Also known as drywalls, Sheetrocks are commonly used in homes in place of wallpapers, wood paneling, and the like. This article will give you some essential tips for your home improvement project.
The term Sheetrock was given by United States Gypsum Corporation and is now used globally. The sheets of a drywall are made of fiberglass material instead of an ordinary paper, so that the growth of grime and mold can be prevented. In construction field, a gypsum board panel type is used which is squeezed tightly in between thick sheets of paper. Hence it’s called a plasterboard, wallboard, or gypsum board as well. Another reason for its wide usage is that it is quick, economical, and easy to install.
Sizes
Sheetrock is available in several sizes and types, however, the standard sizes are 8 feet by 4 feet with a thickness of 3/8”, ½” and 5/8” regardless of the panel size. For an ordinary homeowner, they are easy to handle and install as a DYI project. Now, these sizes are worth installing for any wall in your house, in case of tall ceilings the sizes can go up to 16 feet in height.
If the drywall is bought in one full-sized sheet, it’s not necessary to install the full sheet at the same time. Instead, with the help of a T-square, you can cut it to different panel sizes as per your requirement.
This material has literally replaced many common plaster of Paris walls in most American homes. In addition, it is also called a backup material for wall treatments. There are few other sizes as well, like, 4×9 feet and 4×10 feet sheets with the thickness remaining the same.
Thickness
Of all the above-mentioned thickness, ½” thickness is the one which is most widely used in several construction projects. They are, in fact, known to be the standard thickness of any interior walls. This is subject to installation on walls, but in case of ceilings, the Sheetrock thickness can be extended up to 5/8” too. Such a thick layer prevents sagging of ceilings, and gives a sturdy appearance to any infrastructure.
A thickness of ¼ inch is available under this category too. Apart from the above mentioned, a ¾ inch thickness product is also available in the market. That in particular is called fire resistant drywall. It can be installed in places like garage walls or kitchen walls for protection.
Types
Insulated: These varieties have a typical thickness of ½” and they are suitable for walls which do not retain heat quite well.
Baseboard: Chiefly designed to cover the ceilings, the baseboard type is mainly used for stud-work partitions and wall linings. The sizes available in this category are 3/8” and ½” thickness. Specific for ceiling installation, 3/8” size is ideal.
Water Resistant: Sheetrock has no specific location of its utilization and can be used in wet and moisture filled areas like bathrooms and kitchen walls or ceiling. They are easy to identify, because they are available in ¼” and 5/8” thick panels.
Fire Retardant: These are non-combustible and fire resistant. They come in a size of 5/8” thick panels having a grayish coat on the sheet backing and are known to be quite expensive in the market.
Remember, whenever you begin any improvement project in your home, learn to take all the measurements accurately, and sort all your priorities before you proceed further to purchase the desired Sheetrock type or size.