Plastering and plasterboard on the Costa Blanca

Plasterboard partitions: the modern answer to renovating without heavy work

The traditional brick partition, while still present in new construction, is losing ground to plasterboard in renovations and modifications. The reasons converge on flexibility. A plasterboard partition is built in one to two days by two people, weighs a tenth of an equivalent brick partition, doesn’t need masonry support or curing time, and lets you integrate electrics and plumbing inside without chasing into load-bearing walls.

The process is fairly clean. First, the metal frame of galvanised steel profiles is fixed to floor and ceiling. Electrical cables, water pipes if any, are passed through, and the interior is filled with rock wool or glass wool batt that adds considerable acoustic insulation. Plasterboard panels are screwed to both faces. Joints are taped with fibre tape and compound, sanded between coats until you get a fully smooth surface ready to paint.

Dropped ceilings: aesthetics and function combined

The plasterboard dropped ceiling is the classic complement to modern renovations. It hides services that would otherwise be visible (cassette AC ducts, aerothermal pipework, complex electrical wiring), adds an extra layer of thermal and acoustic insulation, and allows recessed LED downlights, indirect LED strips and other modern lighting elements that give a pro finish to the space.

Recommended minimum height for a dropped ceiling is 8-10 cm below the original. That difference is interior volume gained when there are recessed downlights with backing box to prevent heat transmission, or when AC ducts need to be integrated. For high ceilings in older villas where height is excessive, we can suggest bigger drops that recover proportion and allow more sophisticated lighting.

Decorative gypsum

Traditional gypsum is still used for decorative mouldings, ceiling roses, cornices and other classic elements especially in more traditional homes or restorations. We work with plasterers who maintain the artisanal craft and can reproduce old mouldings for restoration or create new bespoke designs.

Plaster finishes and fine work

For gypsum or plasterboard substrates needing a premium smooth finish before painting, we apply fine gypsum plaster with metal trowel. The finish is noticeably superior to simple compound joint-fill and allows any decoration style afterwards, from classic matt paint to wallpaper or micro-cement. It’s what gets applied on premium build and high-end full renovations.

Plaster and plasterboard work generates dust during sanding, so we cover the whole zone with plastic before starting and vacuum carefully at the end. The room is ready to paint the day after the last sanding.