Drywall Installation in Mallorca — Specialists Since 2004

There are 7 drywall types under UNE-EN 520: standard type A (BA13/BA15, ivory colour, general use), moisture-resistant type H2 (green, below 5% absorption, bathrooms/kitchens), fire-resistant type F (pink, EI 30-120), combined technical FH (pink with green tint, fire + moisture), acoustic type D (Placo Silence/Silentboard, Rw +5-8 dB), high-hardness type I (Habito, impact-resistant) and glass-reinforced gypsum Glasroc (exterior/showers). Standard thicknesses 9.5/12.5/15/18/25 mm. Brand by Mallorca availability: Saint-Gobain Placo, Knauf, Lafarge.

In Spain, 3 main brands are used: Saint-Gobain Placo (the generic Pladur® brand, San Martín Valdeiglesias plant), Knauf (Escúzar, Granada plant) and Lafarge (Holcim group). All three meet UNE-EN 520 and have equivalent technical quality. In Mallorca we typically work with Placo (distributed by Comercial Hnos. Ripoll in Palma) and Knauf (distributed by Saint-Gobain Distribución Ibérica). Certified systems: Placo Prégymétal, Knauf W111/W112, Lafarge Extraligero. All carry RD 1371/2007 CE marking certification.

Yes, drywall holds loads of 3-45 kg per point depending on the fixing. PF8 nylon plug for pictures and mirrors: 5-12 kg/point. Molly M5/M6 metal butterfly anchor: 20-30 kg/point. Fischer DuoTec hollow anchor: 25-40 kg/point. Hilti HIT-HY chemical anchor with threaded rod: 45-80 kg/point. For large TVs or kitchen units we reinforce with 80x30 mm timber batten between studs (up to 80 kg per linear metre). Fitted furniture or boilers: inner reinforcement with 48 mm U-channel or 18 mm OSB panel before closing the partition.

No, drywall needs a sealer primer before painting. The board's paper facing absorbs paint unevenly without sealing. Correct process: 1) 3-coat joint treatment + 220-grit sanding, 2) water-based primer Titan Imperbet or Procolor Selladora (consumption 0.15 l/m²), 3) matt or satin acrylic paint, 2 coats (0.28 l/m²). For Q4 finish we apply additional Sheetrock Plus 3 fine skim. We deliver the job with Q3 finish ready to prime and paint. Any professional painter finishes 80 m² in an average flat in a single day.

We use galvanised steel framing to UNE-EN 14195 in 3 sizes: 48 mm (standard partitions up to 3 m high, Rw 42-45 dB), 70 mm (acoustic partitions up to 4 m, Rw 48-55 dB) and 98 mm (tall partitions up to 5.5 m or high-performance Rw 58-65 dB). Components: vertical studs at 40 or 60 cm centres by height, horizontal floor/ceiling tracks, acoustic sealed perimeter band. Brand: Placo Prégymétal or Knauf W112. Specific TN25/TN35 self-drilling screws for metal. All framing carries CE marking and RD 1371/2007 compliance.

Joints are treated in 3 coats under UNE 102042: 1st coat setting-type filler Placo Pregymix or Knauf Uniflott + embedded microperforated paper tape (yield 50 linear metres per bag), 2nd coat Sheetrock 60 filler widening 20 cm each side, 3rd coat fine Plus 3 filler levelling. Final sanding with 180-220 grit and integrated vacuum. Total time 48-72 h with 4-6 h drying between coats at 20°C. Resulting Q3 finish ready for primer. Q4 surcharge +€8/m² for raking light or satin/gloss paint.

The standard insulation is 40-80 kg/m³ mineral wool (Rockwool or Isover Arena), 40, 50, 60 or 80 mm thick to suit the stud cavity. Rockwool Rockcalm 40 kg/m³ for general acoustic use (Rw +10-14 dB, lambda 0.035 W/m/K). Isover Arena glass wool 35 kg/m³ for standard thermal (lambda 0.036 W/m/K). Knauf Insulation SuperFirePanel 70 kg/m³ for high-performance acoustic and fire (EI 120 + Rw 62 dB). A1 fire reaction across all. Material €6/m² acoustic or €10-12/m² thermal. Certified to UNE-EN 13162.

Q3 is the standard surface-quality level for drywall, defined in DIN 18181: maximum tolerance 1 mm under a 2 m straightedge, suitable for matt and satin acrylic paint. Levels: Q1 (basic filled joints, tile substrate only), Q2 (standard finish for textured or stippled paint), Q3 (fine finish with filler widened up to 40 cm per joint, ready for matt paint), Q4 (full-skim mirror finish for gloss, raking light or stucco). Our standard is Q3 included in the price. Q4 surcharge +€8/m² with Plus 3 filler across the full surface.