What are the Acoustic Issues of Dot and Dab Plasterboard

We regularly get calls about people experiencing acoustic issues within new builds and one of the key reasons for this is due to the use of dot and dab plasterboard on lightweight blocks.

We have put together some more information about dot and dab plasterboard and how it affects the acoustics of your space…

How to identify dot and dab plasterboard. 

Knock across the board and listen to the sound. If it alternates between solid and hollow sounds you most likely have dot and dab as this shows where there is adhesive / no adheisve.

Why dot and dab plasterboard is used.

Dot and dab is a very common building practice for its levelling capabilities. Often used within new builds for speed of install and cosmetic finish (it does not help acoustics).

How the cavity affects the performance.

Similar to how an acoustic guitar amplifies the sound, the space behind the board can create cavity resonance, allowing the sound to reverberate and amplify.

Rigid layers on rigid layers on rigid layers.

Plasterboard is a hard/reflective surface, that is adhered to a solid wall with a rigid adhesive. There is no resilience within this partition and the surfaces are not decoupled.

Acoustically vulnerable on all sides.

Whether the sound comes through the masonry wall, from the space itself or from any adjacent partitions the sound can travel unobstructed within the cavity.

Caught between a block and a hard place.

All of the surfaces within a dot and dab partition are hard and reflective. There is no sound absorption to reduce the sound energy in the cavity allowing the sound to reverbate.

Moral of the story……

Remove it.