| Remodeling & Sheet Rock, Drywall |
Drywall (or gypsum board), one of the most common building materials of our time, hasn't always been as popular as it
is now. When it was first invented nearly 100 years ago (1916, to be exact), drywall was thought to be an inferior and
undesirable product. However, in the mid 1950s, the amount of drywall installation in the U.S. skyrocketed due to its use
in the construction of suburban homes. These houses had to be made quickly and inexpensively. In this capacity,
drywall was shown to be a much more effective material than traditional wet plaster and wood forms.
Drywall Makeup
Drywall traditionally consists of a mixture of gypsum plaster that is sandwiched in between two pieces of heavy paper
while it is still wet. It is allowed to cure, then is cut into boards of a manageable length. Using plaster that is in board form
and is already dry is far easier than working with plaster when it is wet. Drywall installation literally cuts weeks off of the
time it would take to complete a project using the lath-and-plaster method that came before it.
The additives to the gypsum plaster and the type of paper used can both vary depending on the particular job that
board is meant for. Drywall installation in very moist areas, for example, benefits from having moisture and mildew
repellants added to the plaster that will become its core. For an area that could get particularly warm or cold, the
covering of certain types of gypsum board is made of fiberglass instead of paper to increase its insulate properties.
Basic Drywall Installation
The process of drywall installation is a fairly straightforward one. The measurements are taken, the boards are scored
and cut to fit, and then they are screwed (or nailed in some cases) into ceiling or wall joists. After the boards are
screwed in place, the drywall needs to be "finished" before it gets painted, which means that all nail or screw holes,
along with any gaps or dents in the board, are filled in and leveled.
Just because drywall installation is straightforward, that doesn't mean it is simple. Though it is certainly a very DIY
friendly project and is much less involved than, say, laying down a hardwood floor, it requires a seasoned (or very
patient) hand to do it well. The finishing, especially, can be difficult.
is now. When it was first invented nearly 100 years ago (1916, to be exact), drywall was thought to be an inferior and
undesirable product. However, in the mid 1950s, the amount of drywall installation in the U.S. skyrocketed due to its use
in the construction of suburban homes. These houses had to be made quickly and inexpensively. In this capacity,
drywall was shown to be a much more effective material than traditional wet plaster and wood forms.
Drywall Makeup
Drywall traditionally consists of a mixture of gypsum plaster that is sandwiched in between two pieces of heavy paper
while it is still wet. It is allowed to cure, then is cut into boards of a manageable length. Using plaster that is in board form
and is already dry is far easier than working with plaster when it is wet. Drywall installation literally cuts weeks off of the
time it would take to complete a project using the lath-and-plaster method that came before it.
The additives to the gypsum plaster and the type of paper used can both vary depending on the particular job that
board is meant for. Drywall installation in very moist areas, for example, benefits from having moisture and mildew
repellants added to the plaster that will become its core. For an area that could get particularly warm or cold, the
covering of certain types of gypsum board is made of fiberglass instead of paper to increase its insulate properties.
Basic Drywall Installation
The process of drywall installation is a fairly straightforward one. The measurements are taken, the boards are scored
and cut to fit, and then they are screwed (or nailed in some cases) into ceiling or wall joists. After the boards are
screwed in place, the drywall needs to be "finished" before it gets painted, which means that all nail or screw holes,
along with any gaps or dents in the board, are filled in and leveled.
Just because drywall installation is straightforward, that doesn't mean it is simple. Though it is certainly a very DIY
friendly project and is much less involved than, say, laying down a hardwood floor, it requires a seasoned (or very
patient) hand to do it well. The finishing, especially, can be difficult.
 | |  | |  |
Ricchezza Remodeling
