PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE

Plasterboard adhesive also referred to as ‘bonding compound’ is a high bond strength product designed to secure drywall board to the wall, insulation boards (Kingspan K118), shower and bathroom boards. It can be applied by 'dot and dab' method and will stick easily to any type of brickwork or blockwork. Each bag is estimated to cover approximately 4.6m² of board and have 90 minute working time. Some experienced builders say that it has stronger bonds than screws. By gluing plasterboard to the wall, the whole job can be streamlined and made much easier. Plasterboard adhesives are also used to connect plasterboards together and avoid cracks appearing during the plastering process. Dry wall adhesive has a limited shelf life, which will be indicated on the packaging but can be as little as 4 months. For more information on how to 'dot and dab' plasterboard click here. Plasterboard adhesives can be used on both walls and ceilings, though holding the plasterboard in place for a ceiling may be difficult to do on your own. Drywall adhesive goes by many names and is well known from UK Google search engines as Wickes or Selco plasterboard adhesive. However, it can be quickly easily located near your postcode by driving down to the nearest B&Q or Screwfix store. 

TYPES OF PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE ǀ MANUFACTURERS

Generally speaking drywall adhesive comes in 2 forms: powder dry mix adhesive (25kg bag) and foam adhesive (can 750ml). Both dry wall adhesive and fixing foam have comparable application processes, except dry wall adhesive is dabbed on the wall and fixing foam is sprayed onto the plasterboard panels. Fixing foam requires less preparation and is still a strong adhesive. In terms of adhesive itself you have an option of 5 brands: British Gypsum, Knauf, Siniat, Speedline and Atlas.

POWDER DRY MIX PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE

Powder dry mix plasterboard adhesive is produced on the basis of natural gypsum binders obtained by roasting gypsum stone and mineral fillers. It contains modifying additives, thanks to which the mortar obtained after mixing with water is plastic and very easy to work with. Mixed with clean water is used as a bonding agent to line bricks, blocks, concrete or sand and cement rendered walls with plasterboards, providing a smooth crack-free surface with a small cavity allowing for electrical cables and small pipes. This type of adhesive is relatively inexpensive, with a 25kg bag costing just under £20.

POWDER DRY MIX PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE INSTALLATION

‘Dot and dab’ applications involve dabbing dots of plasterboard adhesive directly onto the wall and then pushing the plasterboard sheet to the adhesive and allowing it to set. "Dot and dab" technique is a much easier process than having to attach battens to the wall. In most of the cases with battens method you have to pack out every single band to ensure that each band is not only plumb but also lined up down the wall before you screw the plasterboard to the wall. Whereas when you use ‘Dot and Dab’ adhesive bonding you can make up those irregularities in the wall with the different thicknesses of the adhesive dab itself. It is mixed with water in a bucket and should be mixed to a creamy consistent mixture. If the mixture is in any way runny, add some more adhesive powder until the correct consistency is achieved. Once you are satisfied with the consistency of your mixture, start applying it to your wall in medium sized amounts of mixture (dabs), every 12 inches or so, regularly spaced out. A solid line of adhesive must be applied just below the ceiling, to comply with fire safety building regulations. It is also recommended to make a continuous line of adhesive around the border of each plasterboard panel, to protect against insect infestation and help secure the boards. 

POWDER DRY MIX PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE PRODUCTS

Apply a bonding agent to the back of the board if required. By doing so you assist the board with extra bonding strength. You may find this irritating because you would have thought if they design a board that is suitable for adhesive bonding you wouldn’t have to apply additional bonding agents. However you have to apply this in 150mm bands around perimeter and down the middle of the plasterboard to coincide where your decent dabs was where going to be on the wall.

PRODUCTS

• Knauf Plasterboard Adhesive
• British Gypsum Gyproc Dri-wall Plasterboard Adhesive
• Siniat Gtec Universal Bonding Compound
• Speedline Extra Smooth Drywall Adhesive
• Atlas Bonder

