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Dot-and-Dab Adhesive Verification Checklist

Essential Checklist+

Complete these critical checks before approving the work or proceeding to the next construction stage.

✓18 Inspection Points
✓5 Verification Categories
✓Wall Measurement & Background Survey+
  • Wall length and height were measured on site, not taken from a floor plan alone.
  • The background wall's flatness and plumb were checked with a straightedge/spirit level at several points, not assumed uniform across the whole wall.
  • Any area consistently more than ~25mm out of true was identified and flagged for a dubbing-out/scratch coat before dry lining, rather than compensating with oversized dabs alone.
  • The background is confirmed sound, dry, dust-free, and free of loose material, paint flaking, or efflorescence before adhesive is applied.
✓Board & Adhesive Selection+
  • Board type (standard plasterboard vs. thermal laminate/insulated board) matches the room's actual requirement — insulation upgrade vs. plain lining.
  • Adhesive product is confirmed compatible with the selected board type and background (masonry, concrete, etc.) per its own technical data sheet.
  • Board wastage allowance (typically 5-15%) was applied on top of the packed whole-board count, not used to replace it.
  • The final board and bag quantities including wastage — not the raw packed totals — were used for purchase.
✓Dab Layout & Fixing+
  • Each board's own top edge gets a discrete row of dabs (one per column, inset at least 25mm from the board edge, never placed exactly at it) — confirmed NOT a continuous ribbon there.
  • Each board's own bottom edge gets one continuous horizontal ribbon of adhesive, not discrete dabs — confirmed unbroken along its full width.
  • A SEPARATE continuous ribbon of adhesive is planned along the wall's own outer perimeter (floor line, ceiling line, both end returns) and around every door/window opening and penetration (socket boxes etc.), with no gaps — this serves airtightness and is in addition to, not instead of, each board's own top row / bottom ribbon.
  • For standard board wider than 1000mm across the wall, board thickness is confirmed before setting dab column spacing: 9.5mm needs 400mm maximum centres, 12.5mm or 15mm needs only 600mm. For standard board 900mm or narrower, 450mm applies regardless of thickness. Thermal laminate (ThermaLine) board is NOT checked against this thickness table at all — it always uses the fixed 600mm/450mm width-based rule.
  • Column spacing is checked against the board span actually running across the wall, with the hung orientation (long edge up vs. along the wall) accounted for, not just the board's own long edge.
  • Dabs within every column — including the two side-edge columns — are spaced no more than 300mm apart vertically, from the top row down to the bottom ribbon.
  • For thermal laminate/insulated board, 2 nailable plugs per board (mid-height, one near each side edge) are specified for normal use, rising to 9 per board plus one extra mid-height dab row if the board will be tiled over — confirmed against the fixing manufacturer's own load-rated spacing and embedment data for anything outside that specific system.
✓Curing, Jointing & Finishing+
  • Boards are left undisturbed for the adhesive's full working/initial-set time before any further work against them.
✓Safety, Handling & Final Check+
  • Boards were lifted and carried with adequate help or lifting equipment — a full-size board is heavy and awkward for one person.
  • Dust protection (mask, eye protection, ventilation) was used when cutting boards and mixing adhesive.
Full QC Checklist+

Verify background survey, board/adhesive selection, dab layout, fixing, and safety before handover.

