Plasterboard Types for London Renovations: Choosing the Right Board
Plasterboard (also called drywall or gypsum board) is the most widely used wall and ceiling lining material in UK renovation. Different board types are specified for different applications — using the wrong board can create compliance problems, acoustic issues, or moisture damage.
Standard Plasterboard (White Board)
The basic plasterboard used for general wall and ceiling lining in dry internal areas. Available in two standard thicknesses:
- 9.5mm: Ceilings, light partitions
- 12.5mm: Walls, heavier partitions, typical standard
Use for: Dry internal walls, ceilings, internal partitions where no special performance is required.
Moisture-Resistant Plasterboard (MR Board)
MR board (typically green-faced) is manufactured with moisture-resistant additives in the gypsum core. It is not waterproof but resists incidental moisture better than standard board.
Use for: Bathroom walls (behind tiles), utility rooms, kitchen areas. Not appropriate as a sole waterproofing layer in wet areas — a waterproofing membrane (tanking) is still required under tiling in showers and wet areas.
Fire-Resistant Plasterboard (FR or Type F Board)
FR board (typically pink or red-faced) is formulated with additional glass fibres and additives to increase the period of fire resistance compared to standard board. Available in 12.5mm and 15mm thicknesses.
30-minute fire resistance (FD30): Typically two layers of 12.5mm standard board, or one layer of 15mm FR board 60-minute fire resistance: Typically two layers of 15mm FR board
Use for: Fire-resisting partitions in loft conversions (protected escape routes), HMO separating walls, walls between garage and dwelling, fire compartmentation in any project where Part B compliance is required.
Acoustic Plasterboard
Acoustic plasterboard has a higher mass than standard board, providing better sound attenuation. Products include Knauf Soundshield Plus, British Gypsum SoundBloc.
Use for: Party walls, separating walls between rooms with sound-sensitive uses (bedrooms adjacent to bathrooms, home offices adjacent to living areas). Best combined with acoustic mineral wool in the stud cavity and resilient bars or channels to interrupt the structural path for sound transmission.
Impact-Resistant Plasterboard
Reinforced plasterboard with higher impact resistance than standard board. Use for: high-traffic circulation areas, schools, sports facilities. Rarely required in residential renovation.
Thermal Laminate (Insulated Plasterboard)
Plasterboard bonded to a rigid insulation layer (PIR or EPS). Used as Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) on solid external walls to improve thermal performance.
Typical specification for Victorian solid wall IWI: 72mm PIR thermal laminate (50mm PIR + 22mm plasterboard). Achieves significant improvement in wall U-value.
Use for: Solid wall insulation upgrades, thermal improvement of Victorian and Edwardian properties without external wall insulation.
RCB Design & Build
RCB Design & Build specifies the correct plasterboard type for each application — ensuring fire, acoustic, and moisture requirements are met as part of the principal contractor service.