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Plasterboard the wrong way around

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ARWadsworth

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Aug 14, 2011, 3:31:27 PM8/14/11
to
I have just dot and dabbed a bathroom wall.

It turns out that the piece of plasterboard above the window (the bit in the
recess) is the wrong way around.

Does it really matter or should I swap it in the morning?


--
Adam


Phil L

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Aug 14, 2011, 3:36:57 PM8/14/11
to

It doesn't make a blind bit of difference, I've put full boards on back to
front and it's no different.


John Rumm

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Aug 14, 2011, 4:03:18 PM8/14/11
to

The dark side is slightly less flat, than the finish side, and may have
a slight visible paper seam on the edges. Makes naff all difference if
its being skimmed, and not much if being finished directly.


--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

ARWadsworth

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Aug 14, 2011, 4:11:43 PM8/14/11
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John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> wrote:
> On 14/08/2011 20:31, ARWadsworth wrote:
>> I have just dot and dabbed a bathroom wall.
>>
>> It turns out that the piece of plasterboard above the window (the
>> bit in the recess) is the wrong way around.
>>
>> Does it really matter or should I swap it in the morning?
>
> The dark side is slightly less flat, than the finish side, and may
> have a slight visible paper seam on the edges. Makes naff all
> difference if its being skimmed, and not much if being finished
> directly.

Thanks to both of you.

I'll leave it as it is.


--
Adam


NT

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Aug 14, 2011, 3:59:23 PM8/14/11
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On Aug 14, 8:31 pm, "ARWadsworth" <adamwadswo...@blueyonder.co.uk>
wrote:

it doesnt matter. There's greater risk of minor blemishes on the other
side, but plastering or filling take care of those.


NT

Roger Mills

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Aug 14, 2011, 5:42:30 PM8/14/11
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On 14/08/2011 20:31, ARWadsworth wrote:

I once asked a plasterer about this, and he said that one side is more
absorbent than the other - and gives less time to work the plaster - but
the difference is small, and doesn't really matter. ISTR that he also
said that you use one side for skimming and the other side for Artex.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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polygonum

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Aug 14, 2011, 5:56:24 PM8/14/11
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On Sun, 14 Aug 2011 22:42:30 +0100, Roger Mills <watt....@gmail.com>
wrote:

> On 14/08/2011 20:31, ARWadsworth wrote:
>> I have just dot and dabbed a bathroom wall.
>>
>> It turns out that the piece of plasterboard above the window (the bit
>> in the
>> recess) is the wrong way around.
>>
>> Does it really matter or should I swap it in the morning?
>>
>>
>
> I once asked a plasterer about this, and he said that one side is more
> absorbent than the other - and gives less time to work the plaster - but
> the difference is small, and doesn't really matter. ISTR that he also
> said that you use one side for skimming and the other side for Artex.

Ask the manufacturers. They say, use the white side for plastering and
decorating of all kinds.

Differences are:

The actual paper - absorbency, smoothness, etc.
Voids under the paper (I think they make it white side down so any air
bubbles will be under the grey side).
How the paper wraps - it is double-thickness near the edges on the grey
side.

But as half the plasterers who are asked seem to get it wrong, I'd imagine
a lot of plasterboard has been fitted and plastered the wrong way round.
And in non-critical situations it probably makes very little real
difference.

--
Rod

Tim W

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Aug 14, 2011, 6:54:05 PM8/14/11
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"polygonum" <rmoud...@vrod.co.uk> wrote in message
news:op.vz74k...@helvella.cable.virginmedia.net...
....

>
> Differences are:
>
> The actual paper - absorbency, smoothness, etc.
> Voids under the paper (I think they make it white side down so any air
> bubbles will be under the grey side).
> How the paper wraps - it is double-thickness near the edges on the grey
> side.
>
> But as half the plasterers who are asked seem to get it wrong, I'd imagine
> a lot of plasterboard has been fitted and plastered the wrong way round.
> And in non-critical situations it probably makes very little real
> difference.
>

Last time I used it the principle difference was that the edge was tapered,
on one side only. This was to accommodate the nasty european habit of taping
the join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole face, just painting
or papering onto the plasterboard. In British practice it meant that if you
nailed the edge of the board with it the wrong way round you got a nail head
through the skim, or a piece of broken plasterboard.

Tim W


S Viemeister

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Aug 14, 2011, 7:02:36 PM8/14/11
to
On 8/14/2011 6:54 PM, Tim W wrote:

>
> Last time I used it the principle difference was that the edge was tapered,
> on one side only. This was to accommodate the nasty european habit of taping
> the join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole face, just painting
> or papering onto the plasterboard.
>

Typical US practice, too.

Jim K

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Aug 15, 2011, 4:10:49 AM8/15/11
to
"S Viemeister" <firs...@lastname.oc.ku> wrote in message
news:9ar2g...@mid.individual.net...

