What’s The Difference Between Drywall And Sheetrock?
Do you know the difference between drywall and sheetrock? Most people have drywall and sheetrock in their homes but barely understand what they are and their differences. In this article, we will be looking at what they are and their differences.
If you have plans of reconstructing or remodelling any project, there’s this possibility that you will be using drywall or sheetrock. This is because they are used to make walls and ceilings.
The USG company started the manufacture of sheetrock in 1917, and ever since, the product has been in circulation. The first Sackett board was developed in 1800. Thereafter, the board evolved from 1910-1930, with the sheetrock becoming so popular.
Drywall and Sheetrock are the same things. It’s just that drywall is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, while sheetrock is a brand of drywall made by USG company.
What Is A Drywall?
The name drywall explains exactly what it is. It is a wall made from gypsum that is entirely dry, and no wet materials are needed for the installation.
Other names for drywall panels are; gyprock, plasterboard, wallboard, gypsum board, and Sheetrock.
Modern-day drywall Is made from a lightweight but incredibly sturdy rock called gypsum. It is ground up into fine powder and carefully pressed between two thick pieces of paper, forming a bog board and sheet.
Benefits Of Drywall
- Easy to repair when damaged.
- It is fire-resistant.
- Its weight is light and therefore reduces shipping costs and also facilitates handling and installation.
- Improved impact resistance.
- Moisture resistance for bathrooms, basements and other high moisture areas.
Limitations Of Drywall
- It is vulnerable to moisture damage.
- Its paper is edible by termites.
- Screws pop out unexpectedly.
- Distasteful odour and corrosion.
What Is A Sheetrock?
Sheetrock is a brand of drywall that is a replacement for plastic and lath. This type of plasterboard is composed of gypsum joined together by heavy sheets of paper.
Sheetrock is used in constructing interior walls and ceilings. Sheetrock has special products that include;
- Regular core panels.
- Sag-resistant,
- Ultra code core
- Firecode X
- Ultracode core.
- Foil-back.
- Mould tough.
- Abuse-resistant and fire-resistant panels
These features prevent the build-up of moisture mould.
Since sheetrock is one of the very trusted USG company products, it has become so popular that it's now mistaken for drywall. The idea is that only the USGypsum company has the right to market its drywall product as sheetrock.
This is because the material used in sheetrock manufacturing makes it unique and therefore patented in the company’s name. There are other names this product is being called, the names are wallboard and gypsum board.
Differences Between Drywall And Sheetrock
The major difference between drywall and sheetrock is that drywalls are commonly used in home constructions, while Sheetrock is a brand name for drywall. The other differences include:
● Thickness
Drywall comes in a different standard of thickness. It can come in ¼-inch to ¾-inch thickness, While sheetrock comes in varieties, including the regular core panels in ¼-inch, 3/8-inch and ½-inch thickness.
1/4inch: This is the thinnest drywall available, and it is a great choice for remodelling your basement or any other walls in your home that do not need thick reinforcement.
3/4inch: It is three times thicker than 1/3 inch drywall. They are usually used in bathrooms and not commonly used elsewhere unless the room needs extra support.
1/2inch: it is thicker than 1/4inch but not as thick as ¾ inch. This sheetrock/drywall is almost moisture-resistant and very durable. It can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and other home parts.
Note: The thickness is versatile and can be used for all sorts of construction and renovation in projects around your home.
● Manufacturing
Drywall consists of a core of gypsum plaster pressed together between two thick sheets of paper. The gypsum plaster core is made out of a foaming agent, fibre and finely ground gypsum additives and crystals.
For sheetrock, the manufacturing process is the same, but a few chemicals were added to the brand to make it unique.
● Construction Techniques
Construction workers use the same technique for both of them. First, the panel is scored and then cut into different sizes, thereby manually breaking the core.
The Scored and Sized panels are fixed to wall studs with glue, nails, drywall fasteners or screws. The remaining seams are then concealed using a filler.
Types Of Drywall And Sheetrock
- Green board Drywall: It is an oil-based additive that provides moisture resistance. It is commonly used in bathrooms, especially near the shower. It also prevents mould from forming.
- Fire Resistant: This drywall has extra properties that make it resistant to fire hazards. They are also thicker than the average board.
- Acoustic Drywall: This drywall is superb. It helps keep out sound and is perfect for soundproofing purposes. It uses damping polymers to decrease sound transmission.
- Ceiling Drywall/Sag Resistant: It is specially made for ceilings and also, and the panels are built to prevent sagging.
- Moisture Resistance: This type of drywall/sheetrock helps keep out water in your laundry rooms and bathrooms and prevents mould build-up.
Pros Of Drywall/Sheetrock
- It is less expensive than other products and methods.
- It is faster and easier to install. Drywall can take a whole day to install, unlike lath and plaster, which takes up to a week.
- It has some special materials of extra purpose like moisture mould resistance and fireproofing.
- It does not require sanding
- Varieties of types and sizes to choose from.
Cons Of Drywall/Sheetrock
- Special lifts or people are required to lift large drywall and sheetrock.
- It doesn’t block as much sound as plaster does.
- Water can easily damage drywall and sheetrock, and the paper joined together can foul mould buildup.
- Lots of materials are wasted due to cutting the panels into different sizes.
- If it is not installed evenly, the joints between the sheets will be visible.
- Water is not needed during installation, so the site stays dry, clean and tidy.
On A Final Note;
Aside from a few chemicals that allow sheetrock products to be more patented, there is no major difference between the two. All sheetrock can be called drywall, but not all drywall can be called sheetrock.
Always look for a product that doesn’t contain sulfur because it can emit foul odours, corrode metal and cause health damage. Getting the Sheetrock Brand Mold Tough AR Firecode Type X Panels from USGME is your surest bet at getting the best sheetrock product in the market.