Plasterboard partition walls - building a partition in an apartment

How a plasterboard wall is built

In the Knauf dry construction system, the frame of a partition is made of UW profiles, which are the track sections on the floor and ceiling, and CW profiles, which are the studs. The frame is clad with plasterboard sheets on both sides, and insulation can be placed between them.

An opening is left in the partition for a door, and the places for sockets and switches are planned before cladding, because the cables are placed in the frame. For doors see interior door installation, and for cables see rewiring an apartment.

What belongs to the apartment and when you need documents

Non-load-bearing internal partitions and the finish of walls are part of the apartment, while load-bearing walls, walls between apartments and floor slabs are common property. A new light partition inside an apartment does not change the load-bearing structures.

The regulations do not have a separate type of construction work called “replanning of a room group”; the type is chosen according to the content of the work. If a partition changes the layout of rooms, check whether a construction notice is needed as simplified renovation; a plan of the room group with the changes is attached to it. If approval is needed, write this in your request. More: do you need a permit for renovation.

Which walls are load-bearing in your apartment can only be said from the building's design or a structural engineer's opinion. If you want to remove a wall rather than build one, see removing walls.

Sound and wet rooms

Insulation placed between the sheets is a separate line. If quiet between a bedroom and a living room matters, write this in your request and see soundproofing in an apartment.

In a bathroom, the partition is waterproofed before tiling; the manufacturer of Ceresit CL 51 intends it for walls and floors in wet rooms.

Building a partition in order

1. Marking out The line of the partition and the door position are marked on the floor, ceiling and walls.
2. Frame The UW profiles are fixed to the floor and ceiling and the CW studs are placed in them.
3. Cables Electrical cables and boxes are placed before cladding.
4. First side and insulation One side is clad and, if planned, insulation is placed.
5. Second side The other side is clad and openings are cut for sockets.
6. Joints and finish The joints are skimmed, then the wall is painted or tiled.

What to decide before your request

• where the partition and door will be;
• whether you need insulation;
• how many sockets and switches the new wall will have;
• whether the wall will be in a bathroom;
• whether the change of layout needs documents.

In the form, write the address and the building series; you can send the apartment plan or a drawing with dimensions to the specialist when they contact you.

How much a plasterboard partition costs

Plasterboard partition: from €12/m². Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.

Example: a partition 3 m × 2.6 m = 7.8 m² × €12 = from €93.60. If both sides are skimmed, that is 2 × 7.8 m² = 15.6 m² × €10 = from €156. Each socket or switch: from €12 per point.

The price is affected by the height and length of the wall, the number of openings, the insulation and the chosen finish. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.

What the partition price includes