IOW "drywall"

Jim K


JTM

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Aug 15, 2011, 4:36:22 AM8/15/11
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In article
<tb2dnTQwEJHqSdXT...@brightview.co.uk>, Jim K

> IOW "drywall"

> Jim K
Scotland as well I think.

< Oooh look, they're all out of step except our Johnny >

--
John Mulrooney
NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while.

Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

geraldthehamster

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Aug 15, 2011, 5:49:13 AM8/15/11
to
On 14 Aug, 23:54, "Tim W" <tim.wn...@mtavirgin.net> wrote:

> Last time I used it the principle difference was that the edge was tapered,
> on one side only. This was to accommodate the nasty european habit of taping
> the join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole face, just painting
> or papering onto the plasterboard. In British practice it meant that if you
> nailed the edge of the board with it the wrong way round you got a nail head
> through the skim, or a piece of broken plasterboard.

I suggest you don't buy tapered board if you're going to skim it.

Cheers
Richard

Martin Bonner

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Aug 15, 2011, 8:48:02 AM8/15/11
to
On Aug 14, 11:54 pm, "Tim W" <tim.wn...@mtavirgin.net> wrote:
> Last time I used it the principle difference was that the edge was tapered,
> on one side only. This was to accommodate the nasty european habit of taping
> the join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole face, just painting
> or papering onto the plasterboard.

I was taught this as the preferred approach on a DIY plastering course
in Britain recently too.

Jim K

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Aug 15, 2011, 9:33:32 AM8/15/11
to
"geraldthehamster" <diy...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:58cfbc53-9d73-442a...@v7g2000vbk.googlegroups.com...

I chose to use tapered when lining this place with isulation backed boards-
meant I could get a proper taped joint with thick scrim/tape and plenty
joint cement - and no problems with "undulations" or tape "poking through"
when skimming after.

YMMV

Jim K


John Rumm

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Aug 15, 2011, 11:01:08 AM8/15/11
to

Its partly historical - the makers used to specify one side for skimming
and the other for decorating. These days they specify light side for
both. Many builders etc do not respond well to learning new tricks!

John Rumm

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Aug 15, 2011, 11:02:50 AM8/15/11
to
On 15/08/2011 09:36, JTM wrote:
> In article
> <tb2dnTQwEJHqSdXT...@brightview.co.uk>, Jim K
> <jk98...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> "S Viemeister"<firs...@lastname.oc.ku> wrote in
>> message news:9ar2g...@mid.individual.net...
>>> On 8/14/2011 6:54 PM, Tim W wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Last time I used it the principle difference was that
>>>> the edge was tapered, on one side only. This was to
>>>> accommodate the nasty european habit of taping the
>>>> join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole
>>>> face, just painting or papering onto the plasterboard.
>>>>
>>> Typical US practice, too.
>
>> IOW "drywall"
>
>> Jim K
> Scotland as well I think.

Not uncommon in England either to be fair. A favourite technique for
many shop fitters.

ARWadsworth

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Aug 15, 2011, 11:17:51 AM8/15/11
to
John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> wrote:
> On 15/08/2011 09:36, JTM wrote:
>> In article
>> <tb2dnTQwEJHqSdXT...@brightview.co.uk>, Jim K
>> <jk98...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> "S Viemeister"<firs...@lastname.oc.ku> wrote in
>>> message news:9ar2g...@mid.individual.net...
>>>> On 8/14/2011 6:54 PM, Tim W wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Last time I used it the principle difference was that
>>>>> the edge was tapered, on one side only. This was to
>>>>> accommodate the nasty european habit of taping the
>>>>> join, filling the taper but not skimming the whole
>>>>> face, just painting or papering onto the plasterboard.
>>>>>
>>>> Typical US practice, too.
>>
>>> IOW "drywall"
>>
>>> Jim K
>> Scotland as well I think.
>
> Not uncommon in England either to be fair. A favourite technique for
> many shop fitters.

There's nothing wrong with it.

--
Adam


sm_jamieson

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Aug 15, 2011, 11:45:37 AM8/15/11
to
And Australia.
I'd like to have a good look at some taped rooms, particularly around the window reveals and the wall / ceiling joints, to see how good it can be.
Judging by the small number of white "dots" you usually see, they don't appear to use many screws in the boards.
With larger houses in general (US, OZ etc,), I can see that skimming a whole house would become very expensive.
Watched Grand Designs Australia yesterday. Quite interesting.
Simon.

Andrew Gabriel

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Aug 18, 2011, 4:56:52 AM8/18/11
to
In article <nuidnULwNLV9qdTT...@brightview.co.uk>,

John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> writes:
>
> Its partly historical - the makers used to specify one side for skimming
> and the other for decorating. These days they specify light side for
> both. Many builders etc do not respond well to learning new tricks!

