What Is A Drywall in Construction? Advantages of a Drywall

What Is A Drywall in Construction?

Drywall is a type of building material that is used to create walls and ceilings. It is made of a panel of gypsum mixed with fiber, plasticizer, and other additives, and it is held together with thick sheets of paper.

Drywall is often used in commercial buildings to conceal steel beams and to add fire resistance. It is also used to create architectural features such as arches and eaves. Drywall is easy to install, durable and requires only simple repairs when it is damaged.

It became popular in the mid-20th century as an alternative to lath and plaster because it was faster and easier to install.

Drywall is a widely used building material that has replaced plaster in recent years due to its ease of installation and repair, cost-effectiveness, and fire-resistance. While plaster has been used for hundreds of years to construct walls and ceilings by applying wet plaster over wooden strips called laths, the process is labor-intensive and requires a long drying time between coats.

In contrast, drywall can be installed in a fraction of the time and can be easily patched if damaged. It took several decades for drywall to gain widespread acceptance among builders, but it is now the go-to material for constructing walls and ceilings.

History Of Drywall?

Plasterboards, also known as gypsum boards or drywall, were first developed in the United Kingdom in 1888, with the establishment of a plant in Rochester, Kent. In 1894, Augustine Sackett and Fred Kaine introduced the Sackett Board, which was made by pouring liquid plaster between four layers of wool felt paper.

The size of these sheets was 914mm by 914mm and they were 6mm thick. In the following decades, the technology behind plasterboards continued to evolve, with the development of wrapped boards with edges and the use of paper-based facings instead of inner layers of felt paper.

In 1910, the US Gypsum Corporation founded the Plaster-Sackett Board Company, which began producing Sheetrock in 1917. This product was designed to be more efficient to install and also provided fire resistance.

Later, advances in technology resulted in the production of lighter and more elastic panels and boards, as well as the development of improved joint filling materials and tools. Gypsum lath, which is made of quick-set gypsum plaster, was an early substrate used in plastering and was sometimes grooved or punched with small holes to allow wet plaster to penetrate its surface.

It was later faced with paper that was soaked in gypsum and stuck to the applied facing layer of plaster. In 1936, the US Gypsum Corporation trademarked the name ROCK-LATH for their gypsum lath product.

Advantages of Drywall

Drywall is a versatile, cost-effective and convenient wall covering option. It offers many advantages over traditional materials such as plaster, including easy installation and repair, improved fire safety, noise reduction, improved energy efficiency and cost savings.

Installation is quick and easy compared to other wall finishes due to the drywall’s light weight and large panel size.

Additionally, drywall can be repaired quickly by patching or replacing damaged sections with minimal disruption to a home’s occupants.

Drywall is also a much better fire protection material than traditional plaster since its gypsum core material provides added protection against heat and flames while containing combustible gases in the event of a fire.

In addition, it is effective at reducing noise levels between rooms by absorbing sound waves that pass through the walls.

Lastly, drywall improves a home’s energy efficiency by providing better insulation against outside elements when used in conjunction with other components like caulking and insulation.

Benefits Of Drywall

Drywall is a versatile and cost effective walling material for interior home renovations. It offers a wide range of benefits. These are;

• One advantage of using drywall is that it can be installed more quickly than plaster, resulting in lower energy costs.
• Drywall is relatively heavy but the use of lifting equipment can speed up the installation process. Ceiling panels can also be installed quickly with the help of machines.
• While drywall may not be as durable as some other materials, it is very strong and helps support and stabilize walls.
• Drywall contains Calcium Sulfate and water, which make it resistant to fire.
• Using drywall is cost-effective compared to plaster or other methods of smoothing and finishing walls and ceilings.
• Drywall can be used for both permanent and temporary purposes. It can be easily modified, cut or removed if needed.
• Recessed lighting and other fixtures such as mirrors, clothes hangers and artwork can be easily installed in drywall walls and ceilings.

Types Of Drywall

Drywall is a building material used for walls and ceilings. There are various types of drywall, which are typically distinguished by the color of the paper surrounding the drywall. These variations are created using different types of paper and the addition of certain chemicals to the wet mixture used to make the drywall. Some common types of drywall include;

1. Regular drywall, which is also known as white board and is the most widely used type in homes and commercial buildings;
2. Mold-resistant drywall, which is often referred to as green board and is treated with wax for extra moisture resistance and has a fiberglass mesh that prevents the growth of mold.
3. Plasterboard, or blue board, which is used as a base for plaster and has a face paper that is absorptive to allow the plaster finish coat to stick better.
4. Soundproof drywall, which has added wood fiber, gypsum, and polymers to increase its sound transmission class and is used when additional soundproofing is needed.
5. Fire-resistant drywall, which contains fiberglass and is used in garages and basements near potentially fire-prone equipment and comes in two types: Type X, which provides up to one hour of protection from fire and can be used in multiple layers for increased protection, and Type C, which does not shrink when burning and is used mainly in ceilings to prevent collapse during a fire.
6. VOC-absorbing drywall, which captures and traps volatile organic compounds and chemicals from other building materials and cleaning products and remains effective even after being painted or covered with a light wallcovering for up to 75 years.

How To Install Drywall

Installing drywall is a quick and cost-effective way to cover the walls of a house. Two skilled drywallers can complete the job in as little as two or three days, saving time compared to plastering. Even amateur carpenters can learn to install drywall.

The process involves two types of workers: hangers, who attach the panels to the wall using screws and nails, and mud-men or float crew and tapers, who fill in the seams between panels with drywall compound.

Installing drywall is a relatively simple process that can be done as a DIY project. To start, measure the wall and mark on the wall where the drywall will be cut to fit. Make sure to wear safety glasses when cutting or installing drywall.

Place the drywall panels onto the walls and press them firmly into place. Use drywall screws to secure it in place, being careful not to drive screws too deeply into the wall surface. Mud and tape the seams with joint compound and let it sit until it dries before sanding smooth. Finally, paint your walls for a perfect finished look!

Conclusion

In conclusion, drywall is a building material used to construct walls and ceilings. It consists of gypsum plaster compressed between two layers of thick paper, and is one of the most common materials used to build interior walls in modern buildings.

Drywall also provides soundproofing benefits, which makes it perfect for installations in both residential and commercial buildings. Its versatility, affordability, fire resistance and easy installation all make drywall an excellent choice for interior wall construction.