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Columbia Taping Tools – Innovative And Reliable Drywall Tools For Plastering Professionals

If you’re considering investing in some new high quality drywall equipment, Columbia Taping Tools should be one of the first brands you turn to.

Every product made by the team at Columbia is built to the highest possible standard – no exceptions. They guarantee this quality on all their products based on the materials that go into every single tool they make.

Other companies might try to cut corners and save money by sourcing their materials from more affordable locations, but Columbia are proud to manufacture all their drywall taping tools in Canada using only the very best American steel, aluminium, rubber and plastic.

When you use drywall taping tools made by Columbia on site, you’ll instantly recognise their exceptional build quality and durability compared to other taping tools on the market. These tools are built to work as hard as you do, and last for years rather than months.

This unique approach to taping tools comes from Columbia’s founder, Bernie St James. Bernie ran his own business as a drywall taper for many years, but wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the tools available on the market. They would often be made cheaply, with little attention paid to detail or actual on-site performance – and that’s when he started Columbia Taping Tools all the way back in 1979.

Using his own high standards as a benchmark, Bernie was able to develop a complete range of drywall taping tools that focused around exceptional craftsmanship and reliability. All of Columbia’s products are built using these principles of real-world experience and a passion for good, honest hard work.

When you buy anything from our range of Columbia Tools, not only will you get a top quality product, you’ll be benefitting from over 35 years of industry experience and get to use some of the most innovative tools available on the market. The outstanding build quality is obvious on all Columbia tools, and they take great pride in manufacturing products that their customers love from the very first use.

Not only that, all Columbia drywall taping tools are backed by one of the best product guarantees in the world. Have an issue with a Columbia tool? Regardless of whether it’s a Predator automatic taper, an extension handle, a flat box or any other product, simply get in touch with us and we’ll do everything we can (with Columbia’s help!) to get you back to work.

This fantastic guarantee covers a full five-year period, so you can purchase your taping tools safe in the knowledge that they will be repaired or replaced in the unlikely event something does go wrong.

Here at Gypsumtools, we’re delighted to be working in collaboration with Columbia Drywall Taping Tools and offering their fantastic product range on our website, over the phone, or at our trade counter in Leicester – where you can touch and feel it before you make your purchase. We have absolute confidence in their range of tools and we would highly recommend them to any drywall professional.

If you want to enjoy the privilege of using some of the best drywall tools on the market, take a look at our full Columbia product range.

Find out how you can make huge savings on our taping tools with our Taping Tool Kit Builder, featuring DeWalt and Level 5 taping tools.

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Plaster Or Plasterboard – Which Is Better?

Wet Plastering A Wall

When it comes to home improvements, there are always plenty of decisions to be made. Hard floor or carpet? Fibreglass or foam insulation? Paint or wallpaper? The list goes on.

Relining a wall brings about just one more choice – wet plaster or plasterboard? We’ve decided to take a look at this age-old battle to see if there really is a clear winner, or the choice comes down to your personal preference.

So if you’re looking to renovate your home, repair damage or just reline an old wall, chances are you’ll want to know which product is better for your needs. As established plastering and drylining specialists, our team are always on hand to help – but let’s take more of a detailed look at the two options in isolation.

Plaster

Generally the preferred option for masonry professionals in the UK, a traditional plaster finish can give your walls and ceilings a uniquely smooth result that plasterboard just can’t compete with. Not only does wet plaster give an exceptional finish, but it’s also known to be incredibly durable and resistant to degradation over time.

Choosing wet plaster also gives the added advantage of limitless restrictions – regardless of the size, shape or fiddly details like window bays or door frames, you can plaster any area given the right level of application and skill. We’d also throw in here that wet plaster provides a better airtight seal than plasterboard, meaning your room is better prepared to retain warmth and restrict water ingress from external sources.

Now you’re probably thinking ‘wet plaster is the winner’ – but there are some downsides to choosing this plastering method.

The biggest of these is the skill and craftsmanship it takes to apply wet plaster efficiently, which is why good plasterers train to hone their skills for many years as apprentices prior to working independently. Attempting to plaster a wall or room yourself is definitely not recommended – without the necessary experience, you’re almost certain to end up with an uneven finish and cracks when the plaster has dried.

Wet plaster is a fantastic option if you have money to invest and time on your side – if not, let’s take a look at the alternative.

Plasterboard – Drywall

If you’re looking for an effective finish to a wall, but just don’t have the time to get men on-site or wait for the plaster to dry, plasterboard is a fantastic alternative to the traditional wet plastering method.

Ready-made boards that you attach to your wall – plasterboard is as literal as it sounds. Simply measure up your wall or room, order the appropriate number of boards and that’s it. The only task left for you is to secure the boards to your wall, fill in the joints and screw holes with jointing compound to leave a single, smooth finish – we recommend 4T or Wondertex to do this. Thanks to their construction, plasterboard rarely cracks as the plaster is already dry and installing it is far easier than tackling wet plaster without prior experience.

The most challenging aspect will likely be the task of taping the joints of the drywall together, with jointing compound and tape, which again you’ll need the appropriate tools and materials to complete successfully – you’ll want a taping knife in a few sizes to make this step easier.

It’s fair to say plasterboard is definitely the more convenient of the two options, but if you’re looking for that uniquely smooth finish only wet plaster can bring, you’re going to need to pay more and wait longer. If your wall or room is unusually shaped, your hand may be forced when it comes to this choice, but it’s likely that installing plasterboard here would take longer anyway – cutting unique shapes with a jab saw, fastening them to a unusually-shaped wall and then filling in the joints and screw holes with jointing compound using a taping knife is only for the very brave.

Remember you’ll have to wait for this to dry and then hand sand the access off before to leave a smooth finish.

Summary

In summary, both types of plaster product have clear benefits. If you have the time and money to invest in a higher quality finish, wet plaster is almost certainly the preferable option. It brings a more durable, smoother finish with no joins between boards or screw holes to manually fill with drywall compound.

Plasterboard, on the other hand, is more time and money efficient – you can simply cut and install the boards, fill in the joints & screw holes and you’ll have your wall and ceilings relined in no time!

Still unsure which type of plastering option is best for you? Get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help.