Photo by Thirdman

Drywall is a widely used building material made out of gypsum. They are perfect interior and exterior substitutes for walls and excellent materials for ceilings. Knowing the different types of drywall will help you pick the right one for your home.

Drywall also has other names – wallboard, plasterboard, and gypsum board. This material is an excellent alternative to plaster. You have many options that match the area where they will be installed. Another option is an ECO board, an environmentally-friendly drywall material that imitates concrete.

Among the advantages of using drywall, the crucial fact that you need to remember is the sheets’ tapered edges located on the long sides. These edges turn into a shallow recess which professionals will use for drywall tape and the joint compound.

You can easily spot the different types of drywall by their color, and they should correspond to the kind of construction project. These are the seven types of drywall and their appropriate functions:

Standard Drywall or White Board

This is a drywall best for walls and ceilings in standard residential rooms. Its color is mostly white on one side and brown on the other. Since it is made of gypsum, it is not resistant to mold and mildew because it wasn’t treated to resist moisture like different types.

It is a given that you shouldn’t use drywall for areas like bathrooms and kitchens, but you may use them for places such as bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways. Aside from being an affordable choice, there are a wide variety of sizes from 3/8-inch thickness to 1 inch. Your home should need only 1/2-inch.

Green Board Drywall

Green board drywall or moisture-resistant drywall consists of a green covering that shields the sheets from moisture compared to regular drywall. This board has the same components as standard drywall, but the paper covering has a wax coating.

Green board drywall is usually applied as tile backing in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas, basements, and utility areas. However, this board is only partially water resistant. It mainly stops water from seeping through the material.

It also prevents further moisture buildup from humid rooms, so it is not advisable to use green board drywall in direct water contact. Due to its wax coating, this heavy-duty board is better than the standard drywall. However, remember that green board drywall is a bit more expensive.

Blue Board Drywall

Blue Board Drywall is the best option if you want better plaster backing and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Also known as plaster baseboard, this is usually applied as backing for veneer plastering. There is a unique absorbing quality of the blue board’s surface, which is on top of the gypsum interior.

That quality makes the inside of the gypsum interior look like actual plaster once it’s done. However, blue board drywall should not be applied with mud, tape, or paint. Unlike mudding and taping, veneer plastering only takes a few steps.

Blue board drywall has better moisture and mold resiliency, so it’s still good to be used in bathrooms or highly wet places. Another excellent trait of blue board drywall is that it has sound-insulating qualities.

Paperless Drywall

For excellent durability and increased water resistance, paperless drywall is the way to go. It has a fiberglass cover instead of typical paper. It prevents decay and has higher resilience against mold and mildew.

Paperless drywall has become a better and more available alternative to standard drywall. It’s still expensive, though, but the quality is good nonetheless. It’s also more durable than standard drywall, and it’s also easier to cut. Paperless drywall has a bit of a texture which may require a joint compound for a smooth, flawless finish.

Purple Drywall

It bears some similarities with green drywall, although it has superior resistance to mold and mildew. Its gypsum interior is coated with 100 percent recycled paper material, making the purple drywall more durable against water.

Purple drywall can be used for wall and ceiling purposes, making it ideal since it is a resilient material. It would be best to choose purple drywall for better results when in contact with water.

Type X Drywall

Type X drywall is fire-resistant, and its interior core is coated with fiberglass. Don’t get the wrong idea, though – just because it’s fire-resistant doesn’t mean it never gets burned. You can have this installed in multiple layers to delay the rapid spread of the fire.

The added thickness of Type X drywall is also suitable for sound insulation. To get this type of material, the gypsum board must have a minimum of one-hour fire-resistance rating for every 5/8-inch board. For a ½ inch board, a 3//4-hour rating is more suitable.

Type X drywall is much more complicated to cut and work around with than ordinary drywall, and it’s primarily built in garages and apartment buildings according to code.

Soundproof Drywall

We might have mentioned a few drywall varieties with soundproofing qualities, but one specializes in total sound insulation. It’s made of laminated drywall with wood fiber, gypsum, and polymers that heighten the STC or Sound Transmission Class.

Soundproof drywall is much denser than standard one, making it hard to cut. Although it is perfect for places with noise issues or if space requires total silence. Another notable feature of some soundproof drywall is a thin layer of metal compressed within that improves sound deadening.

Professional Drywall Repair Service

The sight of holes and cracks on your drywall can be stressful, and sometimes, you can’t do maintenance and repair alone. This is why The Patch Boys of St. Louis provides the best drywall and plaster repair for better quality services. They will ensure that your drywall lasts longer and better than before.

Follow me
Index

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
Skip to content