Gypsum wallboard is a construction product used to finish interior walls. This product is used in structures all over the world, classically covered with a layer of paint or textured plaster, and was introduced as a replacement for traditional lathe and plaster finishing. Unlike lathe and plaster, which can take a week or more to install properly, gypsum wallboard can be installed quickly and efficiently in an entire structure by a relatively small team, saving construction costs and helping a project move along quickly.
This product is made by sandwiching a layer of gypsum plaster between two layers of reinforced paper. Typically, one side of the paper is designed to be used on the finished side, with a textured surface which will help paint adhere without creating a dimpled or divoted look. Various types of gypsum wallboard include features like paper which has been treated to resist water and mold, or gypsum plaster which has been blended with glass fibers to increase fire resistance to make Type X gypsum wallboard.
This product is also known as plasterboard, drywall, or sheetrock, after the popular Sheetrock® brand. It is sold in large sheets which can be cut down to size to fit in odd places, although cutting or punching through gypsum wallboard extensively is not recommended, as it can compromise the integrity of the product. Many construction suppliers sell gypsum wallboard in bulk and by the sheet for various applications, ranging from finishing the interior walls of a new home to repairing damaged gypsum plasterboard in an existing structure.
Several companies make environmentally friendly versions of this product with recycled materials, and factories which are designed to be energy efficient. Plasterboard recycling is also possible, with companies hauling away and breaking down scrap or damaged plasterboard to gather materials for reuse, rather than allowing them to be thrown out to add to the burden of a landfill.
Unlike plaster and lathe, gypsum wallboard can be handled by people who are not experienced with construction. Many people can safely and competently install this product or make repairs to existing installations, with the real challenge lying in the taping, mudding, and sanding of the seams of gypsum wallboard after installation to prepare it for painting or other finishing techniques. People who are not familiar with the work of preparing gypsum wallboard for sheetrocking should plan on working patiently with the product while they grow accustomed to it.