Fixing Plasterboard

[wraysdunc]

I'm just an old fashioned type of guy. Years ago when I last put up some plasterboard ceilings, I used galvanized plasterboard nails. These had a small head that was easy to hammer below the finish level of the board. Now I come to do another ceiling and I cant buy plasterboard nails at all. It seems that they are not available. What is the standard method of fixing up plasterboard these days? Are folks using screws?? What has caused the demise of the plasterboard nail?

Thanks in advance

 

[Becka]

they're still about.. You can get em in Ridgeons if you're anywhere near the east of england...

 

[CHRIS]

You can get drywall screws that are black and rust proof from british gypsum.

 

[biffvernon]

Plasterboard? New-fangled nonsense.

 

[David Dyer]

You've just run ito the new Building regs, Euro Codes, it's almost impossible to get todays sound/fire tests passed with nails just one clout too many and the gypsum core cracks and the joint fails under testing. Even with screws set the torque limit too high on the drill and you get the same problem but not so often.
Got the T shirt on this one as I've been involved with quite a few tests over the last couple of years and when your trying to get 31 minutes on a 30 minute fire test if the plasterboard fails a minute early due to someone being heavy with the hammer it's expensive and bloody annoying.
Having said all that you should still be able to get plasterboard nails at most builders merchants and the DIY sheds.
Sorry Biff but I have to pay the mortage some how and most of it comes from new build.

 

[biffvernon]

...new build.

Lath and lime plaster, reed and lime plaster, lime-ash; you can do it in a new build too.

 

[Gervase]

Nails? Blimey, we are talking old technology here! Anyone worth their salt these days has a makita screw gun loaded with a plastic strip of black-anodised drywall screws, and makes like John Wayne at the plasterboard.
Seriously though, it's far more efficient than nailing and causes far less damage to the board. If you're putting plasterboard onto old studs, it's less damaging to the rest of the fabric too (and it's also a fun toy to play with!).

 

[Moo]

Will it take the screws out, as well?

 

[Gervase]

It will take screws out as well, but it's fiddly - you're better off with an ornery cordless screwdriver to do that (or, even better if you like toys, get an impact driver - you can put a four-inch screw straight through two pieces of 9x2 and get it out again, all without straining your wrist. Awesome little gadgets).

 

[Penners]

wraysdunc

As others have said, plasterboard is mostly fixed with drywall screws these days, although you can still get plasterboard nails.
The advantage of screws is control and precision - plus the fact that you're not bashing hell our of your property and causing falls of muck and bullets throughout the house.

The one odd thing (to me, anyway) is that drywall screws all seem to have a phillips head, rather than a pozidrive. I don't know why - maybe it's something to do with the favoured configuration for automatic feed screwdrivers.

 

[Moo]

wraysdunc

eh?

 

[Penners]

wraysdunc

eh?

Look at the poster of the original question, Moo!

 

[Moo]

Doh !