Tape and jointing

What dry lining tape and jointing involves

Tapered board edges are bedded with tape and jointing compound, then built up in thin coats and feathered wide so the joint sits flush with the board face. Screw heads are spotted, internal angles taped and external corners fitted with bead. Each coat is left to dry before the next and the final coat is sanded smooth. A drywall primer then evens out the different porosity of board paper and compound before decoration.

Tape and jointing or a plaster skim

Both give a paintable surface. Tape and jointing is a drier process that keeps programme time down because there is no waiting for a full skim coat to dry, and it suits fit-outs, partitions and ceilings. A skim gives a harder, uniform surface across the whole wall. Our guide comparing tape and jointing with plaster skim explains the trade-offs in more detail.

• Joints, angles and screw heads
• Corner bead and stop bead
• Sanding and dust control
• Drywall primer ready for decoration

Why the finish matters before paint

Poor jointing shows up badly once paint goes on, particularly under raking light from windows or downlights, and sprayed finishes reveal every ridge. Because we also decorate, the joints are finished to the standard the paint needs rather than handed over for someone else to deal with. Fine sanding is carried out with dust control so other trades and occupied areas are protected.

For fit-outs and new builds

Tape and jointing is covered on commercial fit-outs, office partitions and new build plots. We fit around boarding and second-fix, work area by area, and supply RAMS for commercial sites. Combining jointing and decorating under one contractor removes a handover between trades.

Tape and jointing prices

Pricing depends on the area of board, ceiling heights and access, the number of angles and beads, the finish level required and whether decoration follows straight on. We price from drawings or a site visit and give a free written quote that separates jointing from decorating so it is easy to compare.

Finish levels and lighting

Not every wall needs the same finish. A plant room or store can be left at a basic standard, while a reception wall lit by windows or downlights needs joints feathered wide and sanded perfectly smooth. Agreeing the finish level per area at the start avoids paying for a showroom finish where nobody will see it, and avoids disappointment where everyone will. Where a sprayed or sheen finish is planned, we allow for the higher standard it needs.

Repairs to existing board

We also repair cracked joints, popped screws and damaged corners on existing plasterboard before redecoration, a common need in offices after partitions are moved or fixtures removed.

Programme and drying

Jointing compound needs drying time between coats, and cold or damp sites slow this down. We plan coats across several areas at once so work keeps moving. Where decoration follows, we sequence priming and painting immediately behind the final sanding so areas can be handed back to the client sooner.