Gypsum board fitting: partitions, ceilings, niches — how to order
What is usually made from gypsum board
Gypsum board on a metal frame means partitions, false and multi-level ceilings, boxing for pipes and cables, niches, arches and wall lining. Each is priced differently, so in your request say not only “I need gypsum board” but what exactly will be made from it.
The type of board matters too: ordinary board suits dry rooms, moisture-resistant board (usually greenish) is for the bathroom and kitchen, and fire-resistant board is for particular rooms where it is required.
What to put in your request
- What to fit — a partition, a ceiling, boxing, a niche, an arch.
- Area in square feet, or the dimensions: length and height.
- Construction — single or double layer, with sound insulation, with a door opening.
- Finish — fitting only, jointing the seams, or ready for painting or wallpaper.
- Materials — the frame and boards yours or the contractor's.
- Site — new build, old flat, ceiling height.
- Address, timing, budget.
Example: “Wellington, a flat in a new building. I need a partition with a door opening, about 130 sq ft, in two layers with rock wool for sound insulation, ready for painting. The frame and boards are mine. To be done within a week. Budget up to $320.”
How to compare offers
There is a big difference between “just fit it” and “prepare it for painting”. For painting you need the seams filled with reinforcing tape, putty over the whole area and sanding. Often a lower price in an offer means only the fitting, with the finish charged separately.
- What thickness of board and frame is used and the spacing of the studs (stiffness depends on it).
- Whether rock wool, sealing tape and fixings are included.
- Whether the price is per sq ft of finished surface or per board.
- Who carries out the debris and cleans up.
For a ceiling, ask specifically about the room height: every level of the frame takes a few centimetres, which is noticeable in low rooms. If you need lighting or a recess for a curtain track, say so in advance, because extra elements are built into the frame.
How a request works on BlaBlaPrice
You write your request on the home page, it is checked, and you are told what is missing. Drywall fitters reply in chat with prices and timelines. Each one can see where his offer stands and can improve the terms, so a good price is not unusual. Contacts stay hidden until you choose. All about the process is on the page How it works.
Common mistakes
People often save on the frame: a thin profile is used, and the partition then “hums” or cracks at the joints. Another mistake is forgetting that the partition needs embedded supports for doors, shelves or a TV: after the putty it is harder to do. Electrical wiring must be run before the frame is closed, so agree the order of work in advance.
For wiring in partitions see electrical installation, and after fitting finishing work.
