Tapered Edge Plasterboard

What is Tapered Edge Plasterboard

Tapered Edge Plasterboard refers to any gypsum plasterboard that has a tapered edge rather than a square edge. These tapered edges create a small groove when the plasterboards are butted up against each other.

This groove can then be taped with scrim tape and jointed using joint filler or jointing compound. This process is known as taping and jointing, and it provides a smooth finish that can be painted over.

Types of Tapered Edge Plasterboard

All standard multi use plasterboard comes with either a square edge or tapered edge. Standard wallboard plasterboard tapered edge comes with an ivory paper face. An example of this is 12.5mm Knauf Wallboard TE, which has a thermal conductivity of 0.19 W/mK and a weight of 8.3kg/m2.

Other plasterboard sheets, such as those offering acoustic and fire performance, also come with a tapered edge. Some examples of this include:

• 15mm Knauf Soundshield Plus TE - increase acoustic levels
• 12.5mm Knauf Fire Panel TE - exceeds normal fire properties of plasterboard
• 12.5mm Knauf Moisture Panel TE - enhanced moisture resistance

These performance boards all have different paper facings for easy identification.

Installing Tapered Edge Plasterboard

Installing Tapered Edge Plasterboard is a relatively straightforward process provided you take the necessary steps and ensure you have any potential safety hazards covered.

1. First, set up your timber or metal partitions to create the frame of the wall
2. Next, fix the plasterboard to the partitions. The sheets can be easily fixed using drywall screws. If applying to brick or masonry backgrounds, you can bond the plasterboard using drywall adhesive
3. Tape the joints (this is where the tapered edges meet) using scrim tape
4. Fill the joints using joint filler
5. Sand the joints down so that surface of the plasterboard sheet is relatively flat
6. Finally, paint the plasterboard for a nice finish

Note that tapered edge plasterboard can also be skimmed with a thistle plaster finish.

Tapered Edge Plasterboard Applications

Tapered Edge plasterboard sheets are suitable for many applications where standard fire structural and acoustic levels are specified. In certain applications, it is necessary to install multiple layers of plasterboard to meet the required building regulations. Tapered edge plasterboard can be used in the following applications:

1. Partition walls
   
   
2. Brick or masonry walls
   
   
3. Suspended ceilings
   
   
4. Loft ceilings