The Sheetrock vs Drywall Guide: Choosing Different Types of Drywall (2023)

FAQs

What is the differences between drywall and Sheetrock? ›

Sheetrock is a brand of drywall that is a registered trademark of the U.S. Gypsum Company. With the exception of a couple of chemicals that allow the Sheetrock formula to be patented, there is practically no difference between Sheetrock and other drywall.

1/2-inch drywall is the most versatile board and the most common thickness for the 16-inch on-center interior walls in most homes. It offers a good balance between strength and weight. 5/8-inch drywall is a heavier product that resists sagging in ceilings and in 24-inch on-center interior walls.

There are various brands of drywall, and some have different properties, such as moisture-resistant drywall or mold-resistant drywall, to best suit the needs of the specific project. All drywall is fire-resistant, however, some brands of drywall have more fire-resistant properties than others.

Plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) are expedient and low-cost solutions for garage walls. They can be attached over studs quickly with framing screws and, unlike drywall, wood doesn't require any taping, mud, or sanding.

Finally, some types of drywall, like Type X fire-resistant drywall, are available only with a 5/8-inch thickness. However, other types of drywall come in different thicknesses; the most common are 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch. The most common thicknesses for general application are 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch.

4-Foot by 8-Foot Drywall

The most common size of drywall is 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. Since 1/2-inch thick sheets of 4- by 8-foot drywall tip the scales at 57 pounds, this size tends to be the biggest sheet that most do-it-yourselfers can carry and lift into place.

Choosing Drywall

For example, most living rooms and bedrooms are suitable for regular drywall, but bathrooms and kitchens should have moisture-resistant options like green board. Purple drywall may be necessary in bathrooms that see considerable amounts of water around the shower walls.

What drywall is best for ceilings? ›

5/8-inch drywall is generally reserved for use on ceilings and in commercial construction jobs. While significantly heavier and more expensive than the others, its thickness makes it a preferred choice for soundproofing spaces that expect plenty of noise.

Drywall waterproofing is mostly a myth. While there are some drywall types that are more water resistant than others and the performance of drywall can be improved with surface coatings in damp environments, drywall itself can never truly be 100% waterproof.

Panels are available in four drywall thicknesses—5/8-in., 1/2-in., 3/8-in., and 1/4-in. (above are all 5/8-in.). Each drywall thickness has specific applications and framing requirement.

In recent years, developers have started making a new type of drywall that uses fiberglass mesh for the outer layers instead of paper. Fiberglass-coated drywall is both mold and moisture resistant.

Drywall (also called plasterboard, dry lining, wallboard, sheet rock, gypsum board, buster board, slap board, custard board, and 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 ...

PURPLE drywall, manufactured only by Gold Bond Building Products, 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 noise.

Because the United States Gypsum Corporation (USG) invented the first modern drywall product in 1916 and named it Sheetrock®. Even though it was a brand name, the association between Sheetrock® and drywall stuck – and many people still use the terms interchangeably today.

We recommend using cement board drywall in tile-covered wet applications, such as showers and bathtubs.

Plywood. If you're looking to install wall panels quickly, plywood is inexpensive, easy to install, and durable. The wood grain will warm up a space and can be stained or painted to coordinate with any decor.

Purple board drywall is ideal for high moisture rooms. It's more expensive but is an enhanced version of regular drywall. It's waterproof rather than water-resistant.

What is harder than Sheetrock? ›

High-end plaster walls are harder and more durable than drywall. You can use a thumbtack to learn which material is covering the walls in an old house because a tack will penetrate drywall much easier than it will plaster.

Drywall Level 3

Typically found in residential interiors and in appearance areas which are to receive heavy- or medium-texture (spray or hand applied) finishes before final painting, or where heavy-grade wall coverings are to be applied as the final decoration.

The thickest option available, 5/8-inch drywall is ideal for commercial construction applications. 5/8-inch thick drywall is also referred to as firewall drywall. Its thickness makes it the ideal drywall for soundproofing in noisy buildings. 5/8-inch drywall can be used on walls, and will not sag when used on ceilings.

About PURPLE® 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.

You can use purple drywall for the ceiling and/or upper walls of a shower, for example. The biggest difference between green board and purple drywall is additional mold and mildew resistance. If you're concerned about mold growth, upgrade to purple drywall.

Greenboard is a water-resistant gypsum board or drywall panel that came out in the 1960's. The product is essentially a more durable gypsum board. It has the same gypsum core that you'll find on standard drywall all over homes, but it comes with a thicker coating of paper that's protected by wax for water resistance.

This building material is most widely used to create walls and ceilings in new home constructions. It's also applied to many other architectural spaces around the home, such as arches, eves, and other decorative areas. Home drywall is quick and easy to install, extremely durable, and is easily repaired or replaced.

Gypsum is noncombustible, and compared to other wall materials, like solid wood and plaster, gypsum boards are much lighter and cheaper. As a result, drywall is popular in homes across the U.S.: According to the Gypsum Association, more than 20 billion square feet of drywall is manufactured each year in North America.

