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Whether you’re in the middle of building, refurbishing or just redecorating your property, you might have found yourself in need of some newer, smoother walls. In this case, you have two options you can try plastering/skimming or dry lining.

While dry lining has become a really popular choice of late if you don’t understand the difference between the two, how can you make an informed decision?

Well, that’s exactly what this guide is here for. Below, we’ll take a look at what dry lining is, how it differs from traditional plastering and the advantages of this type of finish. Read on to find out more.

What is dry lining?

The process of dry lining a wall is basically attaching ready-made boards to the existing wall. These boards are cut to size and create a smooth, even finish.

On traditional masonry walls, these would be stuck down with adhesive, whereas on stud walls, they are screwed into the wood. Any holes left by the screws are then filled to ensure a smooth finish.

What’s the difference between dry lining and plastering?

There can be some confusion between plastering and dry lining because, in most cases, when plastering, plasterboards will be stuck to the walls before then adding the wet plaster over the top. That being said, in some cases, wet plaster is simply applied directly to the wall.

But in any case, the key difference between the two is the use of this wet plaster rather than simply using dry boards.

The advantages of choosing dry lining

Now you have a better understanding of the two techniques, you might already be thinking about which you would prefer for your property. However, to help you make a more informed decision, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the advantages of using dry lining when building or renovating your property. These include:

1. It’s quicker to fit

As a general rule, dry lining is much faster to install than when using traditional wet plaster. That is, providing you get the right person for the job, whether you choose to hire someone or do it yourself.

2. It’s more economical

As we said, installing dry lining on your walls takes less time and man-hours than plastering methods. Plus, with fewer materials required, it costs less to purchase in the first place. Therefore, it can be much more budget-friendly and economical.

3. It’s flexible

Walls that have been completed using dry lining rather than plaster are much easier to change if you decide to do a refurb or redesign in the future. Plaster, on the other hand, has to be set, so it can be trickier and less flexible further down the line.

4. It can help with insulating your property

Dry lining can often help to improve the thermal efficiency of your building as it increases the insulation and helps to prevent condensation. This can be done by attaching a thick layer of specialist insulation behind the boards to help better regulate the temperature inside.

5. It’s lightweight

The boards used for dry lining are lightweight, whether these are used on the ceiling or walls, this means your overall construction will weigh less.

6. There are different solutions

There is usually an appropriate plasterboard solution for different requirements. For example, you can purchase more moisture-resistant plasterboards if you’re redecorating your bathroom or any other space with wet areas or prone to dampness.

7. You can use it for design

Finally, dry lining is often considered part of the interior design phase, and it can be used not just to line your walls but also to conceal unsightly wires and cables. It can also help to instantly fix uneven walls.

When to choose dry lining

So there you have it, seven key benefits of choosing dry lining instead of plastering for your property. But just to make this crystal clear, we thought it would be helpful to suggest times when dry lining might be the better option for you, so you can ensure you make the right choice.

Taking all of the above into account, you should choose dry lining when you want something done faster – so essentially, if you’re on a tighter deadline. You could also choose dry lining if you’re sticking to a budget or you need to create something more lightweight.

Plus, its flexibility makes it ideal if you think you’re going to want to change the design sometime in the future.