Our Services
Tacking
Tacking is the fixing of plasterboard sheets to timber or metal stud frames and joists, the structural first step before any wall or ceiling can be skimmed.
Tacking, sometimes called boarding, is the process of fixing plasterboard sheets to timber studwork, metal stud frames, or ceiling joists. Boards are measured, cut, and screwed into place with staggered joints, creating a strong, level surface ready for jointing and skimming.
Every stud wall, ceiling, or loft conversion needs this step done properly before a single trowel of plaster goes on. Poorly tacked boards, badly staggered joints, or boards fixed with the wrong fixings and centres show up later as cracking along every joint line, however good the skim coat on top might be.
Russ tacks boards to the correct fixing centres for the frame type, staggers joints properly between rows, and leaves the right expansion gaps at floor and ceiling level, so the skim coat that follows goes on to a genuinely sound, flat base rather than one that will crack within a year.
Signs You Need Tacking
- New stud walls or partitions ready for boarding
- Loft conversions and extensions needing ceilings boarded
- Old lath and plaster ceilings being replaced with plasterboard
- Metal stud partitions in commercial or new-build settings
- Sound-proofing or fire-rated board upgrades
Why Choose Us
- Correct fixing centres and staggered joints on every job, preventing future cracking
- Experience across timber and metal stud systems since 2009
- 5.0 rating from 11 Google reviews
- Can carry tacking straight through to skimming as one seamless job
Our Process
- 1
Measure the frame and plan board layout to minimise joints and maximise strength
- 2
Cut boards to size, allowing for sockets, switches, and service penetrations
- 3
Fix boards to timber or metal studs at the correct centres, staggering joints between rows
- 4
Leave appropriate expansion gaps at floor and ceiling junctions
- 5
Check the finished surface is flat and securely fixed before jointing or skimming begins
Tacking FAQs
Tacking is the process of fixing plasterboard sheets to timber or metal stud frames and ceiling joists using the correct fixing centres and staggered joints. It creates the strong, level base that walls and ceilings need before jointing and skimming, and is the first structural step in any new stud wall, ceiling, or loft conversion.
Tacking Available Across These Areas
A few of the towns and villages where we regularly carry out tacking work.
View All Areas We Cover →