Blueboard installers Sydney
Blueboard installation for render-ready walls
Fibre cement base sheets fixed flat and straight to the frame we built, with corners and control joints prepared so your renderer can start straight away.
Blueboard is a fibre cement base sheet fixed over the wall frame and rendered afterwards. It is the standard external finish on a lot of Sydney granny flats, extensions and modern project homes, because it goes on quickly and renders cleanly. The finish, though, depends entirely on what is underneath. A sheet fixed off the stud, a joint left unsupported, or a wall that was never straight will show through the render within a year.
That is the case for having the framing carpenter install the blueboard. We built the frame, so we know where every stud and nogging is. We fix the sheets to the manufacturer's instructions over the wall wrap, set the external corners and control joints, and leave a flat, render-ready wall. Zakariya Woodworks installs blueboard across Sydney on our own frames and, where the frame is sound, on frames built by others.
Scope
What our blueboard installation includes
- 01
Frame check first
Before any sheet goes on, we check the wall for plumb and line and pack or plane anything that would show through the render.
- 02
Wall wrap
Breathable wall wrap fixed to the studs where the specification calls for it, lapped and taped around openings.
- 03
Sheet installation
Blueboard sheets fixed to the studs and noggings at the manufacturer's fastener spacing, joints landing on framing, sheets set square to the openings.
- 04
External corners and control joints
PVC or metal external corners, and control joints at the spacing the sheet system requires, so the render does not crack at the corners or across long walls.
- 05
Trims to openings
Window and door trims that are part of the sheet system, so the renderer has a clean stop at every opening.
Why us
Why the framing carpenter should fix the blueboard
Blueboard fixed by the crew that stood the frame is a different product from blueboard fixed by a crew who turned up to sheet whatever was there. We know the wall is straight because we made it straight. We know the studs are at the right centres because we set them out. And we are already on site, so there is no gap in the program between frame and render.
We are carpenters, not renderers. We do not apply the render or the texture coat. What we do is prepare the wall so the renderer walks onto a job that is ready, and we are happy to co-ordinate timing with your renderer so the two trades follow each other.
- Sheets land on studs and noggings we set out ourselves
- Walls checked and corrected for plumb before sheeting
- Corners and control joints set so the render does not crack
- Priced alone, or with the frame, eaves and fascia as one lock-up carpentry scope
How it runs
How a blueboard job runs
-
Step 1
Scope and product
Tell us which walls are blueboard, the sheet product on the plans, and whether wall wrap is specified. We quote from the plans, alone or with the frame.
-
Step 2
Wrap and set out
Wall wrap goes on, openings are taped, and the sheet layout is set out so joints land on framing and cuts around windows are clean.
-
Step 3
Fix sheets, corners, joints
Sheets fixed at the specified spacing, external corners and control joints installed, trims fitted to openings.
-
Step 4
Renderer handover
Walls left clean and flat, ready for the renderer. We can co-ordinate the date so there is no gap in your program.
Watch-outs
Problems blueboard done properly avoids
Render cracking along joints that were not supported by framing
Corners and long walls cracking because control joints were skipped
Walls that were never straight showing every bump through the render
A gap in the program while the builder finds a separate sheeting trade
Questions
Blue board installation: common questions
Straight answers to what builders and homeowners ask before they book.
01What is blueboard?
Blueboard is a fibre cement base sheet that is fixed to the wall frame and then rendered. It is a common external finish on granny flats, extensions and modern project homes. The sheets are fixed to the studs over the wall wrap, the joints and corners are prepared, and the wall is then ready for the renderer.
02Do you render the blueboard as well?
No. We are carpenters, so we do the framing and the sheet installation. Rendering and texture coating is done by a renderer. We prepare the walls so the renderer can start straight away, and we are happy to co-ordinate timing with your renderer so there is no gap in the program.
03Why have the framing carpenter install the blueboard?
The crew that built the frame knows where every stud and nogging is, so sheets are fixed properly and the wall stays flat. It also saves the builder bringing in another trade between frame and render, which keeps the program moving and means one point of contact for the whole external carpentry scope.
04Can you install blueboard on a granny flat or extension?
Yes. Blueboard is a common external finish on granny flats and extensions because it is quick to fix and renders cleanly. We install the sheets, external corners and control joints to the manufacturer's instructions, and leave the walls ready for the renderer to start.
05What is included in a blueboard quote?
Sheet installation to the framed walls, wall wrap if specified, external corners and control joints, and trims to openings where they are part of the sheet system. We quote from your plans, and we can price blueboard alone or as part of a frame and lock-up carpentry package.
Get a quote
Get blueboard priced with your frame
Email the plans to noman@zakariyawoodworks.com.au or call 0430 546 824. We quote blueboard on its own or as part of a frame-to-lock-up package.
Quote: blue board installation
Tell us what you are building and where. Attach the plans if you have them, or email them to us separately after you send the form.