New plasterboard - scrim tape and fill joints or skim as well?

D13exile · 17-12-2018 12:28PM #1

I'm refurbishing my attic conversion and putting in new kingspan rigid insulation with insulated plasterboard over (as I don't want to be the only house in the estate with no snow on the roof again due to the heat escaping through my roof!!!).

However I'm in two minds what to do about finishing the plasterboard off prior to painting. Will filling in the joints be sufficient or should it be skimmed too? The first option is obviously quickest and least time consuming and messy. Would I regret not skimming it too?

Would do you think?

listermint · 17-12-2018 06:25PM

I think if heat was escaping from the roof you'd be the only house with no snow on the roof.,........

D13exile · 17-12-2018 06:27PM

listermint wrote: »

I think if heat was escaping from the roof you'd be the only house with no snow on the roof.,........

That's what I said clever boy:rolleyes:

Now if you've nothing constructive to contribute, move along........

vicwatson · 17-12-2018 06:30PM

D13exile wrote: »

That's what I said clever boy:rolleyes:

Now if you've nothing constructive to contribute, move along........

That attitude will take you far.

I would skim coat it fwiw.

JustJoe7240 · 17-12-2018 06:32PM

D13exile wrote: »

That's what I said clever boy:rolleyes:

Now if you've nothing constructive to contribute, move along........

No need to be a knob about it, They may have just misread the OP.

Tape and Filler is a botch job!

listermint · 17-12-2018 06:44PM

D13exile wrote: »

That's what I said clever boy:rolleyes:

Now if you've nothing constructive to contribute, move along........

I misread the post.

And your thoughts on not skimming are amateur hour.

DublinDilbert · 17-12-2018 07:37PM

you'll need to get a plaster so skim it as you'll need to use washers when fixing the boards to the rafters, so these would normally be slightly above the surface. I would go for 50mm between the rafters and 50mm insulated board.

D13exile · 18-12-2018 09:14AM

Jeez, I ask a simple question, some smart alec misreads my post (or can't read plain English), tries to be funny and when I call him out on it, I'm the one with the attitude? For Christ's sake:rolleyes:.

dathi · 18-12-2018 10:48AM

D13exile wrote: »

I'm refurbishing my attic conversion and putting in new kingspan rigid insulation with insulated plasterboard over (as I don't want to be the only house in the estate with no snow on the roof again due to the heat escaping through my roof!!!).

However I'm in two minds what to do about finishing the plasterboard off prior to painting. Will filling in the joints be sufficient or should it be skimmed too? The first option is obviously quickest and least time consuming and messy. Would I regret not skimming it too?

Would do you think?

dont forget airtight membrane

vicwatson · 18-12-2018 06:45PM

D13exile wrote: »

Jeez, I ask a simple question, some smart alec misreads my post (or can't read plain English), tries to be funny and when I call him out on it, I'm the one with the attitude? For Christ's sake:rolleyes:.

You’re still doing it

kerryjack · 18-12-2018 07:27PM

I done a snall job here used no more nails and a gun and stuck the board on taped the joints and filed them in and painted boards turned out all right no body up in attic only ourselves so not a problem. Not great at the ould skimming myself,

mfceiling · 18-12-2018 11:09PM

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

Tape and Filler is a botch job!

It's not if it's done properly. Most sites in dublin are all taped and jointed...skimming is becoming a thing of the past.

hesker · 19-12-2018 11:53AM

mfceiling wrote: »

It's not if it's done properly. Most sites in dublin are all taped and jointed...skimming is becoming a thing of the past.

So no plaster is applied to most of the plasterboard. Is that what you mean. They must be very good at feathering out the plaster from the joins.

What do they do at external corners where you would fit a metal bead. Do they also plaster over these and feather back to the bare board.

hesker · 19-12-2018 12:02PM

mfceiling wrote: »

It's not if it's done properly. Most sites in dublin are all taped and jointed...skimming is becoming a thing of the past.

So no plaster is applied to most of the plasterboard. Is that what you mean. They must be very good at feathering out the plaster from the joins.

What do they do at external corners where you would fit a metal bead. Do they also plaster over these and feather back to the bare board.

listermint · 19-12-2018 12:19PM

mfceiling wrote: »

It's not if it's done properly. Most sites in dublin are all taped and jointed...skimming is becoming a thing of the past.

What sites a skimmed and jointed? I have never seen a site / refurbishment and rebuild done by professionals that was just taped and jointed.

How widespread is this practice because if it was then i think id have seen it.

kerryjack · 19-12-2018 02:23PM

I think that this is DIY forum the OP wants to do this himself and asked what would it be like, filling in a few joints and screw heads and paint over it, ir might well be a cheap job and a good job, and if its not he can get in some lad to skim it after no big deal.

listermint · 19-12-2018 02:25PM

kerryjack wrote: »

I think that this is DIY forum the OP wants to do this himself and asked what would it be like, filling in a few joints and screw heads and paint over it, ir might well be a cheap job and a good job, and if its not he can get in some lad to skim it after no big deal.

Im fully aware its a DIY forum, The OP wanted it to look alright as far as i can tell. It wont look alright with this approach and anyone that walks into the room will see it clear as day.

If you want it to look 'right' it will have to be skimmed. If you want it to look like a workshop or shed then do it this way.

Choice is his.

kerryjack · 19-12-2018 02:39PM

listermint wrote: »

kerryjack wrote: »

I think that this is DIY forum the OP wants to do this himself and asked what would it be like, filling in a few joints and screw heads and paint over it, ir might well be a cheap job and a good job, and if its not he can get in some lad to skim it after no big deal.

