Types of plasterboard

Although it is hard to imagine finishing work without drywall today, it was initially met with a cool reception. When drywall first appeared in the United States more than a hundred years ago, few people seriously believed that anything worthwhile could be built from gypsum covered with cardboard. Today, various types of drywall are used everywhere.

Drywall began to gain popularity only after World War II. Then architects and builders appreciated the characteristics of the material, which allowed them to quickly rebuild destroyed buildings. Today, drywall has many varieties, and due to its reliability, as well as good heat and sound insulation, it is one of the most popular building and finishing materials.

Drywall is a gypsum core covered on both sides with cardboard with added cellulose fibers. Initially, drywall was only suitable for finishing walls in dry rooms due to its lack of resistance to moisture. Currently, the scope of application of drywall has expanded significantly. Today, various types of drywall are available on the market.

Types

Standard plasterboard. It is grey. Due to the lack of resistance to moisture, it can only be used in rooms with humidity no more than 70%. It is made of plates of different thickness (from 9.5 to 25 mm), but other sizes can also be found. It is used as internal partitions. It can be plastered or painted.

Gypsum fiber boards. More durable than plasterboard, with higher resistance to moisture and fire. Such boards are heavier, more expensive and less aesthetically pleasing. However, due to their characteristics, gypsum fiber boards can be used in the construction of frame houses. As a rule, they are faced with siding.

Waterproof plasterboard. It is distinguished by green marking. As a result of saturation with a hydrophobic agent, it is waterproof. It is intended for rooms with humidity up to 85%, so it can be used in kitchens and bathrooms. However, even manufacturers indicate that even such plasterboard will not withstand higher humidity for longer than 10 hours.

Fire-resistant plasterboard. Reinforced with fiberglass. This prevents the destruction of the boards under the influence of high temperature. Designed for installation on steel profiles.

Fireproof waterproof plasterboard. It is a combination of water and fire safety indicators. Reinforced with fiberglass mesh and impregnated with a water-resistant substance. It is used for the construction of walls with increased fire resistance in areas with high humidity.

White plasterboard is factory primed plasterboard.

Floor plasterboard. Has increased strength. Designed for mounting various floor coverings on it. Wood, ceramic products and carpet coverings can be mounted on such boards. There are also sandwich panels on the market based on plasterboard, insulated with mineral wool, which have improved heat and sound insulation properties.

Flexible plasterboard. A special type of thin, soft boards with a thickness of only 5-6 mm. Suitable for finishing arches and other curved surfaces.

Decorative plasterboard. Used for both finishing and decorating walls. Usually 22 mm thick. Often reinforced with fiberglass. Manufacturers offer decorative sheets in hundreds of models, a wide variety of textures and colors. Their price is much higher than the cost of standard plasterboard sheets.