What is drywall

Until ten years ago, we did not know drywall. When decorating the premises, elegance and expressiveness were achieved with the help of good old plaster and plaster. And now designers, architects, builders are only surprised: how could they do without it? After all, it is drywall that inspires the creation of multi-level labyrinthine ceilings with illumination, curvilinear partitions with numerous niches, shelves and figured holes. It gives a variety of interiors and high architectural expressiveness of the premises..

Drywall – it is a composite material in the form of sheets, the length of which is 2.5, -4.8 m, width 1.2-1.3 m and thickness 8-24 mm. The basis of such a sheet is gypsum, and the outer planes are lined with cardboard. To achieve the necessary indicators of the gypsum core, characterizing its strength, density, etc., special components are added to it that increase its operational properties. Cardboard plays the role of both a reinforcing frame and an excellent base for applying any finishing material (plaster, wallpaper, paint, ceramic tiles). So the material is flexible and rigid at the same time. The most popular among Russian builders are the products of the German company TIGI KNAUF.

In terms of its physical and hygienic properties, drywall is ideal for living spaces, and that’s why. It is environmentally friendly, does not contain toxic components and does not have a harmful effect on the environment, which is confirmed by hygienic and radiation certificates. It is an energy-saving material with good soundproofing properties. Non-flammable and fire resistant. It should also be noted that drywall “breathes”, that is, it absorbs moisture in case of its excess in the air and gives it back if the air is too dry. This is a very important, one might say invaluable quality of the material used indoors. With such walls, we breathe easier. Plus – it has an acidity similar to that of human skin. The last two properties allow plasterboard to regulate the microclimate of the premises in a natural way and contribute significantly to the creation of a harmonious atmosphere..

Each of the listed properties can be enhanced if you need to design a drywall sheet for specific purposes. Accordingly, the industry produces, in addition to standard gypsum plasterboards (GKL), fire-resistant (GKLO), and water-resistant (GKLV). In the latter, substances that destroy fungi are introduced; they are used to decorate kitchens, toilets and bathrooms. Fire-resistant is used for finishing all kinds of air ducts and communication shafts. And there are also the so-called tongue-and-groove plates, in which the gypsum is fired. Their strength increases so much that they can be used as interior partitions, without any preparation they can be painted, pasted over with wallpaper or covered with ceramic tiles. Such partitions are one-, two- and three-layer. The latter are applicable in seismically hazardous areas, for residential, civil and industrial buildings of all degrees of fire resistance. In their cavities, you can lay electrical and telephone cables, dust removal systems, heating and water supply lines.

Experts love this material also for its excellent technological properties.. It is lightweight. When using it, inconvenient “wet” processes that create uncomfortable conditions at the facility are excluded, labor productivity is significantly increased, which means that time and nerves of the customer are saved. Carrying out repairs in an apartment or office, you will avoid construction waste and dirt.

In fact, drywall was not invented today, in the form of flat sheets it has long been used for interior decoration and leveling walls, sometimes it is called “dry plaster”. We are talking about a new technology for its use. When European-style renovation came into fashion with its increased requirements for the geometry of the premises and the quality of surfaces, this material was reborn. The architects discovered that the sheets could be shaped as desired. Dome coverings, columns, arches of all kinds, complex transitions from one plane to another, curved surfaces – all this is the element of drywall. The system of metal frames, recruited from standard factory-made profiles, is designed so that walls of any complex shape can be created. A new method of “dry construction” has appeared, where there is no “raw” plaster, no mandatory wallpaper.

Everything is fastened quite simply. When cladding walls in one layer with gypsum plasterboard, gypsum-based assembly glue is used. And when the sheets of gypsum plasterboard are assembled on the frames, they are fastened with screws. Before covering the concrete walls with them, they are moistened, carefully bent and fixed until they dry out and take the desired shape. A frame made of wooden boards or slats is nailed to the wall with concrete nails (dowels), having previously accurately calculated its dimensions. At the same time, an empty space of about 2-2.5 cm remains between the sheet and the wall, which creates additional thermal insulation. Holes are drilled in the ceiling when finishing with plasterboard, wooden plugs are driven into them and slats are nailed in the same way as a wall frame. The sheets are nailed so that there is a space of 4-5 mm between them for the subsequent finishing of the seams.

This technology is simple, and even unlicensed construction crews own it. They will take, and will erect anything “like a wooden, like a metal frame.” But, when planning a repair, consider the following. The main trick when working with this material is the finishing. The more complex the design, the more difficult it is to achieve precise fillet of all faces. The joints become perfectly even after the painstaking work of the plasterer, who will be able to correct the position and give the surfaces the desired geometry.

But everything is fixed, docked and plastered. The question arises: is it possible to hang something on such a wall or partition? You can, but not with a nail. Only dowels, and their dimensions are selected depending on the thickness of the cladding and the weight of the load. For example, on suspended ceilings made of gypsum plasterboard, you can hang loads whose weight does not exceed 6 kg per 1 square meter using special expanding plastic dowels.

The popularity of drywall, as they say, cannot be overestimated. The concepts of “modern materials” – “renovation” – “drywall” are almost identical. It provides unlimited possibilities for bringing to life the most original projects and developments, including shelves, minibar racks, partitions, shelving … Thanks to these new materials, professionals are able to give your home a unique personality.