Drywalling after adding steel beams and posts.

[tonygreen1966]

Hi,

I am doing a loft conversion and the structural engineer has specified steel beams running just below my existing ceiling. I plan on covering these beams with plasterboard and skimming. Can anyone tell me the correct way to attach the plasterboard to the the steel beams as I'm worried about the steel expanding and cracking at joints etc. Can I glue the plasterboard directly to the beams or will I need to glue on wooden battens first and screw plasterboard to battens? If battens are required what is the min thickness as I do not want to lose too much headroom. Can anyone recommend a good adhesive? All advice and pointers appreciated.

Thanks

Tony

 

[jbonding]

wedge pieces of timber inside the steel (wooden soldiers) say the beam is ten inches deep, screw plasterboard strips to both sides of the beam (cheeks), but cut them twelve inches wide so you have two inch over hang and then screw two by two to the overhang screwing through the sides. This will give you something to screw to when you fix the board to the bottom of the beam (soffet). Because its a steel beam BC will probably want two layers of board usually firelined board with both layers staggered so all the joints overlap, they may even want you to tape and fill the joints on the first skin.

 

[tonygreen1966]

Thanks Jbonding - much appreciated.