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How to plasterboard a stud wall

A Bunnings team member placing a half-height sheet of plasterboard against a wall

Overview

Plastering is a basic building skill. You can save time and money by doing it yourself. We will show you how to properly hang plasterboard on a wall. You'll also learn how to quickly cut trim plaster to size and see the best way to use stud adhesive.

Steps

1Measure the wall and trim the plasterboard to size

Measure the dimensions of your wall and mark the cutting line on your plasterboard. Then use a trimming knife to score your sheet along the line and fold the scored section back. Finish the trim by cutting through the cardboard on the other side of the fold. Keep your offcuts to chock up your bottom sheet before you nail it on the wall.
Plasterboard being measured and trimmed to size with a tape measure and boxcutter

2A trick plasterers use to get a better looking finish

To get a better-looking wall finish, some plasterers use a half-height sheet as their bottom sheet. They then lay a full sheet on top as a second row. This keeps the joins between sheets of plasterboard below and above the normal line of sight.
A Bunnings team member placing a half-height sheet of plasterboard against a wall

3Put stud adhesive on the wall studs

Use your paint scraper to daub two or three blobs of stud adhesive on every wall stud you are about to put a sheet on. Avoid the end studs, because the adhesive can shrink and make the end nails rise up. To keep your adhesive fresh, only apply enough for the sheet you are currently working on.
Stud adhesive being applied to wall studs by a Bunnings team member

4Hang the plasterboard on the wall

Place the bottom sheet up against the wall, sitting on the offcut chocks so it is slightly off the floor. Nail it into place on every stud, top and bottom. Now repeat the process for each row of sheeting as you work up the wall – daub on the stud adhesive, and nail the sheet in place. If a sheet hangs over the end of a wall slightly, you can trim it in place by using the score/fold/cut method you used in Step 1.
Plasterboard being hung on a bare stud wall by two Bunnings team members

Suggested products

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.