Often referred to as green board or purple board, moisture and mold resistant variants of drywall are a better option for wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Although a flat finish is most popular, more ceiling paint finishes are available: Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.

Should ceilings be flat or matte? ›

Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.

You can - HOWEVER, the local codes most everywhere will then require something else on there as well. Usually the least we could ever install was 1/2 inch on ceiling - though on garage generally always had to use 5/8 inch. Using such thin drywall on ceiling will also become problem unless you ...

It is perfectly safe to put tiles over the drywall of areas in your home that don't have excessive moisture so long as you prep the wall before installation and choose the appropriate mortar.

Standard drywall is about $10 to $20 per panel, but the price depends on the height and thickness of the panels you need. For most rooms, a 4-by-8-foot panel of about 1/2-inch thickness is ideal and costs an average of $15 per panel.

Even though drywall is pretty sturdy, it can be significantly damaged if it gets wet for too long. If moisture damage isn't handled right away, the drywall's structural integrity will be compromised, causing it to become soft, weak, and mold-prone.

All drywall seams need to have tape embedded in joint compound. The tape strengthens the joint, and the joint compound, or mud, is the adhesive that holds the tape in place. But there's a lot more to hand-taping beveled drywall seams than slapping a bunch of mud on the wall and running tape.

You need to allow enough space for expansion and contraction of the framing members, which occurs naturally as seasons change. Without enough space when this happens, you'll get cracks. Keep a 1/8-inch space between sheets during installation to keep this from happening.

Older homes and high-end new homes will have plaster instead of drywall. Harder and more durable, plaster is also more expensive to install. In old homes, plaster is a three-coat system applied over wood or metal lath.

A Level 5 finish is a premium finish, and the highest degree of quality in drywall. It requires all aspects of a Level 4 finish and an additional skim coat of joint compound to cover the entire surface.

Joint compound: Also known as mud (and the reason drywall finishing is also known as mudding), joint compound can come either premixed or in a dry form that you need to mix with water.

What is it called when you put mud on drywall? ›

“Mudding,” the process of applying multiple thin coats of drywall compound to the joints and screw indentations in newly hung drywall, sounds messy, and it is. When done correctly, the result is a wall so flat that you cannot spot the seams.

3/8-inch drywall is a good choice for remodeling partitions or creating patches. It's slightly thinner than standard ½-inch drywall but sturdier and more rigid than ¼-inch drywall, making it a good choice when you'll need to add it to an existing wall or surface where the plaster has worn away.

Provide extra protection

PURPLE XP® is a specially treated, mold- and fire-resistant paper-faced gypsum board that provides Xtra Protection (XP) against mold and mildew compared to standard gypsum board.

Drywall must be primed before it can be painted to ensure that the paint stays on and isn't affected by temperature changes in the room or environment. To prime your drywall, you need to clean it first by sanding it, vacuuming it, and rubbing it down with a black cloth to ensure that all dust is gone.

Sheetrock® Brand All Purpose Joint Compound combines single-package convenience with good taping and topping performance. Recommended for laminating and repairing cracks in interior plaster and masonry not subject to moisture, this compound features great open time and cold bond, and has smooth and slick properties.

Regular drywall (also called white board) is normally white on one side and brown on the other, and as the most common type of drywall used in homes, it's suitable for most rooms. It is made of gypsum, but it does not feature special mold and mildew resistance like other types that are durable in moist areas.

Dear Ronald: Installing drywall over old paneling is one method to improve the appearance of a room. As you noted, it can be a difficult task to extend all the window and door trim to fit over the thicker wall with the drywall attached, but it can certainly be done.

It's not recommended. The general rule of thumb is to properly tape and mud drywall joints before painting. Not only will skipping this step lead to unattractive walls, but it is also against building codes. So yes, mudding the drywall before applying the first coat of paint is a necessary step.

Sanding drywall is an essential task in any home renovation project. This task comes after hanging drywall sheets and covering gaps and nail gouges in the drywall with tape and joint compound. Sanding the drywall after the joint compound, or mud, dries creates a smooth and even surface for applying primer and paint.

All drywall seams need to have tape embedded in joint compound. The tape strengthens the joint, and the joint compound, or mud, is the adhesive that holds the tape in place. But there's a lot more to hand-taping beveled drywall seams than slapping a bunch of mud on the wall and running tape.

What happens if it rains on drywall? ›

Even though drywall is pretty sturdy, it can be significantly damaged if it gets wet for too long. If moisture damage isn't handled right away, the drywall's structural integrity will be compromised, causing it to become soft, weak, and mold-prone.

1/2-Inch-Thick Drywall

Half-inch drywall panels are the standard thickness for interior walls, as well as ceilings. These panels are easy to carry and hang.

1/2-Inch Drywall: Most drywall measures 1/2-inch thick. It's the most common choice for interior walls because they are easy to carry and hang. If weight is a concern, consider ultra-light half-inch drywall.

Disadvantages of Drywall

Drywall is not sound proof itself hence it needs sound insulation between two layers. The drywall surface is prone to damage. Drywall can be easily damaged since it is not resistant to impact. So, you might have problems with holes, dense damaged corners, tapes coming off, and joints cracking.