In addition to its extended installation period, plaster application was quite labor-intensive, requiring skilled craftsmen who labored over a small area of a wall for weeks on end. Walls that would take weeks to create with plaster could be finished in a couple of days with drywall and would last longer and cost less to build.
Damaged drywall can be patched up in a quicker and easier fashion than plaster, and drywall also has a greater degree of fire-resistance. Despite all these benefits, the use of drywall was slow to catch on with builders.
It was only in the past 50 or 60 years that this material truly gained any respect. Let's take a look at the history of drywall and see how its reputation evolved over the years to become a universally favored building material.
The U. Gypsum Company USG invented drywall in The material was first sold in the form of small, fireproof tiles, but within a few years, it was sold in multi-layer gypsum and paper sheets. In less then a decade, it took on the form we know, consisting of a single layer of compressed gypsum sandwiched between two sheets of heavy paper.
While it only took a few years for this board to evolve into the material we know today, it took 25 years for builders to begin using drywall in any substantial quantity. With all its uses and benefits, why were builders hesitant to use something as simple as drywall? At the time, drywall was thought of as a cheap fix, with none of the fine art associated with making plaster.
People didn't want to live in homes that were shoddily constructed, so they stuck with the tradition and expense of plaster. Gypsum eventually changed the brand name of the material to "Sheetrock" in an attempt to improve drywall's reputation, but builders and homeowners still paid no attention.
As the country's labor force became focused on war manufacturing and many soldiers were sent overseas to fight, quick and inexpensive building materials were needed to offset the labor shortage and war costs. Because the labor shortage was too intense for plastering to remain a viable building option, people began to use drywall instead.
Houses and factories could be constructed in a fraction of the time and with a fraction of the labor previously required. Cheap and efficient products were seen as patriotic because they allowed citizens to spend more time and money supporting the war effort. By the time the war ended in , drywall had become the dominant building material in the United States.
During the post-war building boom, contractors knew they could construct homes and workplaces in one-tenth the time if they abandoned plaster for drywall, leading to higher profits.
Over time, the use of plaster gradually faded as people all over the world turned to drywall. Gypsum Company is still one of the world's top producers and innovators of drywall and related products [source: USG ].
Next we'll look at how drywall is made and how it's evolved since the early days of its invention. A major problem with plaster had been the extremely long drying time associated with it, as it was installed wet, and installers had to wait for the previous layer to dry before installing the next one. Drywall is made primarily of gypsum.
Gypsum is a mineral usually found in massive beds that look like white sand, though impurities can cause beds to appear pink, yellow or gray. Despite being used to make drywall, there's a large amount of water in gypsum. The water is in crystalline form, which is why the individual molecules of gypsum are dry. These crystalline water molecules give finished drywall its fire -resistance.
As drywall gets hot, the water crystals begin to destabilize and begin vaporizing as the water reaches its boiling point. The evaporating water crystals keep the drywall cool, protecting the structure behind it.
Once gypsum has been mined, it's transported to factories throughout the world. There, raw gypsum is mixed with several additives, including starch, paper pulp and an emulsifier or thickening agent , then blended with water to form a thick paste.
Another sheet of Manila paper is then laid on top. The entire formation passes through ovens that heat the sheet at temperatures up to degrees Fahrenheit.
This dries the material out and prepares it for cutting. Typical sheets are 4x8 feet, though 4x10 feet and 4x12 feet sheets have become popular recently, as they allow for faster installation of taller walls.
Additional additives or types of paper are used when creating more specialized forms of drywall. For more on this, and information on finding the right type of drywall to suit your needs, read on to the next section. The newest drywall types being introduced are being marketed as eco-friendly in order to take advantage of the growing market for green products.
Enviroboard, a drywall-type sheet made of agricultural products like wheat, grass and straw compressed between two sheets of paper, also made its debut in While regular drywall is appropriate for most applications, there are many other types that are better suited for special circumstances.
The chart below will help you choose the correct type for your application. Measure the square footage of the walls and ceilings you need to cover. To accommodate for material waste due to cutting and size restrictions, add 20 percent to your measurement. Divide your square foot measurement by 32 feet the size of the typical sheet to find out how many sheets you'll need to purchase.
Of course, no matter which type of drywall you use, it's no good on its own. Yes, you read that correctly. Certain drywall imported from China and low-quality boards made right here in the United States have been found to emit sulfur gas. Obviously, this results in quite an unpleasant odor. However, it can even lead to negative health effects and metal corrosion. Hey there! I created this blog to share everything I've learned over the years, so you can hopefully get it all right the first time without the stress or headache.
The Home Upgrader will literally save you thousands on your next remodeling project. Put a bit differently: Drywall and sheetrock are really the same thing. What is Drywall? What is Sheetrock? This is used in kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and all throughout the home. What are the Major Types of Drywall and Sheetrock? There are a lot of different types of drywall and sheetrock to choose from. Here are just five that I find really helpful: Moisture Resistant : This type of drywall helps keep out water and prevents mold from developing or building up.
These sheets tend to be thicker than the average wallboard. Acoustic Drywall : This drywall is incredible. It helps keep out sound and is perfect for soundproofing a room. This keeps sound from traveling in or out. Gypsum Company. Like other drywall, it comes in various thicknesses, and in mold- and moisture-resistant options. Choosing building materials is only one aspect of construction.
Some drywall containing sulfur can emit bad odors, cause health problems, and corrode metal. MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.
Lydia Crowder is a second generation drywall finisher. She started helping out her dad with the family business as a kid and quickly grew to love it. Blue board is used for veneer plastering, and the surface paper has special absorption qualities.
It has a high water and mold resistance and there are fewer steps involved in veneer plastering. Blue board drywall is not made for mud, tape, or paint. It works extremely well in bathrooms or places with a lot of moisture and helps reduce noise.
Paperless drywall has been replacing paper drywall. This type of drywall is covered with fiberglass instead of paper, which protects the gypsum board from rot and offers even greater resistance to mold and mildew. The quality of the board is a little tougher than regular drywall, but some construction pros find it easier to cut. Purple drywall offers the same advantages as regular drywall, but with superior moisture- and mold-resistant characteristics.
It can be used with all wall and ceiling applications and is ideally suited where enhanced moisture and mold resistance is desired.
If it is going to be in contact with water, this is the one to use. This is the so-called fire-resistant drywall. Several thicknesses can be used in layers to achieve a higher fire rating.
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