Internal walls & partitions

Wall Cladding using Dry Construction

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Direct bonding, on a framework or loose-lay: which method solves which problem, why bonded installation compromises sound insulation and how to prevent mould.

The system at a glance

Solutions & Applications · Dry Construction

Dry lining levels, insulates, conceals pipework and improves fire resistance — without any wet work. However, the three systems are not simply alternatives to the same thing: each solves a different problem, and choosing the wrong one can leave the wall in a worse state than before. The first question is always: what do we want to fix?

What problem are we solving?

Required	Layout	Basic materials
Straight wall, minimal loss of space	Adhesive-bonded	Plasterboard + Perlfix
Thermal insulation from the inside, within a few centimetres	Direct-fix with composite slab	FIBRANxps GP + Perlfix
Crooked wall, few reinforcement meshes	Wall framework	UD + CD 60×27 + hangers
Sound insulation from neighbours	Free cladding	CW/UW + track + underlay membrane + stone wool + double slab
Thick thermal insulation	Free-standing or on a frame	Stone wool + vapour barrier + plasterboard
Concealing services	Free cladding	CW/UW with the required spacing

The selection criterion

	Adhesive-bonded	On a wall stud	Freelance / independent
Substrate irregularities	Small — relatively flat wall	Medium	Any — the frame does not rest against the wall
Loss of space	Minimum	Short	Larger
Sound insulation	Limited to negative	Limited	Essential
Thermal insulation	Only with composite slabs	The thickness of the frame	Free choice of thickness
Electrical and Mechanical Systems	No	Limited	Yes, certainly
Substrate with moisture	Inappropriate	Unsuitable unless remedied	With cavity ventilation, where appropriate

ARGYNET Note

A cladding bonded to the wall can impair sound insulation. It is counterintuitive, and that is precisely why it is done systematically: the owner asks ‘not to be able to hear the neighbour’, the wall is clad with plasterboard fixed with adhesive, and the result is worse at certain frequencies.

The reason is that cladding with a small air gap creates a mass-spring-mass system: the masonry and the slab are the two masses, and the air between them acts as the spring. The system has a resonance frequency — and when this falls within the range of human speech, the wall becomes transparent precisely where it is most bothersome.

The solution involves three parameters working together: a larger air gap, so that the resonance frequency falls below the useful range; filling with mineral wool, which dampens the resonance; and decoupling the framework from the masonry so that vibrations are not transmitted. In other words, free cladding.

The three provisions

1. Direct bonding with adhesive

The board is fixed using Knauf Perlfix gypsum adhesive in a ‘dot-and-dab’ pattern, then pressed down and levelled. The quickest solution, with the least loss of space — but with specific substrate requirements:

Stable and clean: loose render, dust and debris must be removed; otherwise, the adhesive will bond to the loose material rather than the wall.
Primed: absorbent wall treated with Tiefengrund; smooth concrete with a bonding primer.
Dry: not to be applied to walls with active damp.

The FIBRANxps GP composite board is installed in the same way — XPS and 12.5 mm plasterboard in a single panel: thermal insulation and a surface ready for painting in a single step. A solution for renovations, listed buildings and individual flats where external wall insulation is not feasible.

2. Cladding on a wall-fixed framework

UD perimeter guides and 60×27 CD guides fixed to the masonry with direct fixings. Corrects larger irregularities and accommodates thin insulation. However, it remains connected to the wall — so vibrations are transmitted through the fixings. Where some improvement is required, anti-vibration mountings are used.

3. Free cladding

Self-supporting framework comprising CW studs and UW tracks, completely detached from the masonry, with mineral wool in the cavity. The only system that provides effective sound insulation, allows free choice of insulation thickness and facilitates easy routing of services — at the expense of thickness.

The rules for sound-insulating partitions apply here: track tape underneath and around the UW, a cavity between the stud frame and the wall, perimeter sealing, a double slab where greater mass is required, and avoidance of back-to-back switch boxes. For a slimmer, high-performance solution, the ISOLFON BARRIER membrane adds mass between the slabs.

ARGYNET Note

Internal thermal insulation on an external wall shifts the dew point. This is the second risk associated with the cladding, and it manifests itself months later as mould behind the cladding — where nobody looks.

By adding insulation to the inner face, the masonry becomes colder in winter. Water vapour from the room diffuses outwards, encounters the cold surface behind the insulation and condenses there.

The solution is a continuous vapour barrier on the warm side — between the insulation and the plasterboard, with sealed overlaps and penetrations. In areas with very high humidity, a high-resistance membrane such as FIBRANskin BARRIER 2400 should be used. A single socket hole is enough to render it ineffective locally.

Where internal insulation cannot be installed correctly, external wall insulation is the technically safest solution: it leaves the masonry on the warm side and eliminates the problem rather than managing it.

The choice of slab determines the performance

Field or requirement	Slab
Dry areas, general use	KNAUF Type A
Bathrooms, kitchens, basements	Knauf Type H2 damp-proofing
Shower area, direct contact with water	AQUAPANEL Indoor — moisture-resistant plasterboard is not sufficient there
Fire compartmentalisation	Fire-rated Knauf DF
Sound insulation	SILENTBOARD DFR · Piano DF
Sound insulation and structural strength combined	DIAMANT DFH1IR
Public areas subject to impact; heavy loads	ULTRA BOARD, possibly double-layered
Thermal insulation with direct cladding	FIBRANxps GP

Three things to consider before the wall is completed

Heavy-duty fixings: cupboards, screens, shelves and rails must not be screwed directly into the slab. They require reinforcements within the framework, at the correct level — and the level is defined by the furniture layout plan, not by estimation.
Wiring and junction boxes: routes, positions of sockets and switches, provisions for future use.
Expansion joints: joints are provided in long continuous lengths to ensure that movements do not cause the jointing to crack.

Grouting is not a finishing process

The joint is the weakest point of any cladding, and the appearance, sound insulation and fire resistance all depend on it. Fill completely with Fugenfüller Leicht and Kurt paper tape, in layers, with sanding in between; apply a final finish and primer before painting.

An open or partially filled joint means a visible crack within the first year — and, in a fire-rated system, a passage for hot gases that invalidates the certification.

Mistakes that cost

Incorrect	Consistency
Adhesive-bonded cladding for sound insulation	Poorer acoustics at speech frequencies
Adhesive on a crumbling or damp wall	Delamination, blistering, mould
Internal insulation without a vapour barrier	Condensation and mould behind the slab
Free-standing frame resting against the wall	Sound bridge — the decoupling is lost
No subsidy for cupboards	Removal of slabs after handover