Gypsum wallboard is a common material used to cover interior walls and ceilings.
Gypsum wallboard is the most commonly used material to cover walls in interior projects. It has evolved into a versatile, dependable material that is quick to install and easy to repair. Made from a natural crystallized mineral, wallboard is naturally fire resistant and can also act as a sound barrier.
Definition
Gypsum.org describes gypsum board as "panel-type products consisting of a noncombustible core, primarily of gypsum, with a paper surfacing on the face, back, and long edges." Wallboard is used in the construction industry in interior projects. Also called sheetrock, drywall or plasterboard, it provides a smooth surface that can then be finished, typically with paint.
Materials
Gypsum occurs when a mineral called calcium sulfate dehydrates and is found in crystalline form in sedimentary rocks. The gypsum rocks are mined from the earth and then crushed and ground into a powder. The rocks are chemically combined with water and the powder is heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to drive out the water in a process called calcining. Calcined gypsum is then mixed with water and other products to form a paste and layered in between sheets of paper to create gypsum wallboard. The mixture re-crystallizes, chemically bonds with the paper and becomes as hard as rock again.
History
Augustine Sackett patented the manufacturing process for Sackett board in 1894. Sackett board, considered the predecessor to wallboard, was thin plastic material between wool felt paper that came in sheets 1/4-inch thick and 36 inches square. The material soon replaced wood and lathe as an underlayment for plaster walls. Gypsum board, as it's known today, came about between 1910 and 1930 when the edges became wrapped and paper replaced felt.
Uses
Many uses exist for gypsum board. Its primary use is as a smooth surface to paint over in interior projects. Wallboard comes in a standard sheet size of 4 feet by 8 feet but is available in 10-, 12- or 14-foot-long sheets. Thickness ranges from 1/4 inch to 1 inch. Each sheet is screwed to wall studs or ceiling joists. The seams are then taped and covered with a joint compound. Screw holes are also filled and the compound is sanded to a smooth finish. Ease of installation, repair, availability and versatility make it the number-one choice for walls and ceilings. It can even serve as a backer for tile.
Types
Several types of gypsum board are available. Foil-backed board acts as a vapor retarder. Gypsum mixed with glass fibers and vermiculite is called type "X" and creates extra fire protection. Greenboard is a gypsum board that is treated to be water resistant and is used under tile in bathrooms. Blue-tinted board is used under veneer plaster. Other types of gypsum board include pre-decorated, shaftliner and soffit board.
Related posts
Typical professional installation of drywall takes one to two days for most houses.Gypsum board is the most common type of drywall used to build walls and ceilings. Gypsum board is essentially cru...
WallboardWhen building or remodeling a home, one of the decisions that needs to be made is what material to use for the walls. There are several options, including drywall, plaster or plywood. One...
Gypsum can be used to speed the hardening of cement.Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from deposits formed by ancient seabeds. Gypsum can be dried in one of two ways; the metho...
Gypsum is a natural mineral that is mined and used to make sheets of wallboard. This type of interior wall finish is much less labor-intensive than the lath-and-plaster system of wall finishing th...
Gypsum board, or drywall, is tough and easy to install and maintain.Gypsum board, also called drywall, plasterboard and wallboard, is used extensively in construction projects. The material makes...
