The difference between plasterboard and cement rendering.

Plasterboard and Cement Rendering – A Simple Run Down

Whether you are building your brand new home or renovating an existing property, residential or commercial, the topic of whether to choose between plasterboard and cement rendering for walls is a common dilemma.

So let’s break it down – what is plasterboard, otherwise known as gyprock?

Plasterboard is an internal wall and ceiling lining board, used in residential and commercial lightweight framed construction. Different types of plasterboard are designed to provide purpose-specific performance qualities for different rooms in your home. Some have multiple benefits and when configured in a wall or ceiling system along with bulk insulation and purpose-designed accessories, high levels of performance are achieved.

Plaster surfaces are by nature soft, and over time (due to bumps and structural movement) plaster will crack and present holes in both walls and ceilings. Holes from picture screws, gaps between cornice and walls, and accidental damage are perhaps the most common problems that a home owner will come across.

What is Cement Rendering or Wet Plastering?

Cement rendering is the application of a mixture of sand, cement and lime to brick, cement, stone or mud brick. It is often textured, coloured or painted after application. It can be applied to internal and external walls that are out of plum, but generally it is applied for more aesthetical reasons i.e. to modernise one’s home or doing a feature wall for a wow factor. Any interior wall which has no plasterboard should be cement rendered and a coat of hard plaster applied, known as white set for durability.

Cement rendering is more labour intensive and can be more expensive as skilled labour is required in the application.

The pros and cons for both plasterboard and cement rendering can be summarised below:

Cement Rendering:

Benefits:

· Hard, strong and durable surface
· Better resistance to any residual damp in walls
· Different textures and colours for aesthetics
· Higher fire rating
· Walls a smoother and straighter
· Waterproofing areas
· Better noise insulation

Disadvantages:

· Possibility of hair line cracks – depending on how the substrate is built
· Any damages to walls would need to be re-rendered, therefore harder to patch
· More difficult and more work involved in chasing walls for electrical wiring

Plasterboard:

Benefits:

· Easier to run wiring behind the walls
· Minimal cracks appear with the building movement
· Easier to fix cracks, damaged walls.
· There are now different types of plasterboards manufactured, with new technology for different purposes for walls.
· Quicker and cleaner to install.
· There are different thickness for different wall purposes.
· Can be cheaper than cement rendering due to labour and process component.
· Plasterboard applied to timber frames would be cheaper than cement rendering.

Disadvantages:

· Mould may form behind plasterboard – therefore not only would you have to eliminate the mould, you will need to replace the plasterboard.
· Easy access for termites to travel to first floor timber flooring.
· Not being advised on the correct plasterboard or thickness to suit particular areas.
· Apply plasterboard to uneven brick work can be problematic – when the house heats up the plasterboard can sweat and delaminate.