7 Drywall Types, Applications, and Uses
- Regular Drywall or White Board. Regular drywall is normally white on one side and brown on the other. ...
- Green Board Drywall. ...
- Blue Board Drywall. ...
- Paperless Drywall. ...
- Purple Drywall. ...
- Type X Drywall. ...
- Soundproof Drywall. ...
What color can drywall be?
- Achieving accurate color match in fewer coats
- Better touch-up
- Superior hide
- Deep, vivid accent colors that look bolder and brighter
- More uniform color, less streaking
- Eliminating guesswork
- Saving time and money
- Increasing customer satisfaction
Does drywall come in any colors for a drywall repair?
The answer is that you will have to do some extra preparation to fix peeling paint on drywall, even if the paint is still the same color as before. It is because the peeling paint indicates that it is worn or damaged by heat, humidity, and the elements if it is outside. Here are a few tips that will help you repaint a wall that has peeling paint…
Can you paint directly on drywall?
Yes you can paint directly on drywall as long as it’s skimmed out and sanded at mudded sections to a smooth finish - primer and 2 coats of paint.. some skim coat the entire walls & some don’t.. whoever did the mud & the taping was supposed to feather it out ready for paint..
How to paint new drywall?
Painting drywall in a smooth, clean way can take a bit of effort, but the final product is well worth it. It’s best to start by repairing any cracks or holes in the wall. Sand and wipe the entire wall down. Apply a coat of drywall primer and allow it to dry. Roll and brush on 2-4 coats of paint. Sand in between coats for an even better finish.
Is drywall white or brown?
All gypsum drywall has a front and back. The front is smooth and usually white, gray, blue, or green, depending on the type. And the backside of the drywall is typically brown. (Although the back can be gray on some drywall.)
Why is some drywall blue?
Blue board still has the same gypsum interior, but the outside is coated in a blue paper, hence the name. This blue paper is designed to bond with a specific kind of plaster. This allows builders much more control over the final texture and smoothness of the walls after the plaster application.
What are 3 different types of drywall?
6 Common types of drywallRegular drywall. Regular drywall, often called white board, is the most common type used in ceilings and walls in homes and commercial projects. ... Mold-resistant drywall. ... Plasterboard. ... Soundproof drywall. ... Fire-resistant drywall. ... VOC-absorbing drywall.
Why is drywall green?
Green board drywall (also known as green rock drywall) is a kind of drywall that consists of a gypsum core with a paper coating that contains wax. The thicker paper is designed to give the drywall some water resistance, unlike standard drywall paper. This wax coating also makes green board resistant to most molds.
What is the difference between green drywall and blue drywall?
1:097:31Drywall differences green and blue board, Does the color of ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause that's the dirty word in the industry nobody says their products are waterproof they say theMoreBecause that's the dirty word in the industry nobody says their products are waterproof they say the green board is water resistant. And mold resistant. Now you might have noticed.
What is the PURPLE drywall for?
National Gypsum has developed Purple drywall that is moisture, mold, and mildew resistant. This means less water and mold damage in homes keeping construction debris from landfills. In addition, within the line of Purple drywall products, are sheets that stand up to abuse and impact.
Whats better green or PURPLE drywall?
“Green drywall (also known as greenboard) is only moisture-resistant. PURPLE®drywall, only made by National Gypsum, is superior because it offers moisture, mold and mildew resistance. In addition, many PURPLE® drywall products offer added benefits, including resistance to scratches, scuffs, dents and sound.
What is blue board drywall?
Blue board is the slang term that refers to the sheet of plasterboard that will serve as a base for the plaster veneer. While it is still a gypsum sheet similar to drywall, the makeup of the board and the paper covering is different, because a wet plaster veneer is applied over its entire surface.
What's the difference between green drywall and PURPLE drywall?
What's the difference between PURPLE drywall and traditional green drywall? Traditional green drywall (also known as greenboard) is only moisture-resistant. PURPLE drywall, manufactured only by Gold Bond Building Products, is superior because it offers moisture, mold and mildew resistance.
What's the difference in sheetrock and drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.
Why is my drywall Brown?
If your drywall has patches of gray, black, brown, and/or green, you might have a mold problem. Beyond coloration concerns, enough moisture build-up can warp your drywall to the point of fracturing it and threatening your property's structural integrity.
