As any do-it-yourself drywaller discovers, there are numerous of various kinds of drywall. Go to your neighborhood do-it-yourself store or lumberyard and you will find that everything you thought was “pretty standard” is really only the end of the iceberg.
Don’t let all those several types of drywall overwhelm you! You can find different types of drywall compositions, thicknesses, and sizes for different applications and uses. How do you know what you should purchase? Below is home elevators the most common forms of drywall available to help you create the right decision.
Standard Drywall
This is the most common kind of drywall (white paper front) and can be used for the majority of home improvement and new home interior construction. Before beginning a project check with local building codes to make sure that they do not specify that certain type of drywall must be used in construction.
Standard drywall is typically sold in either 4’x8′ sheets, or 4’x12′ sheets. Which of these sizes you use is dependent upon the size of the area in which you’re installing drywall, the quantity of people carrying it out, and the ease of access (in a basement, for instance, it may be impossible to turn a large part with a 12′ sheet). 4’x12′ sheets are difficult for a single person to work with.
My recommendation is by using 4’x12′ sheets whenever possible. It reduces the amount of cuts that need to be produced as well as the number of joints that will must be finished.
Standard drywall is also sold in a range of widths – 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, and 5/8″. 1/2″ is the standard width of drywall, suitable for most interior construction on walls and ceilings. 1/2″ drywall is known as acceptable by most local building codes.
1/4″ drywall is known as flex-board and often used for curved surfaces. It really is somewhat fragile and not highly suggested for the amateur drywall installer.
5/8″ drywall is heavier-duty drywall, ideal for used in commercial settings, high traffic areas, or where some excess insulation or noise control is needed. In a few areas, 5/8″ drywall is required by local codes.
Moisture-Resistant Drywall (Green Board)
Moisture-resistant drywall is also referred to as Green Board in mention of the water-resistant green paper used beyond your gypsum. Moisture-resistant drywall is really a common type of drywall used for high-moisture areas such as bathrooms & kitchens. There is absolutely no difference from standard drywall except that the paper backing used includes a higher moisture resistance than standard drywall.
Green board is highly suggested for used in bathrooms, damp basements, and will be utilized in kitchens (especially around stoves and sinks). It is important to note that green board is not fire-resistant, nor waterproof, but resistant to damp conditions.
Fire-Resistant Drywall
The final common kind of drywall is Fire Resistant, or FR, drywall. FR drywall is found mostly in the 5/8″ thick variety. Special fibers and other fire-resistant materials are added to the gypsum core to generate more fire-protection than standard drywall.
Building codes in lots of areas require the use of Fire Resistant drywall for several applications, including:
Walls separating an attached garage from the living space.
Walls and Ceilings in attached apartments or condos.
Enclosed parede de drywall em sao caetano do sul enclosing furnaces, water heaters, or other fire hazards.
Occasionally, kitchens.
There are many other styles of drywall aswell, including soundproof drywall, paperless drywall, among others, however they are less common therefore i won’t cover them here. The best of luck on your drywall project. Visit “How To Drywall” for more drywall installation instructions.