Drylining Across the UK

Traditional plastering applies wet plaster directly to the wall, which takes time to dry and needs a skilled finish. Drylining fixes plasterboard to the wall or to a frame, then finishes the joints or skims the surface. Drylining is quicker, introduces much less moisture into the building, and can usually be decorated within a few days.

Dot-and-dab is quicker and cheaper and suits sound, reasonably flat brick or block walls. Metal stud is better for building new partitions, for walls that are badly out of line, when you need to run services or add thick insulation behind the board, or where damp or contamination on the original wall means the board should not be bonded to it.

Not without fixing the cause first. Bonding plasterboard to a damp wall can trap moisture, leading to mould and failed adhesive. The source of the damp should be found and treated, and in some cases a framed system with a ventilated gap or a membrane is used.

A simple non-structural partition in an existing house often does not, but it can if it affects fire escape routes, ventilation or natural light, or forms part of a loft conversion, extension or conversion to flats. Sound insulation rules apply to new homes and conversions. If in doubt, check with your local building control before work starts.

It can, if insulated plasterboard or insulation within a stud frame is used. This is a common way to improve cold solid walls in older homes. Care is needed with vapour control and around windows to avoid condensation, and in England upgrading a large area of an external wall can trigger thermal requirements under the Building Regulations.

Yes. Acoustic plasterboard, resilient bars or independent stud walls with mineral wool can reduce noise through walls and ceilings considerably. The biggest gains come from adding mass, separating the new wall from the old one, and sealing gaps and sockets.

Either works. Tape and joint is quicker and cheaper and gives a decoration-ready surface when done well. A full skim gives a harder, more uniform finish and is often preferred in homes and where walls will be seen in raking light.

Taped and jointed boards can usually be decorated within a day or two once the filler is dry. Skimmed walls need a few days to a week to dry, depending on ventilation and the weather, then a mist coat before normal emulsion.