Do I need green drywall in bathroom?
Green boards are often required by local building codes to be used as a backing for tiles and wall panels in areas that are exposed to moisture; this includes bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. However, they are not allowed for use in parts of the home that have excess humidity, like near indoor pools.
What is drywall made of?
The term, drywall, refers to the dry form of plaster being applied on sheets rather than the wet form. Drywall is mainly made of gypsum and can be seen in modern buildings. It comes in large panels that consist of gypsum cores placed between two heavy sheets of paper.
How thick is drywall?
Drywall thickness varies from ¼ inches, 3/8 inches, half inches, and 5/8 inches. The panel lengths are usually 8 feet to 10 feet, but they can go as long as 16 feet. The widths are typically 48 inches and the most common drywall size you will find is a 4×8 drywall panel in ½ inches thickness.
Why Choose Drywall?
Aside from being inexpensive, easy to work with, and flexible, drywall has many more advantages over plaster. It is readily available and can be painted to match a wide range of interior finishes. The sheets are easily cut with a sharp knife and sanded before getting painted. What’s more, drywall is noncombustible.
Why is drywall dry?
Interestingly, drywall boards contain a large amount of water in gypsum. This water is in crystal form, hence the reason why the gypsum molecules are dry. These water molecules play an important role in providing the drywall its fire-resistance qualities.
What is the most common material used for walls?
From plaster to plywood, there are a number of different materials we can use for our walls and ceilings. However, one of the most commonly used is drywall – and for good reason.
Why do people use drywall instead of wood?
The biggest benefit of these eco-friendly materials is their resistance to termites and mold, which is why many homeowners opt for drywall instead of wooden panels. While regular drywall panels are mainly used for most applications, there are other variations that are better suited.
How long does it take to plaster a wall?
Plastering walls could take weeks to complete, whereas drywall only took a matter of days to be installed plus it costs less to build and lasts longer. If the drywall gets damaged, it can easily be patched up quickly without having to spend more money on labor.
What is a dry wall?
Drywall (also known as plasterboard, wallboard, sheet rock, gypsum board, buster board, custard board, or gypsum panel) is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate ( gypsum ), with or without additives, typically extruded between thick sheets of facer and backer paper, used in the construction of interior walls and ceilings. The plaster is mixed with fiber (typically paper, glass wool, or a combination of these materials), plasticizer, foaming agent, and various additives that can reduce mildew, flammability, and water absorption.
When did drywall become common?
In the mid-20th century, drywall construction became prevalent in North America as a time- and labor-saving alternative to traditional lath and plaster.
What is a drywall fastener?
Drywall fasteners, also referred to as drywall clips or stops, are gaining popularity in both residential and commercial construction. Drywall fasteners are used for supporting interior drywall corners and replacing the non-structural wood or metal blocking that traditionally was used to install drywall.
Why is drywall so vulnerable to moisture?
Drywall is highly vulnerable to moisture due to the inherent properties of the materials that comprise it: gypsum, paper, and organic additives and binders. Gypsum will soften with exposure to moisture, and eventually turn to a gooey paste with prolonged immersion, such as during a flood. During such incidents, some or all of the drywall in an entire building may need to be removed and replaced. Furthermore, the paper facings and organic additives mixed with the gypsum core are food for mold.
Why does drywall sag?
The drywall may also soften around the screws holding the drywall in place and with the aid of gravity, the weight of the water may cause the drywall to sag and eventually collapse, requiring replacement.
How is drywall delivered?
Drywall is delivered to a building site on a flatbed truck and unloaded with a forked material handler crane. The bulk drywall sheets are unloaded directly to upper floors via a window or exterior doorway.
Why is deflection important in drywall?
It's important to consider deflection of drywall assemblies to maintain their assembly integrity to preserve their ratings. Deflection of drywall assemblies can vary somewhat from one test to another. Importantly, penetrants do not follow the deflection movement of the drywall assemblies they penetrate. For example, see cable tray movement in a German test. It is, therefore, important to test firestops in full scale wall panel tests, so that the deflection of each applicable assembly can be taken into account.
What is regular drywall?
Regular drywall is basic drywall with no special enhancements. It is not inferior to other types; it performs equally with all of them. It simply has no extras.
