What's normal
A hollow sound when you knock, and small hairline cracks at the ceiling line in the first year as a new house dries out. Neither is a defect on its own.
What isn't
- Boards that flex or move when you press them.
- Cracks along board joints that keep coming back after filling.
- Cold spots, draughts at sockets, or condensation patches — signs air is moving behind the board.
- Fixings that pull straight out of the board.
Why it happens
Dot and dab relies on enough adhesive dabs at the right spacing plus a continuous ribbon of adhesive around the perimeter, windows, doors and sockets. Skip the ribbons and cold air can travel behind the board, carrying heat away and causing condensation. Too few dabs and the board can flex, cracking the joints.
How we fix it
- Re-fix loose boards with additional adhesive or mechanical fixings.
- Seal perimeters and service openings.
- Re-tape and joint or skim cracked joints.
- Where a wall is badly affected, replace it with a metal lining system that can include insulation.
Tip: Before hanging something heavy on dot and dab, use fixings designed for plasterboard — or better, ask for a pattress when the wall is built.
Related services
Plasterboarding & Wall Linings
Dot & dab, wall lining systems, overboarding and insulated plasterboard.
Taping & Jointing
Hand or machine taping to a smooth, decoration-ready finish.
Published 29 October 2026 by BBS Drylining Specialists Ltd.