Plasterboard - Just how mad would you think I was if you saw me do this in a car park?

[Lusi83]

I need one sheet of plasterboard 2.2 m long and 65cm wide (9.5mm thick). I don't really want a join in it because of where it is (for a wall facing a door and quite close) - I would need to do a good finishing job to cover it up.
Looking around to get this length I would need to buy 2.4m x 1.2m sheet -unless anyone can tell me different?
I have an old zafira and I know I can fit the length in if I put down the front passenger seat but 1.2 m is a bit wide - max I can do is about 1m without preventing me seeing through passenger window. I live about 10miles from nearest place I could get it, have to go through a busy town centre (past a police station...) to my house in a not well populated area -no one will be 'just passing'. Delivery/man with a van/van hire would be expensive for a £10 board. I could try and fasten it to my roof bars (don't have a rack) but would be heavy to get up there and might not be that secure (I have to go through an open area with side winds). Without going into the front passenger area it would stick out about 60cm at the back -too long for me to tie the boot down.
So I am thinking that on a dry day I might take my folding trestles, stanley knife/plasterboard saw, tape measure etc and cut it in 'half' in the car park...probably will need a dustpan and brush as well to tidy up after myself. I think the only thing stopping me doing this is people's reactions and maybe B&Q/ Wickes (haven't decided which yet) might be a bit annoyed or something with me....
(I did roughly cut up polystyrene board in a Wickes car park once - but it was a different Wickes, in Winter, dark and quiet and I didn't need to measure it etc)
So does anyone know where I could get a 2.4 long but narrower piece of plasterboard?
Alternatively would you think I was insane if you saw me carefully measuring and cutting plasterboard in a 'shed' car park?

 

[jacko555]

Do it. Staff won't mind. Who cares what people think

 

[just pumps]

I`ve seen people do far, far more than what youre planning without the dustpan & brush, go for it.

 

[Tigercubrider]

My B&Q car park is littered with small amounts of sand, sawdust and polythene.
i would cut it in the car park and have a couple of 2.4 bits of wood as support.

if you are worried, go early or late.
bit of a bummer about the 5mm!

 

[Lower]

Plasterboard only needs scoring and then it snaps, so no mess.

 

[johnny2007]

Plasterboard only needs scoring and then it snaps, so no mess.

Exactly.
You only need a Stanley knife

 

[big-all]

you will also need a couple off bits off woods 675mm to stop the strap crushing the edge

 

[Deleted member 174758]

you will also need a couple off bits off woods 675mm to stop the strap crushing the edge

And to support the plasterboard when the you are cutting it. Nothing messes your day up more than placing a piece if plasterboard on a couple of trestles and having the darned thing snap in the (unsupported) middle

I wouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks - I regularly take a cordless saw to the timber yard to reduce stuff so it'll go inside the van. Nobody complains - possibly because some of them are doing the same!

 

[Old Salt]

Happens all the time in our local diy shop

 

[Lusi83]

Thanks - I am now convinced that people won't think I've lost the plot! Now planning when I go -and which shed will be the least obvious.
They are relatively close together so I might do a recce first and chose my best option. I generally don't really care what people think but for some reason this was different. Maybe the thought of turning up with the trestles etc was what was making me uncomfortable - I'd rather people thought I'd misjudged what I could fit in my car rather than I had planned on doing this ....

Plasterboard only needs scoring and then it snaps, so no mess.

Not so sure about this ...I had a 'bad' experience doing that once. Don't know if it was cos it was old (repurposing an old board ) I had just about enough for what I needed - 4 pieces of 50cm by 90cm with 30cm spare. Worked fine for the first 3 but for the last one a big chunk came loose from the bit I wanted and shattered on the ground. I actually tried to shove it back inside the paper before I gave up and had to go buy a new sheet... Since then unless I have spare I'll score and saw,
Actually why I've taken note of this

And to support the plasterboard when the you are cutting it. Nothing messes your day up more than placing a piece if plasterboard on a couple of trestles and having the darned thing snap in the (unsupported) middle

getting the trestles out, measuring etc then this happening mid cut! Especially as I would be trying to be quick and discreet. Not far to go to get another board - but put everything away again, work out what to do with the broken board , get a new one, get all the stuff out again....
Thanks again

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Alternatively would you think I was insane if you saw me carefully measuring and cutting plasterboard in a 'shed' car park?

I have cut material many times to fit, in car parks when collecting material - just do it. Other times I have put the likes of mattresses on the roof as a base to carry materials, lashed in place with ropes. So long as it is secure.

 

[Dereekoo]

Did the exact same thing with some polystyrene backed plasterboard a few weeks ago in Wickes car park on 3 boards to get them in my Nissan. Laid them on the ground, scored through the polystyrene and into the plasterboard and then folded them in two. Had the wife there to help me to do the folding and easing into the car. Couldn't see the folds when erected.

 

[^woody^]

I'd report anyone setting up trestles to cut plasterboard to the authorities, and get them sectioned.

 

[thomp1983]

Perfectly normal see it all the time, I've enough front to cut it on the pallet in store instead of fannying about in car park, just need to be carful to not damage the next board underneath.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I'd report anyone setting up trestles to cut plasterboard to the authorities, and get them sectioned.

Fascist! Come the revolution, comrade, you'll be first against the wall - along with the dog walkers and the lollipop ladies with their placards telling us all to stop children!