Drywall generally comes in 4-by-8 foot sheets and comes in different grades, often designated by color.
Stepping into a giant home improvement center can be daunting unless you understand exactly what it is you need and why you need it. Drywall is a good example. Today, there are several different kinds of drywall, each with a color code, and it is up to you to know whether you need the standard white drywall, or drywall that is coated with green paper, or if you need drywall that is fire-code rated. Which drywall you need depends on the room you are going to install it in, as well as a few other factors.
When You Need Fire-Code Drywall
Fire-resistant gypsum board, also known as Type X, is required in certain locations -- such as the wall between a garage and a house -- and may be required in other locations by local ordinance. Each state and each county within each state may have different building codes that mandate not only where Type X wallboard must be used, but also what minimum thickness of drywall must be used. There may even be stipulations regarding the type of fasteners -- nails and glue, for instance -- that must be used to secure the board. Also, be careful to follow all regulations for disposing of scraps or unused wallboard.
When to Use Green Drywall
Drywall that is color-coded green is moisture-resistant. Green drywall is used in areas of high humidity such as kitchens and in certain areas of the bathroom. Keep in mind that most municipalities do not allow the use of green drywall around showers and may restrict its use in laundry rooms, as well. Consult local building codes for areas in which green drywall is permitted, and follow all local ordinances as to its disposal.
When to Use Standard White Drywall
White drywall is the Wonder Bread of the building industry. Except where fire-retardant -- TypeX -- drywall is mandated or where other specific types of drywall are required by local building codes, white drywall is the most cost-effective and most commonly used form of interior wall covering. White drywall comes in a variety of thicknesses, everything from quarter-inch to a full-inch thick. Follow all local building codes carefully as to the thickness of drywall necessary for your particular application, and dispose of any excess drywall as per local codes.
Summary of Considerations
First and foremost, consult local building codes as to the type of drywall mandated for specific locations -- such as around showers, in laundry rooms, in garage ceilings and for walls connecting a garage to a house -- and follow all codes regarding the required thickness of the drywall you are using. Cost is another consideration. White drywall is almost always the least expensive and may be used in most areas of construction. Green drywall is more expensive than white drywall, but you may choose to use it in kitchens and for some bathroom walls. Fire-code drywall is generally the most expensive, but is required in most municipalities for specific locations.
Related posts
Professional carpenters use different types of drywall for different jobs. Fire-resistant drywall, which is thicker and heavier than most other sheets of drywall, is widely used in commercial cons...
Not all drywall is Sheetrock, though a lot of it is.The difference between "drywall" and Sheetrock is quite similar to the difference between "tissues" and Kleenex. One is a pr...
The walls in a bathroom must resist moisture.The walls in a bathroom are constantly bombarded by heat and moisture. These produce prime conditions for the growth of mold and mildew. Choosing the r...
A textured plaster wall.Walls covered with plaster have numerous practical and aesthetic advantages over gypsum drywall interiors. While most carpenters can easily and quickly install drywall, ski...
If your home was built after 1960, you probably have drywall instead of plaster.For hundreds of years, plaster was the exclusive way to finish interior walls in homes and offices. Skilled craftsme...
