Plasterboard-poly filler

[Micky6879]

Hi all first post.

I need to put plasterboard up above my stairs. It’s about 3 metres x 1 metre. Can I butt the boards up close together as possible and then fill any gaps with poly filler? I’ve seen videos on YouTube of people using tape and joining compound (?) with loads of tools (which I’d need to buy) and going over it 3 times. I don’t get why that needs to be done. Can I just save myself all that hassle and fill the gaps with poly filler and sand to a smooth finish or is that just not gonna work? I’m a complete newbie to all this!

thanks for any advice…

 

[RandomGrinch]

There is the proper way to do things, the ok way to do things and the bodging way to do things!

Proper way - skim the plasterboard

Ok way - tape and joint plasterboard, properly done with tapered edge boards.

Bodging way - cut a small notch out of the edge of the plasterboard where they will butt against each other, so when they join, there is a 'V' groove between the two boards.
Fill this groove with a couple of layers of 'no-tape' jointing compound.
Fill the edges of board against the existing walls with a flexible caulk.
Sand down and seal the filler.

Simple!

I have used the bodgy way many times, with a decent result. The benefit being, it doesn't take too much time and if it does look bad, you can always use the other methods.

I'm sure others will have different opinions, but this works for me!

 

[Micky6879]

Think I should have posted this in ‘plastering and rendering’. Doh!

Thanks for info. Maybe I should try the ‘ok way’ then. Some tools to buy! How would I deal with the join where the plasterboard meets the wall?

cheers

 

[RandomGrinch]

As I say, I don't think there's any harm doing it the bodgy way but that's just me!
I would still use some flexible caulk to the existing walls, something like:
https://www.toolstation.com/toupret-fibacryl-flexible-filler/p40082
I hope that helps!

 

[Micky6879]

Thanks again. Still not decided how to do this.
I wonder how much it would cost to get it skimmed. Any idea? It’s 3x1 meters approximately