I found local guy to help out with the rendering but he's hopeless at ceilings! I've decided to plasterboard them myself. Anyone used plasterboard for ceilings in Spain? If so, should I use wood battening or isn't there a metal battening available? Also, anyone know the cost per sq metre over here?
I've used plasterboard to make partition walls and on wooden joisted ceiling but never on cement and breeze block construction. Advice appreciated!

Now, I'm not sure if this would work on a ceiling but if it did it would be easier, you may need some things to hold it up until it dries.

You can get stuff (for glue) and put a few blobs on the back of the board then just stick them to the wall, like I say, easy on a wall but might need holding up untill dry on a ceiling. Might be the way to go for you? I would try it.

Thanks a-mouse I thought of this. The problems are that the wiring for the lights is mounted in conduits on the surface. We can't recess it without hacking away at ring beams. I'm not doing that
We do need therefore to keep the board about half a centimetre off the surface. Also I can't afford to rent 100 props to hold it all up while it dries

Your plasterboard supplier will probably also sell the metal battening system. There are angles (perfiles) and crossmembers (travesaños) that you can anchor to the underside of the concrete beams (or blocks) above and which the plasterboard is then fixed to. Or, you could use timber battens, fixed similarly using suitable anchors.
In fact, the Pladur website has all the details and prices!
http://www.pladur.com
It's heavy stuff and definitely a two person plus props job!

Here you go, some pix.
http://www.muchocierzo.com/2007/02/c...de-pladur.html

Try this
http://www.british-gypsum.com/litera...hite_book.aspx

BricoMart sell all you need in the construction area (outside of the main store)

The middle of the metal frame of long runs are normally held up with wires attached to the blocks above.

Leroy Merlin sell everything you need.

Thanks guys/girls. All useful info/links. I do feel a bit stupid when I go to the flash links. But now I realise I don't have to apply any filters for acoustic or fire resistance I think I might get to understand a bit more.
I can't go to Bricomart or Leroy Merlin because the're both an hour away and I don't have a van so I'm going to the local 'almacen' who deliver for free. That's why I'm trying to arm myself with info. I don't want suspended so I'm looking for what I think they call "semidirecto" . Right. Off to look at the websites again.
Ta

OK. Maybe I will go to Leroy Merlin etc having been quoted 17 euros plus vat per board around 3 sq mt . That made my eyes water. Add on a few strips of wood to attach it to (Also expensive in Spain) More expensive than ceramic tiles! That was for 13 mm thick.
Can I use thinner? Anyone got any experience?
I saw an online company called Big Mat. Bigger range. Much cheaper. Anyone bought anything from them

Yep. You don't need 1/2inch plasterboard. Use 3/8inch (9mm?)

Big Mat are good too.

Thinner boards will need more battens and more screws to fix, so it`s swings and roundabouts.
Why not get a quote from a Spanish ceiling (yeso and hemp fixed) board company, may be similar cost and a lot less back breaking hassle.

I will be surprised if you cannot find or adapt a detail in the British Gypsum white book. In the UK its the bible for this type of work.
Have a good look in the digital edition shown on the link page I posted.

That may be a good idea.
These guys can throw these ceilings up much more quickly than you probably believe. In the UK they also obtain significant discounts on the material and I suspect the same applies in Spain. This may help offset the labour cost. No harm in getting a couple of quotes

Have you considered using a real plasterer?