7 Things to consider for a Quality Finish
01. Ensure timber framing is dry (less than 18% moisture
content) and straight before fixing GIB® plasterboard. This
will help prevent shrinkage, cracks, fastener popping or
other problems in the future.
02. The use of GIB® Rondo® metal ceiling battens is
recommended on all ceilings as they hold no moisture,
so will not shrink, bend, twist or warp. Metal battens help
achieve and maintain a straight and true ceiling.
03. It’s recommended that thicker, stronger 13mm GIB®
plasterboard is used on all ceilings for extra rigidity and to
help fight the effects of gravity and structural movement.
04. Fixing GIB® plasterboard sheets horizontally instead of
vertically on walls reduces the number of joints, helping to
achieve a more uniform appearance
05. Choosing the right decorative finish is important, e.g. certain paint types and colours reflect light and tend to accentuate even the smallest surface imperfection. Light colours and flat or matte paints soften the effects of any surface irregularities.
06. Incorporating recessed downlights or light shades combined with soft diffuse bulbs will help to channel light downwards and reduce the amount of glancing or critical light.
07. Avoid positioning narrow windows hard against the end of a wall or ceiling, particularly on long walls or ceilings at the end of a room or hallway. Making a window wider and placing it away from the room corner should reduce the critical lighting effect.
Framing dimensions and structure performance must comply with the requirements of NZS 3604:2011.
No matter how smooth wall and ceiling linings may appear, they’ll never be 100% physically flat and blemish free. This applies to any interior surface comprising jointed sheet type materials including fibrous plaster, plywood, MDF, plasterboard and even glass.
The GIB® technical literature ‘Interior Finishing – the fundamentals of a quality finish’ contains information to help you achieve a quality finish.
