Even large holes in drywall are easily repairable.
Before drywall was introduced to the American market by the United States Gypsum Company in 1916, the most common method to finish interior walls was lath and plaster. Even though it is more difficult, it continued to be the method of choice until a manpower shortage during World War II forced builders to switch to drywall. Contemporary builders use drywall almost exclusively because, among other things, it is fire resistant, stable and inexpensive.
Cost
The cost of drywall materials, including drywall sheets, fasteners and finishing materials, is in the range of 25 to 65 cents per square foot, as of April 2011. This is less than any other wall covering system, including lath and plaster, which requires wood for the lath, steel mesh and copious amounts of plaster. Even if drywall materials weren't less expensive, however, the labor costs for installation are so much lower than those for plastering that they would more than compensate for the difference. Drywall repairs are also significantly less costly than repairs to lath and plaster or other wall coverings.
Installation
Building standards have evolved to accommodate the prominence of drywall as a wall covering, and builders space studs to accommodate the dimensions of a standard sheet. The result is that workers can hang drywall in an entire room in a day. Any other system requires more time and effort, especially lath and plaster, which involves setting the lath and netting before the plaster can even be applied. Applying plaster properly is a skill that few possess, but finishing drywall seams is a task that virtually almost anyone can perform and achieve acceptable results.
Stability
Plaster walls are subject to cracking in the event of excessive vibrations or settling of the foundation, but cracks on a wall covered with drywall are usually confined to the seams. For problem walls, manufacturers have introduced products that make seams less vulnerable to cracking, including fiberglass mesh tape and setting-type joint compound. A drywall-covered wall may sound hollow when you knock on it, but it is capable of resisting all but the most severe impacts because manufacturers press gypsum into a rock-like material between the paper coverings of a sheet of drywall.
Safety
According to the Center for Asbestos Safety, 95 percent of all commercial and residential buildings in the U.S. have drywall-covered walls, and two of the main reasons are that drywall is fire resistant and asbestos free. Although regular drywall is safe for most conditions, the extra fire resistance of Type X and Type C drywall make them suitable for high-risk areas. Special water-resistant drywall, called green board, is suitable for wet locations and is manufactured with an additive to make it mold resistant. Mold abatement is a significant advantage because mold inhalation can cause respiratory disease.
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