Plasterboard in between old beams

[nickfiddler]

Hi - first of all thanks for all the helpful info this forum provides. First time I have asked a question but have come here lots of times.

So I am plasterboarding in between the oak beams of an old cottage. The beams bend (a lot!) and so the plasterboard needs to follow the curve of the beams to look right. That's all fine with nice bendy battens attached along the beams. But the gaps between the beams vary - some are 600mm apart though most much less. At what gap do I need to start putting cross pieces of batten in? Does the fact that the plasterboard is being bent mean I should use these at smaller beam gaps than you might normally?

(BTW, in case you are worried, I've had a structural engineer look at the beams and they are fine - just bent)

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

Dont understand why plasterboard will bend should be fixed to straight level timber.?

 

[nickfiddler]

Dont understand why plasterboard will bend should be fixed to straight level timber.?

The downward curve in the beams prevents this. They are about 100mm lower in the middle than at the walls - so no room for straight board - plus it would look daft!