Im fully aware its a DIY forum, The OP wanted it to look alright as far as i can tell. It wont look alright with this approach and anyone that walks into the room will see it clear as day.

If you want it to look 'right' it will have to be skimmed. If you want it to look like a workshop or shed then do it this way.

Choice is his.

I disagree with you it can be made nice with out skim with a small bit know how.

GreeBo · 19-12-2018 02:42PM

listermint wrote: »

What sites a skimmed and jointed? I have never seen a site / refurbishment and rebuild done by professionals that was just taped and jointed.

How widespread is this practice because if it was then i think id have seen it.

Most of the US & Canada don't skim the boards so I think you are way off saying its amateur hour. (also, DIY typically means amateurs....)

The Mulk · 19-12-2018 03:02PM

Most new builds I had worked on in Dublin, mainly one off builds, were specced by the architects to be taped and jointed.

I've re-slabbed my whole house to upgrade the insulation.(50mm board everywhere)
I got the kitchen and playroom skimmed,as i had a pitched roof and new doors, installed so needed it all tied in.(I had to pay a plasterer for this)

I taped and jointed the bedrooms and front room and there is no noticeable difference. Corner tape for the corners and reveals. It took time but saved a fortune. It's a dusty job and you need to make sure you use the correct products. A decent orbital sander with vacuum connector will help a lot.
There's plenty of videos on Youtube and you'll be surprised.
I also found you need to spend money on a primer for the plaster board https://www.gyproc.ie/products-systems/products/gyproc-drywall-primer, rather than doing a mist coat as you would on fresh plaster.
I also put coving up as it saved me trying to tie the walls into the ceiling.
(The ceiling was skimmed in the 70's and left as is).

hesker · 19-12-2018 03:03PM

hesker wrote: »

So no plaster is applied to most of the plasterboard. Is that what you mean. They must be very good at feathering out the plaster from the joins.

What do they do at external corners where you would fit a metal bead. Do they also plaster over these and feather back to the bare board.

I don’t really care what the op chooses to do. That’s down to their preference.

I’m just interested to know if a skilled plasterer can achieve a top class finish with this approach. And I’ve seen what a good plasterer can do and been impressed.

The Mulk · 19-12-2018 03:08PM

hesker wrote: »

I don’t really care what the op chooses to do. That’s down to their preference.

I’m just interested to know if a skilled plasterer can achieve a top class finish with this approach. And I’ve seen what a good plasterer can do and been impressed.

It's a different skill to plastering, it's not something that people traditionally train in, in Ireland.

They use scrim tape and joint filler on the joints and sand it back.
Corner tape than for all angles, fill and sand.
I generally don't notice when it's painted unless it's pointed out.

listermint · 19-12-2018 03:35PM

GreeBo wrote: »

Most of the US & Canada don't skim the boards so I think you are way off saying its amateur hour. (also, DIY typically means amateurs....)

no they use a slight skim of paint to complete the final finish on it. rather than traditional skim that we would use, and they machine finish the joints with all sorts of automated devices.

listermint · 19-12-2018 03:36PM

kerryjack wrote: »

I disagree with you it can be made nice with out skim with a small bit know how.

you will not get the same finish, its just not possible. Any light hits the paintwork and you will see the joints.

kerryjack · 19-12-2018 03:40PM

Who cares

listermint · 19-12-2018 03:41PM

kerryjack wrote: »

Who cares

Erm.... Anyone that wants a flat wall finish.....

:rolleyes:

SemperFidelis · 19-12-2018 03:56PM

try taping the joints and if you don't like the finish get someone in to skim.

I found this guys videos on youtube very informative

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YII-NjA5dMQ

TheBoyConor · 19-12-2018 04:05PM

Taping a jointing is a half arse job that is fit for celtic tiger hotels and crappy slap-up apartments.

If you want a proper finish that has some kind of robustness then you should skim. But skimming is not a DIY job. Skim plastering is something that takes a lot of time and practice to perfect. You can spot a DIY skim job a mile off as they are always a dogs dinner of a job.

If you want a mediocre finish that will be vulnerable to any sort of scuffing or impact then tape and fill.

If you want a proper long lasting finish then skim it and get a plasterer to do it.
The only thing is if you are getting a plasterer make sure your joints and alignment and flushness of slab edges is nothing less than 100% perfect because if anything goes wrong the plasterer will blame whoever put up the slabs. Trust me, plasterers love complaining and blaming other trades for things not turning out right.

The Mulk · 19-12-2018 04:30PM

listermint wrote: »

you will not get the same finish, its just not possible. Any light hits the paintwork and you will see the joints.

I disagree, if it's done by a professional tape and jointer using the correct tools and products it will appear identical. It's a method used worldwide.

For a DIYer it will take time and effort to get a decent finish.

Although paying someone to plaster will be quicker and less hassle. I'd never attempt plastering myself.

GreeBo · 19-12-2018 08:24PM

listermint wrote: »

no they use a slight skim of paint to complete the final finish on it. rather than traditional skim that we would use, and they machine finish the joints with all sorts of automated devices.

A skim of psint?

I think most people paint their walls.

The devices are relatively new, they have been taping joints only for decades.

glaswegian · 19-12-2018 08:44PM

I'd definitely go for tape and joint in an attic,who's going to see it if it doesn't turn out as expected? as previous posters have said watch a few youtube tutorials and you'll soon pick up how to go about it.just give yourself a bit of extra time to achieve the finish you want,and once its painted you won't know the difference. don't worry about light showing up the joints,shine a light horizontally on most plastered walls and you'll see plenty of humps and bumps.
Remember,its in the attic no ones going to complain.

New plasterboard - scrim tape and fill joints or skim as well?

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