Checklist before technical finishing: plaster, screeds, drywall and painting
Technical finishing is the stage where the house moves from structure and services to surfaces: plaster, screeds, drywall, skim coats, primers and paint. This is not about sofas or rugs. The key issues are moisture, service acceptance, work sequence, substrates and technical conditions.
Accept services before covering
Before plaster, screeds and drywall, services should be accepted. Cable and pipe routes should be photographed, distribution boards described, pressure tests completed and corrections closed. Covering services without acceptance can become an expensive false saving.
Check that electrical, water, drainage and ventilation points match real usage decisions. After plaster or drywall, moving a point means cutting, patching and delay.
Moisture, temperature and ventilation
Wet works require control of moisture, temperature and ventilation. Plaster and screeds should not be done in random conditions without drying and ventilation planning. Trapping moisture under skim coat, paint or floor finishes creates later problems.
Set a sequence for drying, underfloor heating commissioning, ventilation and moisture measurements. Screeds, drywall, skim coats and window areas need special attention.
Plaster, screeds and substrates
Before plaster, check plumb lines, corners, beads, window protection, movement joints and areas that should remain unplastered. Before screeds, confirm levels, insulation, movement joints, underfloor heating, pressure tests and layer thicknesses.
Substrates must be clean, stable and prepared for the next material. The finishing contractor should know whether walls will be painted, tiled, covered with built-ins, hidden doors or other details.
Drywall, skim coats and painting
Drywall needs a design or at least a clear drawing: ceilings, slopes, access panels, frames, reinforcements for cabinets, lighting and ventilation grilles. Before boards are closed, check that all services and reinforcements are inside.
Skim coats and painting should start only after substrates have dried and dirty work is closed. Confirm priming, paint type, surface standard, acceptance method under light and the correction list.
Trade sequence and room acceptance
Technical finishing needs a clear sequence: service acceptance, plaster, screeds, drying, drywall, skim coats, primers, painting and only then later finish layers. Without sequence control, trades damage each other's work.
In BuildIQ, accept finishing room by room. Pre-cover photos, moisture readings, corrections and material decisions should be assigned to rooms, not kept in one general note.
before technical finishing
- accept services before plaster, screeds and drywall
- photograph cable routes, pipes, distribution boards and reinforcement points
- check electrical, water, drainage and ventilation point locations
- confirm pressure tests, circuit descriptions and service correction list
- plan moisture, temperature, ventilation, drying and measurements
- before plaster, check plumb lines, corners, window protection and no-plaster areas
- before screeds, check levels, insulation, movement joints and underfloor heating
- plan drywall: access panels, reinforcements, lighting and ventilation grilles
- confirm priming, skim coat standard, paint type and acceptance method
- set contractor sequence and accept work room by room