What is sheetrock

The prototype for drywall—a layer of plaster between four layers of wool felt—was first made in the late 19 th century and was called Sackett Board, for its inventor, Augustine Sackett. The U. Gypsum Company began improving on the invention between and , replacing plaster with gypsum plaster.

Regardless of which brand you choose, the technique for installing drywall is basically the same across brands. To get a totally smooth wall, some builders seal it with veneer plaster. Drywall is simply a panel made of gypsum plaster covered with heavy paper.

Some drywall, called greenboard, is coated with an oil-based additive on its green paper to make it moisture resistant. Cement board is a more water resistant construction material than gypsum. Enviroboard is made from recycled agricultural materials. Drywall can be lead-lined for use around radiological equipment or foil-backed as a vapor barrier. Like regular drywall, Sheetrock also comes in a foil-back variety as well as a mold and moisture-resistant option, including the Fiberock panel with is the top choice for this necessity.

Sag-resistant Sheetrock is light-weight, thus resisting sagging. Exterior ceiling board is weather -resistant, so it can be used outdoors.

Finally, Sheetrock offers stronger panels that are resistant to abuse such as indentations, abrasion and even penetration. Drywall consists of a core of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. The gypsum plaster core is made out of fiber, a foaming agent, finely ground gypsum crystal and additives. To make drywall, the wet gypsum core gets sandwiched between heavy paper or fiberglass mats. This manufacturing process is the same for the Sheetrock brand, but for the use of a few chemicals unique to the brand.

However, even that comes under the classification drywall. Both drywall and Sheetrock are used with the same basic techniques. Construction workers cut the panel to size, usually by scoring the paper and breaking the core manually. The sized panels are fixed to wall studs or ceiling joists with nails, glue, drywall screws or drywall fasteners. The remaining seams are concealed using a joint compound filler and tape. In some cases, the drywall then gets further sealed with veneer plaster.

Using a veneer makes for a smoother wall. One advantage of using drywall or Sheetrock is that it only takes a day or two to do unlike the week-long process of the lath and plaster method. For example, moisture-resistant drywall is perfect for the bathroom to help avoid the buildup of mold or mildew whereas fire-resistant drywall is perfect for the kitchen where walls maybe next to open flames.

Sheetrock is a brand name for drywall like Charmin is for toilet paper and this brand includes a variety of different types of drywall that come in different thicknesses and sizes. One of the great things about sheetrock drywall is the fact that it undergoes industry-leading quality control testing, unlike generic drywall brands that may fall short of such important practices.

After hurricane Katrina hit the southern regions of the United States in , homeowners began scrambling to rebuild their homes. The sheer amount of homeowners who needed to rebuild the flooded interiors of their homes led to a national shortage of drywall supply. Because of this, many homeowners resorted to importing generic drywall from China and little do you know, in , they began finding out that the drywall they had installed in their homes was actually comprised of toxic materials.

Families began to suspect something was up after they began experiencing bad health symptoms that led to a variety of illnesses. When a family member had a cold, the cold was made much worse by the fact that the generic drywall had sulfur dioxide which turned everything that was metal in the house black, especially electronics that also began to fail.

I created this blog to share everything I've learned over the years, so you can hopefully get it all right the first time without the stress or headache. The Home Upgrader will literally save you thousands on your next remodeling project. Put a bit differently: Drywall and sheetrock are really the same thing. What is Drywall? What is Sheetrock? This is used in kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and all throughout the home. What are the Major Types of Drywall and Sheetrock?

There are a lot of different types of drywall and sheetrock to choose from. Here are just five that I find really helpful: Moisture Resistant : This type of drywall helps keep out water and prevents mold from developing or building up. These sheets tend to be thicker than the average wallboard. Acoustic Drywall : This drywall is incredible.

It helps keep out sound and is perfect for soundproofing a room. This keeps sound from traveling in or out. Sheetrock vs. Drywall: Pros and Cons One of the biggest advantages of using drywall or sheetrock is efficiency. Sheetrock is a brand of drywall like Clorox is a brand of bleach that contractors and DIYers have come to rely on due to its brand recognition.

All sheetrock is drywall, but not all drywall is sheetrock. Sheetrock and drywall cost about the same.