Gyprock ceilings are some of the most popular interior finishes on the market. A quality ceiling can help you achieve a sleek and modern aesthetic, and the best part is that plasterboard is an incredibly affordable material.
Paired with the right types of cornice and decorative finishes, Gyprock ceilings can transform your residential or commercial space into a masterpiece.
If you’re ready to tackle a bigger DIY project then we’re going to go over how to install a Gyprock ceiling and achieve that professional level of finish.
The Materials You Need
Installing Gyprock ceilings is a relatively straightforward process. If you’re tackling the work yourself, it can be done using DIY-friendly hand tools. For large jobs we recommend investing in professional equipment. Professional tools make the job much easier and can save you hours of labour.
To install a Gyprock ceiling you will need:
- Gloves and eye protection
- Utility knife
- Plasterboard saw
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Drill and plasterboard screws
- Stud adhesive
- Plasterboard panel lifter
- Plaster filler and sandpaper
We strongly recommend hiring a plasterboard panel lift from a hardware store. These devices are designed to raise panels to ceiling height and hold them flat against the roof while you hang the sheet. You can lift and position plasterboard sheets without the use of a lift, but it’s a two-man job, and a lift is the best way to protect yourself from injury.
How to Install a Gyprock Ceiling
The large size of plasterboard sheets means installing a ceiling is typically a job that’s better left to the professionals. If you’re handy and have a few friends that are willing to help out, it’s possible to install Gyprock ceilings on your own by following these steps:
- Prepare the frame. The first thing you need to do is check the ceiling framing. Make sure battens are placed at 600mm maximum centres. Use a level to verify that each stud or batten is relatively straight, and use packers to align any boards that are uneven. Finally, check each stud for things like protruding nails or large splinters that will interfere with installing the plasterboard.
- Measure your ceiling. Before cutting any plasterboards, it’s a good idea to get out your tape and measure the room. This will help you plan the way you’re going to work. Your first panel should be installed in the corner of the room that’s furthest from the entrance. This will allow you to use full sheets for the most visible parts of the ceiling and minimise the number of seams between panels.
- Mark and cut the plasterboard to size. Once you know where you’re going to start, it’s time to measure, mark and cut your first sheet of plasterboard to size. When cutting sheets it’s important to work one sheet at a time. Most rooms aren’t perfectly square, so you will need to make small adjustments as you work.
- Apply stud adhesive. Plasterboard is installed using a mix of screws and adhesive. Blobs of stud adhesive should be applied at regular intervals along each joist. Don’t apply stud adhesive too close to the edge of plasterboard panels. The adhesive tends to shrink, and this can cause the edges of the plaster to lift. Work in sections when applying stud adhesive. You only need to apply adhesive to the area that’s going to be covered by the next panel you install.
- Hang the plasterboard. Using the plaster lift, raise the panel to the ceiling and position it in place. Screw the panel into the battens at each corner and at several points along each joist. Make sure screws are driven into the plasterboard so that the heads sit flush with the surface. Repeat this process until the installation is complete.
- Tape and fill the gaps then sand them in preparation for painting. Once all the Gyprock is in place you can use plasterboard filler and paper tape on all the joints, fill the gaps and cover screw holes. When the filler is dry it can be sanded back to create a smooth surface that’s ready for paint.
- Install the cornice. Finally, it’s time to install your cornice or ceiling trim. Cornices conceal the joint between the wall and the ceiling and can hide any little mistakes you might have made during the installation.
Contact Sydney Metro Plastering and Let the Professionals Handle Your Installation!
Installing plasterboard isn’t always a DIY-friendly job, especially if you’re up a ladder and working overhead. If you’d rather save yourself the hard work then get in touch with the team at Sydney Metro Plastering!
Sydney Metro Plastering provides professional Gyprock installation all over Sydney. Our gyprocker installation team works on all types of residential and commercial projects, so we have the skills, tools and experience to tackle any job you have in mind.
Whether it’s a small repair, a soundproof ceiling or a complete plasterboard installation for your commercial fit-out, we’re happy to help.
You can contact us online at any time, or phone us on 0424 823 712 for a quote.