Prior to World War I, the most common wall materials in most homes were lath and plaster. The housing boom after WWII prompted a demand for a speedier technique to finish walls, and drywall was born. It is now the most used type of interior wall finish. Gypsum board, wallboard, and sheetrock are all terms for drywall.
What it made of?
It’s made of gypsum, which is a plentiful naturally occurring material (making it an eco-friendly choice). The gypsum is mixed with other ingredients to make a slurry, which is then sandwiched between two layers of paper and dried. The type of drywall is determined by the paper type and thickness, as well as the chemicals in the slurry.
What type of thickness you should use?
Drywall comes in a range of thicknesses, each of which is employed for a distinct purpose. To improve fire resistance or soundproofing, many layers of drywall might be used.
The thinnest wallboard is 1/4 inches thick, and it’s mostly utilized on curved walls. Because of its thinness, it is more flexible, especially when wet. After the drywall has dried, it is finished in the same manner as ordinary drywall.
The most typical drywall thickness is 1/2 inches. This is the type of paint that is used on the majority of residential walls. It protects you against fire for 30 minutes. In rooms or regions that require extra protection, multiple layers are frequently constructed.
Commercial contractors frequently use 5/8-inch drywall. 5/8-inch drywall can be utilized for added fire protection or soundproofing. A 5/8-inch drywall is expect to provide 60 minutes of fire protection.
What thickness studs underneath drywall are ideal?
It depends on the application. For interior non load baring walls typically 25 gauge 3 5/8″ studs are passable for drywall. They are light-weight and easy to work with. However if you intend on adding blocking and looking for a sturdier build, you should use a higher gauge, we recommend using 22 gauge or 20 gauge. This will insure sturdy applications for blocking to hold your shelves/sinks etc. For loadbearing walls 20 gauge is the lightest you should go.
Standard Drywall
The most popular type of drywall used in homes and commercial applications is regular drywall, also known as white board. 1/2 inch is the most common thickness for residential applications. The most common drywall sheet size is 4′ x 8′, but for high ceilings, it’s also available in lengths up to 16′. For modest repairs and to make the sheets easier to handle, home improvement retailers sell 2′ × 2′ drywall sheets.
Mold-resistant drywall
Mold-resistant drywall, often known as green board, has a thicker paper backing than ordinary drywall and is wax-coated for added moisture resistance. It also comes with a non-organic fiberglass mesh that prevents mold from growing by removing the feeding source (called paperless drywall). Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and tile backers are all common places to find mold-resistant drywall. There is also mold-resistant mud available. It’s important to note that mold-resistant drywall is not the same as moisture-resistant drywall.
Plasterboard
Plasterboard, also known as blue board, is similar to lath in lath and plaster walls in that it serves as a substrate for plaster applications. A thin coat or coats of plaster must be applied to the whole surface of plasterboard. Because the face paper absorbs moisture, the plaster finish layer adheres to the drywall better. It’s used to produce the appearance of lath and plaster in older homes.
Soundproof drywall
While every drywall has some soundproofing properties, soundproof drywall contains more wood fiber, gypsum, and polymers to improve the sound transmission class (STC) above conventional drywall. STC is a measurement of how much noise a material can stop, analogous to the Richter scale. When extra soundproofing is necessary, such as between living quarters and common walls, soundproof drywall is employed. It’s harder to deal with than conventional drywall because it’s denser.
Fire-resistant drywall
In garages and basements, specialized fire-resistant drywall is applied around equipment that could spark a fire. It contains fiberglass, which slows the spread of fire and prevents it from burning as quickly as conventional gypsum. Type X and Type C drywall are the two varieties of fire-resistant drywall. Type X is 5/8″ thick and provides up to one hour of fire protection. If necessary, it can be utilized in many layers to give additional protection. Type C is similar to Type X except that it does not shrink when burned. It’s mostly utilized in ceilings to keep them from collapsing in the event of a fire.
VOC-absorbing drywall
VOC-absorbing drywall is a relatively new product that collects chemicals and other volatile organic compounds and retains them within the drywall, rendering them harmless. These chemicals are found in a variety of building materials as well as cleaning products that we use on a daily basis. The drywall can last up to 75 years after being painted or coated with a light wallcovering.
Any questions about drywall or framing? Please email me at tiago.atwi@boxyconstruction.com or message me on Linkedin.