Slabbing is the lingo used in construction to describe the process of cutting and fixing the plasterboard into place. The crews that do this work are called ‘Slabbers’. We had a fantastic duo called Padraig and Pat whose work ethic was unreal. Starting work in the dark with the generator providing light, when I arrived to site at 9am, it felt like half a day’s work was already done.
We used 15mm fire-rated plasterboard on our external walls and ceiling below first floor (as requirement for timber frame construction and 12.5mm ‘plain’ or standard sheets on all other walls and ceilings. The team work fast cutting the boards to size, taking into consideration of plug and light openings. We used a J-bead to finish around all window reveals, this gives a clean finish to the window frame and neatly covers the air-tightness tape. In the bathrooms we used the waterproof plasterboard, the ‘green’ board and around the showers we used the concrete board, for more strength and waterproofness. We will also tank the walls of the showers.
A tricky detail for the team was slabbing the window blind recess, but this worked out brilliantly, it was definitely more awkward with smaller pieces of board and tighter spaces for screwing. I’m glad we went for this option rather than fitting a prefabricated ‘blind box’ which would be almost the same cost as the blind.
Padraig and Pat have been great to work with, coming up with ideas to many little challenges we found as we went along, any issues we flagged were rectified straight way. I don’t know if they say it to all their clients, but they said they really liked the design of our house, they enjoyed the comfortable temperature, the light and different views.
I felt sad to say good-bye to all the hidden hard work under the slabs but also welcomed the next stage of getting a step closer to imagining the finish line and arriving for our first night at home.
