Plasterboard installation requires minimal tools and is faster than wet plaster.
Plasterboard, also called drywall and wallboard, is made of gypsum, with paper or cardboard applied to each side to protect the inner core. This wall covering offers more convenient installation than wet plaster, and has been around since the late 19th century. Since then, it's become the standard in new construction, and is readily available in most home improvement stores.
Plaster
According to LaFarge Group, gypsum plaster, a fire resistant material made of ground stone, has been found on walls dating as far back as 9000 BCE. Gypsum plaster coatings were used to reduce building flammability and create decorative elements on building interiors. Applying this type of plaster requires a support surface, called lathe. Workers trowel the plaster onto the support, and must allow it to dry before applying another layer.
Benefits
Plasterboard offers significant benefits over wet plaster in that it does not need to dry, requires no lathe support, and can be installed in a very short period of time. Plasterboard also presents a smooth, even surface, and requires minimal sanding. Plasterboard does not require the same level of skill to install as wet plaster, and thus reduces building costs.
History
According to LaFarge, the first plasterboard was invented in 1894 by Augustine Sackett in the United States. This plasterboard featured a gypsum core with cardboard attached to each side. It did not come into regular use until about the 1940s, when automated production made this produce easier to create. Plasterboard fit in well with the low-decoration building styles of this era, and has become a staple of modern construction.
Considerations
Plasterboard is easy to install, but lacks the strength of plaster backed with lathe. People living in homes with plasterboard walls must take care when hanging pictures or decorations. A heavy object hung in plasterboard, but not through a support stud, may quickly fall off the wall. Plasterboard also discourages the use of elaborate decorative elements, which are more common in homes finished with traditional plaster.
Potential
New types of plasterboard, including a production method that produces a board with four tapered edges, may make installation easier. This shape prevents overlap at the join between boards, saving time and reducing the need for heavy application of joint compound. While tapered plasterboard has been available since 1922, it was previously made to order and very expensive. Mass production of this board type could make home-building much easier.
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