Drywall or gypsum, is a construction material that can be applied over wood laths. Its surface is rock-hard, and it can be used to make walls, floors, ceilings, and other structures. The use of gypsum is rising in many applications, including sterile environments, which require a clean, smooth finish.
Gypsum is a construction material that dates back thousands of years. It is found in abundant deposits around the world. In addition to its use as a building material, gypsum is also used to make plaster.
Typically, drywall is made of gypsum plaster sandwiched between a thick paper called face paper. The face paper is wrapped around each edge of the drywall. This makes a receptive surface for most wall-finishing materials.
Historically, gypsum was mixed with sand to form construction mortar. During the late 19th century, a compressed gypsum plaster board was developed to replace wood or metal lath. This was a more economical alternative to using a wet plaster method.
After World War II, advances in gypsum products were introduced. These include gypsum board, which is commonly used for interior walls and partitions.
Despite its common use in the construction industry, there is no uniform method of identifying gypsum products. Some manufacturers use color to make products easily identifiable.
In addition to its use in drywall, gypsum is also used in a wide variety of applications. Some of these include the gypsum board, which serves as a base for external soffits in sheltered positions. Other applications of gypsum board include flooring, ceilings, and partitions.
Aside from its widespread usage, gypsum is also known for its fire-resistant properties. It can withstand temperatures of 212 deg Fahrenheit, and it remains this temperature when exposed to a fire. Additionally, a thin coating of clay is added to some fire-resistant grades of gypsum board.
As a building material, gypsum has been used in ancient structures. Similarly, it is a component of plaster, which was used in the Egyptian pyramids. Among its other benefits, gypsum is a source of essential plant vitamins.
Moreover, gypsum is an environmentally friendly material. About 20% of the gypsum used for the production of drywall can be recycled from the waste generated during the manufacturing process. Also, a pulverized form of gypsum is used in soil treatment. Research has begun on ways to recycle gypsum waste.
Drywall is a widely used construction material. It is usually made of calcium sulfoam or gypsum.
Many homes built in the last few decades have drywall and plaster walls. In some cases, the entire home is built with this construction method. However, some rooms are left without insulation.
The walls of most houses that were constructed before 1940 are made of lath and plaster. This type of wall is made up of several layers of plaster and wood lath. Compared to drywall, plaster is harder, more durable, and offers a better sound-deadening effect.
The process of creating a plaster wall is fairly simple. You’ll need several layers of plaster, rock-hard lath, and a few screws. Plaster is applied to the lath and then smoothed with a trowel. A final layer is painted. It can be textured, similar to stucco, for a more upscale appearance.
Although lath and plaster are a lot of work to install, it’s much less work to repair. Even if the nail falls out, it’s easy to put in a new one.
If you’re renovating a house, you’ll need to determine whether your walls are made of drywall or plaster. Both are effective at the deadening sound, but they’re not the same. While drywall is easy to hang, it is rigid and may not allow for tight radii.
One of the most important steps in a plastering job is mixing the correct plaster compound. Getting the mix right is a big factor in whether or not your wall will look good. Using the wrong mixture can result in chunks of plaster falling from the framework, making it more likely to collapse.
Lath and plaster was the preferred method of interior wall construction for the first half of the 20th century. But by the 1940s, the use of this material had declined.
Depending on your building’s style and construction, you may get a combination of lath and plaster, and drywall. Typically, a plaster wall is thicker than a drywall wall. Also, a plaster wall will be a bit more expensive to construct.