How wide is drywall?
Drywall is measured in thickness and length. The width of drywall panels is a standard 48 inches.
What type of drywall is fire resistant?
Type X provides fire resistance beyond the natural resistance of other types of drywall. Type C is more resistant than Type X, providing up to four hours of resistance compare to the one hour provided by X. Fire-resistant drywall contains special non-combustible fibers.
Why use drywall screws?
The most obvious reason to use drywall screws is that they are specifically designed to hang the drywall. Made of hardened, brittle steel, they are long enough to penetrate both the drywall panel as well as attach to the supporting wooden frame behind them.
What is the best tool to use to tape drywall seams?
The banjo is a tool you can use to apply the tape over the drywall seams. A high-performance, heavy-duty taping instrument, this makes taping precise and quick.
Why is drywall used in a living room?
Beyond this basic function, drywall is used to add character to building and home interiors. This beautiful living room exists because of its walls and ceilings, and it possesses elegance because of special features, including arches and niche.
Which is better, mesh or paper drywall tape?
Choose between two types of drywall tape: paper and mesh. Paper is cheaper than mesh, and it is creased down the middle to make it better for taping corners. Mesh is great for repair work. Listen to a professional and expert weight in on the types of tape: Which Tape is Better: Paper or Mesh (video)
What is drywall board?
Jane Harmon. Drywall, also known as gypsum board or plasterboard, is a flat, white board used to create the inside walls of homes. Drywall is a construction product commonly used to finish building interiors. For hundreds of years prior to its development, the interior walls of buildings were usually made of plaster.
What is the paste used to cover drywall?
Once the drywall is up, the joins between sheets are covered with a special tape, and the tape and the nails are covered with a spackle-like paste called joint compound. The joint compound must be allowed to fully dry on the drywall, after which you can sand it to smoothness.
What was the interior of a building made of?
For hundreds of years prior to its development, the interior walls of buildings were usually made of plaster . This was applied in layers over narrow boards called laths that were nailed directly to the studs. The plaster was pressed into gaps between the laths to make it adhere, and was built up in progressive layers.
Is drywall a wall?
Drywall is available in many sizes. In the mid-twentieth century, drywall, also called plasterboard, sheetrock or gypsum board, came into widespread use, and now almost all buildings have drywall walls. Drywall has a number of advantages over plaster, ease of installation being the most obvious.
Can you drywall an unfinished basement?
Finishing an unfinished basement room with drywall, for instance, can be the work of a weekend. The drywall, which comes in sheets that are designed for modern house codes, can simply be nailed to the standing studs. Cutting holes for outlets, wall switches and light fixtures can be easily done with a keyhole saw - make your measurements carefully.
Can interesting textures be applied to drywall?
Interesting textures can be applied to drywall.
Can you cut holes in drywall with a keyhole saw?
Cutting holes for outlets, wall switches and light fixtures can be easily done with a keyhole saw - make your measurements carefully. When used to create walls, drywall panels are hung from wall studs with screws and then taped and plastered over with joint compound where the panels meet.
What type of drywall is used in bathrooms?
The most popular type of drywall for use in bathrooms is greenboard. This drywall not only has moisture-resistant paper, but comes already specially treated with additives that are designed to enhance its moisture resistance. As a result, it also tends to have a respectable degree of mold resistance.
What is the difference between blueboard and drywall?
Blueboard is blue in color while regular drywall is usually brown or grey. Blueboard is also specifically designed for veneer plastering, something that regular drywall isn’t. And while regular drywall shouldn’t be used to cover moisture-prone areas like kitchen backsplashes, once finished, blueboard can easily handle these environments because it has a higher degree of moisture resistance than drywall.
Is blue board waterproof?
No, blue board is not waterproof. However, when it is plastered with veneer plaster, it tends to have a high degree of moisture resistance. This is a quality that makes it ideal for use in covering the entire wall surface of any room that is moisture-prone. This includes bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes.
What is blueboard drywall?
Blueboard drywall is a type of drywall that is designed for veneer plaster coating. It is blue in color, and it has an absorbent surface. Once finished, it tends to have a smoother and cleaner finish when compared to regular drywall. As a result, it is a go-to solution for people who are looking for moisture-resistant drywall.
Why does blue board drywall take less time to install?