PLASTERBOARD FOAM ADHESIVE

Fixing foam is a fast curing adhesive foam that can be applied directly from the container without mixing. It comes in a canister with a trigger control. It is comparable to a grab adhesive but made specifically for plasterboard. It is usable for up to six weeks once opened. A single canister of fixing foam will cost between £10 and £13 and will cover around 12 m2. This fast curing, self-expanding polyurethane adhesive is efficient not only for permanent bonding of plasterboards but insulation panels such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded XPS, polyurethane (PUR/PIR) and Kingspan phenolic boards. PU Adhesive Foam can be also applied on surfaces such as concrete, mineral wool, OSB, SIP panels, masonry, skirting board, plaster, wood, dry lining, rockwool, bricks, metal, aluminium, stone, ceramics, MDF, polystyrene, steel, lead, zinc, laminate, cork, chipboard, timber and bitumen. It is easy to use and can be operated with just one hand. As a guide, one can of expanding foam will cover between 12m² - 14m² of insulation. Adhesive is supplied in 750ml cans and is available in gun grade or hand held nozzle models. While one can of 'gun grade' covers up to 14m² of insulation, on the other hand a can of 'hand held' covers up to 12m². The most economical method of application is by using a professional foam gun. The expanding foam gun is a tool which increases the accuracy of the application and cuts down on unwanted and unnecessary wastage. Expanding foam adhesive should be applied at temperatures between -5°C and +35°C. Being resistant to a variety of solvents, water, resistant paints and chemicals is a great alternative to conventional PU roof adhesives or bonding mortars. One of the most important advantages of it is the fact that low pressure formulas do not bow or bend plasterboards.

PLASTERBOARD FOAM ADHESIVE INSTALLATION

Fixing foam is applied directly to the back of the plasterboard panels, spraying around the borders and sparingly across the centre. It is then left for a time that should be specified on the canister you are using. The wall you are attaching your plasterboard to will need to be dampened in advance. To attach, the boards will need to be held against the wall in their correct positions until the foam has set, which should take a few minutes. Fixing foam saves time on mixing, is a little more expensive (£2-3) and has a similarly complex application to that of dry wall adhesive. Both of these methods will also work for insulated or waterproof plasterboard.

WHERE I CAN USE ‘DOT AND DAB’ TECHNIQUE?

‘Dot and Dab’ is not suitable for use on such walls where there is a risk of moisture penetration or on timber or steel frame construction. This method is only suitable for use on brick blocks or concrete cavities or rendered solid walls which are dry, stable and most importantly free from moisture penetration. Where you don't have cavities in your wall you shouldn't adhesively bond because of the risk of moisture penetration from outside. In this particular situation you should always mechanically fix wooden battens and screw the plasterboard to battens.

HOW TO APPLY PLASTERBOARD ADHESIVE?

You want to apply dabs between 10 and 20mm thick. Allow a 50mm gap between the underside of the board and the floor. You have to allow this gap on the floor because you don't want damp getting in from the floor into the underside of the plasterboard. Apply the plaster to the wall in vertical and horizontal lines across the top, bottom and sides, and then down the center. It is recommended 3 vertical rows of adhesive, a minimum of 22% of plasterboard area. Each piece of dab should be 50mm to 75mm wide at 250mm long. Don't bridge the board joints with adhesive. Even though this is adhesive, you meant to apply a mechanical fixing after the adhesive has set to the plasterboard. 6 screws per sheet is recommended. This is to help secure the board. Being all metal it can be hammer straight into the wall. Where you got substrata like concrete block you need to use a 5mm pilot hole then use the neat attachment for your sds drill bit.

FINAL ADJUSTMENTS

You need to mark the position of each board on the wall. That way you will easily know where to stop with your adhesive. It is a good idea when you are laying boards in position before you apply an adhesive, to draw guidelines on the floor and ceiling. That way you can simply press the board into position up to your guidelines. You will need to cut your plasterboard to the correct size before you begin applying adhesive. When applying adhesive all around the openings of the services such as electrics it is recommended to seal those areas around with adhesive at that point. To attach it, press it onto the surface of the wall that has the pre-applied adhesive and remain in place until it is attached to the wall. You can use a level tool to tap the surface of the board and make sure it is secured to the plaster dots. If you’re worried about your plasterboard being properly straight and level, a featherhead tool can be used to smooth the surface and make sure the plasterboard is firmly fixed. Manhandle sheet until it's flush with the lines that are marked on the floor. Check with spirit level. Make sure there are no gaps between the feather edge and the plasterboard. If the skirting board will be placed after the process, ensure there is a solid line of the plaster where this will be fixed.

WHAT WILL I NEED FOR DOT & DAB METHOD?

To complete a successful and professional ‘dot and dab’ you will need the following tools.

• bucket
• bucket trowel
• rasp planer
• plastering hawk
• plastering trowel  
• universal saw

Video credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNLz2n3hPw4