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 crushed and compressed gypsum adhered to paper. The product is easy to cut or size, lightweight and durable. The specifications for gypsum board include the materials used in the board as well as varying sizes and intended use.
Makeup of the Board
Gypsum board is basically the combination of heated, crushed stone and paper backing. Gypsum is a type of quartz rock found frequently in sedimentary deposits. The stone is heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in an effort to remove the majority of water and liquids, according to the Gypsum Association. After heating, the crushed rock is mixed with water and other chemicals, pressed between papers, and dried. The chemicals allow the gypsum to recrystallize forming a sturdy and stable base compound.
Sizes
Almost all gypsum board comes in 4-by-8 foot sheets. However, several manufacturers produce 10-, 12-, and 14-foot lengths of gypsum board. The boards are usually two sheets pieced together at the ends with a thin strip of paper. The width of the boards can vary from one-quarter of an inch to a full inch. The most common sized used on interior walls is 3/8-inch thick. The individual sheets can be joined using plaster and paper tape that adheres to the surface of the board creating a seamless transition between sheets. Cutting a gypsum board requires running a razor knife along one side of the board, bending the board at the cut line, and cutting the backing along the folded line.
Uses
The most common use for gypsum is for interior walls and ceilings. Typically, 3/8 inch drywall is used as the initial covering for walls; 1/2 inch drywall is more common for ceilings, however. 1 inch drywall is used in partitions, hall ceilings, or other areas where high-fire resistance and a sturdier drywall is needed. 1/4 inch drywall, the smallest size available, is rarely used alone; the small size typically is used as a thin cover over existing walls. Drywall has excellent sound-dampening effects. Several contractors use the 1/4 inch drywall as a base material when constructing rooms that need sound proofing.
Related posts
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 versa...
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...
Residential construction uses primarily gypsum drywall for interior walls.If you live in a house built after 1950, chances are your walls are made of gypsum drywall. If you are remodeling or even...
Drywall contains gypsum plaster.The construction material called drywall is also called gypsum board because most drywall is made with gypsum plaster and thick paper. To finish interior walls, you...
Bathroom walls present challenges that walls in other rooms don't.When it comes time to enclose the walls in a bathroom construction or remodeling project, builders are faced with a decision. The...
