new build walls

LauraWxx

I'm not too worried about hearing noise...as I only have one wall that will be shared with a neighbouring property and this is the room that is going to be used a dressing room.

My concern having read this thread is with regards to putting up shelves etc?

Does anyone know if there is a different way to put them up in new builds or what you should use??

Sorry .... not very diy'y!!

SecondTimeBuyer

Let's clear this up, there are new builds and there are new builds! Top spec new builds can be fantastic and low spec ones are often not worth the money.

When building a new build builders are required to have a solid (ie brick or block) partition between neighbours, this is for security and fire compartmentation.

Plaster board walls can have better sound insulation properties than brick or block, particuarly with deep bassy noises that can reverberate through brick or block. Ideally you want a layer of plasterboard, a layer of MDF, a layer of sound insulation, a layer of MDF, and then a layer of plasterboard. The MDF will enable you to fix to the wall and the insulation will prevent noise transfer.

davem7

New build timber-frame owner here, although I bought it when it was 8 years old so a more reasonable price!

The plasterboard walls are not really the problem made out to be here. All that is required to hang stuff is the correct fixings. Here's a pretty nice article describing what is available. I usually end up using hollow wall anchors which can support quite a large amount of weight, up to medium sized shelving. They are not really much harder to fix than the usual rawl plugs, and you can pick them up cheap at Wilkos (about £1.20 for a pack of 5). For heavier shelving you can use toggle bolts too which are slightly more difficult to install. Often it's better to find one of the studs and attach to that if you can since it's obviously capable of supporting a lot more weight.

I have some of the Ikea LACK floating shelves mounted with the stud on one side and hollow wall anchors on the other and have had no issues. Obviously I've not loaded it up with bricks or sat on it but it's nice and stable and has been on the wall for well over a year without any issue at all.

Never put a hole in the wall accidentally but have patched up after minor works. Not an issue really, 15-30 minute job with a youtube video instructing me.

Hope this helps!

LauraWxx

thats great...thank you Dave!

C_Mababejive

LandyAndy wrote: »

Can you really have plasterboard walls between properties?

I have encountered it in 1970's local authority housing of a certain design. I only became aware of it when i went in the loft. Was amazed to see plasterboard at the gable dividing wall. There was a section missing. Had a look and saw a timber framed void going the full house height !

A year or so ago i visited a new build site where there were mock georgian terraces. The site had stopped due to inability to sell. Had a look through kitchen window of one terrace and was amazed to see a timber frame between it and the neighbour !

My view is that we should now system built homes made in high quality production line facilities like Hauf houses only down scale for larger production.

The days of gluing bricks together on rainy building sites are over or should be..

Lifes_Grand_Plan

LandyAndy wrote: »

Can you really have plasterboard walls between properties?

No, i'm sorry but the poster who posted that is talking nonsense!

I live in a relatively new build, ok 16 years old now but still built the same.... only walls within the same house will be stud walls, walls between properties may be dot-and-dabbed with a plasterboard finish, but behind the plasterboard they will be breezeblock.

Also whoever said you can't put up shelves or curtain poles is badly wrong. As said above, get the right fixings or fix it in the right way and you'll be fine. If you need strength then fix into the studs and spread the weight as much as possible - my LCD tv in the bedroom is done this way, as are my kitchen cabinets that are on internal walls.

There are a number of ways to put a curtain pole up with these walls - incidentally if its an internal (and hence stud) wall, then it won't have a window. It if does have a window then its not a stood wall..... you are just confusing dot and dab plasterboard finishes... I digress.... my preferred way is a wooden batton stuck to the wall above the window then the curtain pole fixed directly into that...

Having said all of the above, I can't wait to get out of our new build and get into an older house with character rather than the soul-less boxes and overlooked gardens that are new builds!

EDIT:

Just seen the reply from C_Mababejive above - the OP was asking about new builds, not 1970's houses so that is completely irrelevant. Anyway I think the problem you refer to is likely to be typical of older houses where they didn't build the walls up to the height of the lofts... was the reason for the rapid spread of fires and also saw a lot of dishonest people accessing their neighbors houses via their lofts. House builders have long since started building walls right up to the roof.

max2244

hello everyone,

so would anyone know what companies are good, i am looking for a flat. i heard Barratt are good but i cannot afford them.

i am currently considering Bellway, but after hearing comments about it and the funny plasterboard walls, i am not sure.

especially if a lot of flats in those blocks will be given to HA.

i am considering Bellway in Bexley, London.
any advice ?

many thanks
max

jbainbridge

Welcome.

You might be better starting a new thread for this.