✓31 Inspection Points
✓5 Verification Categories
✓Wall Measurement & Background Survey+
  • Wall length and height were measured on site, not taken from a floor plan alone.
  • The background wall's flatness and plumb were checked with a straightedge/spirit level at several points, not assumed uniform across the whole wall.
  • Any area consistently more than ~25mm out of true was identified and flagged for a dubbing-out/scratch coat before dry lining, rather than compensating with oversized dabs alone.
  • The background is confirmed sound, dry, dust-free, and free of loose material, paint flaking, or efflorescence before adhesive is applied.
  • Door and window opening areas were recorded for the net bonded area, even though board count is based on the full wall.
  • Dimensions were entered in consistent units — all metres or all feet, not mixed.
✓Board & Adhesive Selection+
  • Board type (standard plasterboard vs. thermal laminate/insulated board) matches the room's actual requirement — insulation upgrade vs. plain lining.
  • Board size and thickness are confirmed against the manufacturer's span/handling guidance, not assumed suitable for every wall height.
  • Adhesive product is confirmed compatible with the selected board type and background (masonry, concrete, etc.) per its own technical data sheet.
  • Board wastage allowance (typically 5-15%) was applied on top of the packed whole-board count, not used to replace it.
  • The final board and bag quantities including wastage — not the raw packed totals — were used for purchase.
  • Boards and adhesive bags were ordered from the same production batch where possible to avoid visible variation.
✓Dab Layout & Fixing+
  • Each board's own top edge gets a discrete row of dabs (one per column, inset at least 25mm from the board edge, never placed exactly at it) — confirmed NOT a continuous ribbon there.
  • Each board's own bottom edge gets one continuous horizontal ribbon of adhesive, not discrete dabs — confirmed unbroken along its full width.
  • A SEPARATE continuous ribbon of adhesive is planned along the wall's own outer perimeter (floor line, ceiling line, both end returns) and around every door/window opening and penetration (socket boxes etc.), with no gaps — this serves airtightness and is in addition to, not instead of, each board's own top row / bottom ribbon.
  • For standard board wider than 1000mm across the wall, board thickness is confirmed before setting dab column spacing: 9.5mm needs 400mm maximum centres, 12.5mm or 15mm needs only 600mm. For standard board 900mm or narrower, 450mm applies regardless of thickness. Thermal laminate (ThermaLine) board is NOT checked against this thickness table at all — it always uses the fixed 600mm/450mm width-based rule.
  • Column spacing is checked against the board span actually running across the wall, with the hung orientation (long edge up vs. along the wall) accounted for, not just the board's own long edge.
  • Dabs within every column — including the two side-edge columns — are spaced no more than 300mm apart vertically, from the top row down to the bottom ribbon.
  • Dab thickness (compressed) is confirmed within the typical 10-25mm range and matched to the actual background flatness measured earlier, not a single fixed figure.
  • Overall board-to-wall contact (the board's own 20% minimum, NOT the wall-perimeter ribbon, which is a separate airtightness requirement) is confirmed against this calculator's reported per-board contact percentage — denser spacing or bigger dabs are used if a non-tiled board's own figure falls short.
  • For thermal laminate/insulated board, 2 nailable plugs per board (mid-height, one near each side edge) are specified for normal use, rising to 9 per board plus one extra mid-height dab row if the board will be tiled over — confirmed against the fixing manufacturer's own load-rated spacing and embedment data for anything outside that specific system.
  • Boards are offered up and firmly tamped into a true plane using a straightedge immediately after dabbing, before the adhesive begins to set.
✓Curing, Jointing & Finishing+
  • Boards are left undisturbed for the adhesive's full working/initial-set time before any further work against them.
  • Boards are not loaded with fixtures, shelving, or heavy wall-mounted items until the adhesive has fully cured per the manufacturer's stated time.
  • Joint taping, filling, and finishing follow the same joint-treatment standard as any other plasterboard installation — see this site's Drywall Mud / Drywall Tape calculators for that material takeoff.
  • Skirting, coving, or trim fixing points were planned to land on solid dab/perimeter-bead material, not purely on an unsupported board void.
✓Safety, Handling & Final Check+
  • Boards were lifted and carried with adequate help or lifting equipment — a full-size board is heavy and awkward for one person.
  • Dust protection (mask, eye protection, ventilation) was used when cutting boards and mixing adhesive.
  • Mixed adhesive was used within its stated working time (commonly around 90 minutes) and not reworked after it began to set.
  • The finished wall was checked for plane/plumb with a straightedge before boards were left to cure.
  • Structural or heavy point-load fixtures (large cabinetry, wall-mounted units) were planned to use fixings rated for dot-and-dab construction, not relied on the board alone.
Inspection Notes+
Use the latest approved drawings, specifications, and site measurements.
Complete all critical checks before proceeding to the next work stage.
Record deviations and confirm rectification where required.

Related Calculators & Guides

Dot-and-Dab Adhesive CalculatorOpen the related calculator and verify the current project inputs.

FAQ

Use it after collecting the project inputs and again before approving or closing the relevant work stage.
No. It supports verification but does not replace approved drawings, specifications, codes, manufacturer requirements, or professional inspection.