As a result, installing blue board drywall usually takes less time because the process does not require mudding or using a product that needs to dry up.
What is blue board?
Blue board and greenboard are popular types of special drywall. They differ in terms of appearance, moisture resistance, and use.
How long does it take to install drywall?
This usually stretches the installation time. In most cases, it takes more than 3 days to properly install drywall.
What is drywall in a bathroom?
Things to Consider for Bathroom Drywall. At its core, drywall is a panel of wallboard. A moist mixture of gypsum plaster is squeezed between sheets of heavy paper, pressed down, and dried. The plaster may be mixed with wax, ground gypsum crystals, fiberglass, wax, and similar materials.
What is the best material to use for drywall in a bathroom?
Other options include drywall that’s mixed with fiberglass or regular glass. You can also look for drywall that has fiberglass shells instead of paper backing. The fiberglass does a better job of keeping moisture away. Ensure your bathroom drywall has a waterproof coating, whether that coating is wax or silica.
What is a bathroom enviroboard?
Enviroboard drywall – made of recycled cellulose (e.g. straw from rice, wheat, barley). Of the variants we’ve looked at so far, cement, green, blue, purple, and paperless sheetrock are the preferred types for your bathroom. This is because they resist mold and mildew.
How does sheetrock fight fire?
How Sheetrock Fights Fire. When your drywall catches fire, the water turns to steam before the solid sections start to burn. This buys you some time so you can escape to safety. A bathroom is unlikely to have flames, but if you plan to take long baths with scented candles, be wary of your bathroom drywall.
Why do people use sheetrock in bathrooms?
Drywall is favored because you can install it quickly for emergency repairs. It’s deliberately designed to be porous, which makes it lighter during construction, easier to work with, and cheaper to transport. But the porosity also makes it more susceptible to moisture damage. So be careful when you’re selecting the type of sheetrock you’ll apply in your bathroom.
What to do if you suspect mold in bathroom drywall?
Resolving Mold Problems. When you suspect mold in your bathroom drywall, you may need professional conformation. Inspectors can use fiber optics or mold testing kits. For both systems, you have to make a small hole in the drywall and poke around.
What is the best way to prevent water damage to drywall?
So when you’re considering bathroom drywall, you need a few extra steps to prevent water damage. For instance, your drywall might be mixed with foam, plasticizers, and other materials. These substances make your drywall less flammable and reduce the risk of mold and mildew.
What level of drywall do you use for wallpaper?
Level 4: This is the classic drywall finish. Here, you apply another coat of joint compound to the tape and screws and sand the dried compound. This is the level that typically is used when a wall surface will be painted or covered with wallpaper.
How many levels of drywall finishing?
Drywall finishing requires a good deal of craftsmanship, which is why the gypsum wallboard industry and drywall professionals have codified a set of professional standards that breaks the process of finishing drywall into five distinct levels.
What is level 3 finish?
Level 3: At this stage, finishers apply a coat of joint compound to the tape and screws. Walls that will receive a heavy texture, such as knockdown texture, can end at this level. It would be pointless to progress beyond this level since texturing will produce a finish that is rougher than level 3.
Can you spray finish drywall?
Spray finish: Professionals have spray equipment to allow them to spray on drywall compound. This type of equipment can be rented at rental yards or even at some home improvement stores.
When do you need a level 5 finish?
There are two instances when you need a level 5 coating: when the finish will be glossy; or when light is be angled low enough to highlight bumps and depressions. A level-5 finish is like icing on the cake. It's a premium finish that you will not get by default; you absolutely will need to discuss this with your contractor or drywall installer, as it is not normally considered part of the finishing process.
Is hanging drywall a do it yourself project?
Hanging drywall is a relatively straightforward project, even for do-it-yourselfers. And because it is an interim step in the overall process of finishing a wall, any mistakes that do occur can still be covered up. But the final task of finishing drywall can easily frustrate even very skilled do-it-yourselfers.
Can you talk to a contractor about finishing drywall?
Drywall finishing levels, in numeric terms, are not a normal part of the conversation between homeowners and contractors. Instead, you might discuss the final look or effect that you're aiming for. You might indicate that you want the dining room walls to be as smooth and flawless as possible or that the garage can have largely unfinished walls. It'll be up to the contractor to translate your requests to the drywall technician.