Reminds me, before I could do my own plastering, I had boarded a ceiling
and then got a plasterer in to skim it. Part way through, he said to me,
"Next time, can you put the board on the other way up?".
I asked him if he really wanted to plaster straight onto the foil, at
which point he looked a bit sheepish, and carried on skimming.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Jim K

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Aug 18, 2011, 2:44:13 PM8/18/11
to
"Andrew Gabriel" <and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:j2ik4k$jid$1...@dont-email.me...

> In article <nuidnULwNLV9qdTT...@brightview.co.uk>,
> John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> writes:
>>
>> Its partly historical - the makers used to specify one side for skimming
>> and the other for decorating. These days they specify light side for
>> both. Many builders etc do not respond well to learning new tricks!
>
> Reminds me, before I could do my own plastering, I had boarded a ceiling
> and then got a plasterer in to skim it. Part way through, he said to me,
> "Next time, can you put the board on the other way up?".
> I asked him if he really wanted to plaster straight onto the foil, at
> which point he looked a bit sheepish, and carried on skimming.

expect he would also ask you for sparks for the angle grinder.... i.e.
tosser

Jim K


Peter G

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Feb 24, 2018, 6:44:06 PM2/24/18
to
replying to Tim W, Peter G wrote:
It begs the question why British plasterboard is tapered if the "nasty" habit
is European. Basically whether skimming or not (and my research shows this
seems to be a habit confined to UK) the joint is enhance by having a "valley"
created by the two tapered edged butting together. Fill the valley with tape
and jointing compound and you will not get cracking. Butt the non tapered
sides together and all you have to cover the Joint is the skim. Only
exceptional good luck will prevent a crack eventually appearing. Here skimming
is not done. Feather the jointing compound. sand it with a 240+grit paper (I
like 400) and the joint should be smooth enough to run a finger nail over it
without detecting it. Apply a sealer and an undercoat (or a combined product)
and you will never detect where the joint is, even before the topcoats. And I
am an accountant not a professional plasterer.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/plasterboard-the-wrong-way-around-723747-.htm


Peter G

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Feb 24, 2018, 11:44:06 PM2/24/18
to
replying to geraldthehamster, Peter G wrote:
You need to have tapered board to do a proper join. Any doubts just go to
www.british-gypsum.com and look at their instructions. fill the tapered valley
with jointing paper and compound. Let dry. Sand smooth if not skimming and
seal and undercoat. Skim if desired; but even they say skimming is an option
these days, not a necessity.

ARW

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Feb 25, 2018, 3:31:19 AM2/25/18
to
On 24/02/2018 23:44, Peter G wrote:
> replying to Tim W, Peter G wrote:
> It begs the question why British plasterboard is tapered if the "nasty"
> habit
> is European. Basically whether skimming or not (and my research shows this
> seems to be a habit confined to UK) the joint is enhance by having a
> "valley"
> created by the two tapered edged butting together. Fill the valley with
> tape
> and jointing compound and you will not get cracking. Butt the non tapered
> sides together and all you have to cover the Joint is the skim. Only
> exceptional good luck will prevent a crack eventually appearing. Here
> skimming
> is not done. Feather the jointing compound. sand it with a 240+grit
> paper (I
> like 400) and the joint should be smooth enough to run a finger nail
> over it
> without detecting it. Apply a sealer and an undercoat (or a combined
> product)
> and you will never detect where the joint is, even before the topcoats.



> And I
> am an accountant not a professional plasterer.
>

So you are good with numbers then?

Here is one your you.

In what year was the post that you replied to made?

--
Adam

Dave Plowman (News)

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Feb 25, 2018, 6:30:44 AM2/25/18
to
In article <7NmkC.221443$uB.2...@fx35.am4>,
Peter G <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote:
> Basically whether skimming or not (and my research shows this seems to
> be a habit confined to UK) the joint is enhance by having a "valley"
> created by the two tapered edged butting together. Fill the valley with
> tape and jointing compound and you will not get cracking. Butt the non
> tapered sides together and all you have to cover the Joint is the skim.

Have you ever tried to remove wallpaper from plasterboard which wasn't
skimmed?

--
*All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand *

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Andrew

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Feb 25, 2018, 10:00:25 AM2/25/18
to
On 25/02/2018 11:23, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <7NmkC.221443$uB.2...@fx35.am4>,
> Peter G <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote:
>> Basically whether skimming or not (and my research shows this seems to
>> be a habit confined to UK) the joint is enhance by having a "valley"
>> created by the two tapered edged butting together. Fill the valley with
>> tape and jointing compound and you will not get cracking. Butt the non
>> tapered sides together and all you have to cover the Joint is the skim.
>
> Have you ever tried to remove wallpaper from plasterboard which wasn't
> skimmed?
>

Not to mention the damage that everyday knocks and bumps does to
an unskimmed plasterboard wall from about 3 feet downwards.

Builders just like to tape'n'seal'n'paint because they don't
have to pay an expensive plasterer, and it can be done with
semi-skilled people (=cheap).
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