Drylining & Dry Line Insulation Guide

Drylining (often spelled dry lining insulation) is Ireland's most popular form of internal wall insulation. By adding high-performance insulated drylining boards to the inside of your external walls, you can prevent heat loss, eliminate drafts, and lower your energy bills.

The process of dry lining walls is especially useful for older houses built with solid stone or concrete blocks, which do not have a cavity that can be pumped. This dry line insulation acts as a thermal barrier, trapping heat inside and bringing your rooms up to modern comfort standards.

How Drylining Walls Works

When undertaking a drylining project, installers typically use one of two main methods to secure the system:

• Dot and Dab (Direct Bonding): High-performance composite insulation boards (insulated plasterboard) are glued directly to flat brick or block walls using specialist adhesive dabs. This is the fastest and most space-efficient method.
• Timber or Metal Stud Battens: If the existing walls are damp or uneven, installers build a secondary stud framework. The insulation is placed between and over the studs before fixing plasterboard on top.

Whichever method is selected, ensuring a perfectly sealed vapour control layer is critical. This prevents warm, moist indoor air from penetrating behind the boards and condensing against the cold outer wall.