Dot-and-dab or metal stud? Choosing a drylining method

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Drylining team

Short answer: Dot-and-dab bonds plasterboard directly to masonry with adhesive dabs, so it is the quickest and cheapest option for sound, reasonably flat brick or block walls and loses only about 25 mm of room. Metal stud uses a lightweight steel frame, costs more and takes more space, but suits uneven walls, new partitions, running services and adding thicker insulation.

Side-by-side comparison

	Dot-and-dab	Metal stud
Typical cost (per m²)	£25 to £45	£45 to £80
Space lost	About 25 mm	Usually 60 mm or more
Uneven walls	Copes with small variations	Copes with large variations
New partitions	No	Yes
Room for services and insulation	Very little	Yes
Heavy fixings	Need specialist fixings	Need noggins or pattresses

When dot-and-dab is right

The wall is sound, dry brick or block
The wall is reasonably straight
You want the quickest, lowest-cost finish
Room space is tight

When metal stud is right

You are building a new wall or dividing a room
The existing wall is badly out of line
You need to hide pipes and cables
You want thicker insulation or better sound reduction

Good practice with dot-and-dab

Run a continuous line of adhesive around the edges of each board and around openings and sockets. This helps reduce air leakage behind the board, which affects both heat loss and sound.