Plasterboard or villaboard?

[Andy78]

Hey People,

I am about to start plastering my bathroom, and my plasterer recommended that we use Villaboard. I presume villaboard is like a fibre cement sheet but I am concerned because not all the villaboard will be tiled, and will give a different finish to normal plasterboard??

Andy

[echnidna]

Once its painted you won't see any difference.

[ian]

Hey People,

I am about to start plastering my bathroom, and my plasterer recommended that we use Villaboard. I presume villaboard is like a fibre cement sheet but I am concerned because not all the villaboard will be tiled, and will give a different finish to normal plasterboard??

AndyPlasterboard is not waterproof. Villaboard is supposed to be.
I don't know if you've noticed but water tends to get splashed around in bathrooms and laundries. Wet Gyprock is the pits (and a layer of paint wont keep it dry) is it your intention to have water damage in adjoining rooms or a rotting timber frame ?
end of rant

I'm not at work so can't access the Building Code Of Australia but from memory, Villaboard is a requirement in all wet areas.

ian

[silentC]

Sorry Ian, but it's not. You can use water resistant plasterboard, like Aqua Check, in wet areas. All wet areas have to be fully waterproofed now. This means the whole floor and (I think) 4" up the wall around the room and full height of the shower and any splashbacks.

Villaboard will give a very different paint finish to plaster. Not as smooth, sort of orange peel look. You also have problems with door jamb and window reveal thicknesses. On the other hand, villaboard will handle it better if your waterproofing membrane fails (you are installing one, aren't you?). It's a better substrate for tiles too.

[Andy78]

Looks like I will be now.

Didn't think about the consequence of villaboard with window reveals. Can you get 10mm villaboard?

[Barry_White]

When I built my place I used meranti for my architraves and around the cavity sliders I just ripped a thin strip of meranti on the table saw and slipped it in behind the architraves to close up the gap and on one door I just ripped a rebate to go around the reveal.

[sol381]

I take it your studs are 70mm so you should be able to get 88mm jambs which are ideal for 6mm villaboard. If you use plasterboard stick with the 92mm. Either way ripping off 4mm from 92mm jamb isnt that hard.
stef

[Andy78]

Stef, I am using 90mm studs.
Andy

[Canetoad]

Just push your windows out an extra 4 mm its what is done in the trade

[silentC]

That's OK for Brick veneer. Doesn't work so good with weatherboard.

Is it a new place or a reno?

[Andy78]

Its a reno, and all the weatherboards and external archs are on.

[silentC]

OK, well I was once a proponent of villaboard for wet areas but I was talked out of it by a mate who is a plasterer. I used the moisture resistant stuff in the new house and I'm hoping I wont regret it. It certainly gives a better paint finish. Whether it handles years of exposure to moisture only time will tell.

If you are more concerned about longevity and less about appearance, I would go for the villaboard and find ways to deal with the reveals and door jambs as suggested by Barry and others. If you go with the plasterboard, just make sure you do a good job on the waterproofing, or even better pay someone to do it for you.