Dabs
The term ‘dabs’ refers to blobs or 'dots' of plaster or gypsum-based bonding compounds used as an adhesive to fix boards such as gypsum-based boards, dry lining board or mineral fibre backed boards direct to masonry walls. This leaves a small cavity between the boards and the wall.
Dabs have been commonly used since the 1970’s an 80’s as a faster method of fixing boards to walls compared to timber battens or timber straps. As well as being faster, dabs can perform acoustically more effectively than timber straps, however, at some frequencies, the air in the cavity behind the boards can cause a mass-spring-mass resonance.
The technique of fixing boards direct to masonry with dabs is referred to as ‘dot and dab’. This process has been criticised recently as the cavity behind the boards can create a thermal by-pass if it is open at the top or bottom or if there are imperfections in the wall. See dot and dab for more information.
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