire rated drywall systems |
Fire rating cannot be achieved from damaged boards. Use new boards |
Don't re-use nails and screws if they have been in wetted area, even if they look OK |
They may rust or corrode later. Use new screws or nails |
Don't start repair work after flood or fire damage until the building is absolutely dry |
You may get sagging boards, nail pops, mildew and rusting fixings. |
Don't try to use more layers of emulsion point if the boards show signs of striping and staining |
Staining may still come through. You should use an oil based alkali resistant primer |
