Help! Gyprocking 6.5m high walls

**Paul B** · 23rd May 2007, 10:52 AM

Hi,

We made a deal with our builder that he'd get our latest extension to lock-up stage and I'd look after the interior fitout. We did it with the rear extension a couple of years ago and it all worked out perfectly - I did the gyprock, I've got a mate who's a sparky, brother-inlaw who's a plumber, and my father -inlaw is a house painter. So we saved heaps

Now I'm working on the front extension and I've got to gyprock the vaulted entry/foyer. The walls are 6.5m high by about 7.5m long.

At the moment, the builder is going on about that much gyprock sagging under its own weight, and that it has to be done a certain way - he said something about an expansion joint halfway up the wall, which would in my opinion look pretty crap.

So what's the deal? I'm thinking of doing the lower half of each wall first, then do the top half a week or two later when the stud adhesive on the bottom has gone off properly. So I can't see a problem with sagging. Am I missing something? How do the pro's handle this?

The only real problem I can see is keeping the whole wall flat, I'm not sure how many bumps and hollows the chippies created when they did the framing. I guess that'll be where the strategically placed pictures come in.

**bitingmidge** · 23rd May 2007, 11:03 AM

If there's a join in the wall framing at the mid floor level, assuming you don't like looking at cracks, you'll need a joint.

The floor frame/wall junction will move, even if you have used completely stable timber, so it's best to allow for that at the beginning.

It's not a big deal, in the old days we used to just continue the upper level skirting right round the joint. These days, the standard expansion joint mouldings will give you a shadow line of a few mm width. Visually this is not at all intrusive, and miles better than a crack.

As for the gyprock recommendations, I'm sure Rod will be round soon, but in the meantime, a quick read of the installation manual wouldn't hurt.

Cheers,

P

**rod@plasterbrok** · 24th May 2007, 01:05 AM

Bitingmidge is right about the movement and the need for and expansion joint.

Many builders still run the skirting around the joint. But a part no p30 is an expansion joint plasterers would use if requested. It is like 2 external angles (actually p25 stopping angles), joined together with a foam strip. This is to allow movement without the sheets popping off the wall or cracks appearing.

I have used these in my own house, intalled and filled our correctly they don't look too bad. They have a black rubber insert that fits in between. If you leave this out untill the wall is painted, it will just appear like a black line running around the area.

I think they look terrible painted out as it looks like you are trying to hide it.

I just took some photos of the expansion joint in my place. And a photo of the actual angle used.

As soon as I can figure out how to post them I will.

Cheers

**rod@plasterbrok** · 24th May 2007, 01:12 AM

Here they are:

I seem to muck up the photo upload every time. Hmm short of getting up on a ladder these photos do not do them justice. Looking at them the line is jet black, but they don't appear so fromthe photo. It must be the reflection of the flash. Maybe if I get time tomorrow I will take some better photo's.

Cheers

**bitingmidge** · 24th May 2007, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by rod@plasterbrok

I think they look terrible painted out as it looks like you are trying to hide it.

I always paint them out, don't like the "raw" look! They just don't register on one's conscience.

Just goes to show there's no accounting for taste!

Cheers.

P

**Paul B** · 24th May 2007, 10:04 AM

Ok, what I should have said is that one wall - the one I'm starting this weekend (in peparation for the stairs to go in next week) , doesn't have a joint in the wall frame at the mid floor level. It's just continuos 6.5m studs all the way up. I don't understand why an expansion joint will be required here, as it's all just one big, well braced, frame. The only difference I can see between this and a similar sized ceiling is that this is verticle.

The other wall consists of the lower floor wall frame, then I beams, then the upper floor stud wall. I can see where there will be some movement there, with two seperate frames one atop the other with I beams and flooring between them. I've already factored that one in, there'll be movement there for sure. So that one needs an expansion joint.

Wish my camera hadn't crapped itself, it'd be easier to explain with a few pics.

**bitingmidge** · 24th May 2007, 12:10 PM

Paul,

if you have one wall with no joint, and an adjoining wall with one at floor level, you need to think through what will happen when things move.

The join at floor level will take up movement and it has to go somewhere in the corner. You will either have to isolate the corner, or carry the joint through horizontally.

Unless the wall is completely isolated from places where movement will occur, you can expect problems.

I'm not familiar enough with the manual to say whether wall sheet is designed to go that far vertically without a joint.

Cheers,

P

**rod@plasterbrok** · 24th May 2007, 01:01 PM

We have built many walls over 7m high in factories, cinemas and the like without using expansion joints without trouble. But where you have two walls with a posi strut between in a domestic construction you do need and expansion joint.

My view would be regardless or not if the contiuous framed wall requires it or not. I would continue the expasion joint around the entire area. if it was on just one wall it would look strage.

cheers.

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