What color is repo gray?
It’s a great color for walls in living rooms, foyers, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Repose Gray (SW 7015) has slight taupe or green undertones and pairs well with white trim colors like Extra White (SW 7006).
What is pure white?
Pure White (SW 7005) by Sherwin Williams is a versatile off-white paint color that is often used in the kitchen, bedroom, or living room. Likewise, it has a soft, warmer taupe tone that doesn’t feel terribly creamy and pairs well with gray color palettes.
What color is sea salt?
Sea Salt By Sherwin Williams. Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204) is a popular coastal “neutral” interior paint color that is a mix of gray and green. Used often in bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and mudrooms, this is a relaxing cooler-leaning color with slight blue undertones.
What color is Hague Blue?
Hague Blue (No. 30) by Farrow Ball is a deep, darker blue-green that is a popular choice as an accent color or whole room color. Similar to SW Sea Salt, the color changes slightly in different interior lighting situations. It’s a rich and luxurious paint color that works well in a home office, dining room, or as a contrasting kitchen island cabinet color.
What color is Benjamin Moore?
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (BM 1548) is a natural light warm gray color that registers as a sophisticated off-white on the walls of most rooms. A top paint color among designers, this can be used to paint the whole house, bedroom, living room, or kitchen. You can use this color instead of white in a darker room and it works in both north or south-facing rooms.
What is the best Benjamin Moore paint?
One of the best-selling paints for Benjamin Moore in recent years, Gray Owl (2137-60) is a highly versatile warm-ish gray paint color. While blue, colder undertones may come out in certain lights, it’s still a very popular living room or kitchen paint color.
What is the most popular white color?
As PPG’s most popular white color, Delicate White (PPG1001-1) is a cooler-toned, pale color that can be used on your walls, trim, or both. Ultimately versatile, it pairs with most paint colors and allows for a fresh contrast in rooms with natural wood trim.

Overview
Construction techniques
As an alternative to a week-long plaster application, an entire house can be drywalled in one or two days by two experienced drywallers, and drywall is easy enough to be installed by many amateur home carpenters. In large-scale commercial construction, the work of installing and finishing drywall is often split between drywall mechanics, or hangers, who install the wallboard, and ta…
History
The first plasterboard plant in the UK was opened in 1888 in Rochester, Kent. Sackett Board was invented in 1894 by Augustine Sackett and Fred Kane, graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It was made by layering plaster within four plies of wool felt paper. Sheets were 36 by 36 by 1⁄4 inch (914 mm × 914 mm × 6 mm) thick with open (untaped) edges.
Manufacture
A wallboard panel consists of a layer of gypsum plaster sandwiched between two layers of paper. The raw gypsum, CaSO4·2H2O, is heated to drive off the water then slightly rehydrated to produce the hemihydrate of calcium sulfate (CaSO 4·1/2H 2O). The plaster is mixed with fibre (typically paper and/or glass fiber), plasticizer, foaming agent, finely ground gypsum crystal as an accelerator, EDTA, starch or other chelate as a retarder, various additives that may decrease mildew and …
Specifications
The term plasterboard is used in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the product is often called Gyprock, which is the name of the largest manufacturer of plasterboard. In New Zealand it is also called Gibraltar and Gib board, after the registered trademark ("GIB") of the locally made product that dominates the market there.
It is made in thicknesses of 10 mm, 13 mm, and 16 mm, and sometimes other thicknesses up t…
Sound control
The method of installation and type of drywall can reduce sound transmission through walls and ceilings. Several builders' books state that thicker drywall reduces sound transmission, but engineering manuals recommend using multiple layers of drywall, sometimes of different thicknesses and glued together, or special types of drywall designed to reduce noise. Also important are the construction details of the framing with steel studs, wider stud spacing, doubl…
Water damage and mold
Drywall is highly vulnerable to moisture due to the inherent properties of the materials that comprise it: gypsum, paper, and organic additives and binders. Gypsum will soften with exposure to moisture, and eventually turn to a gooey paste with prolonged immersion, such as during a flood. During such incidents, some or all of the drywall in an entire building may need to be removed and re…
Other damage
Foam insulation and the gypsum part of sheetrock are easily chewed out by honeybees when they are setting up a stray nest in a building and they want to enlarge their nest area.