Stud walls need to be finished in some way.

Plasterboard is a popular chioce, thanks to its speed and relatively straightforward installation.

One of the key things to remember when tackling this job is to hang your plasterboard horizontally rather than vertically. Because of the way the boards are manufactured, they have a ‘grain’ along their length, which means that the best strength is achieved when they’re secured perpendicular to the studwork.

You should also stagger the boards so that, where possible, your seams don’t end up on the same stud. This will reduce the risk of cracks developing after you’ve applied your skim plaster finish.

A standard 2,400 x 1,200 x 9.5mm plasterboard sheet costs around £5, with discounts available on bulk buys. Specialist waterproof, acoustic, insulating and fire-resisting boards are also available.