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Gypsum plaster is an old term for plaster of Paris, named for the large supply that was found in France. A white, powdery mineral that can be molded and hardens when mixed with water, gypsum plaster was and is used for all sorts of artistic and practical purposes. Modern gypsum plaster is often formed into sheets for use on home walls and it's called drywall or Sheetrock. Installing gypsum plaster in this form is actually very easy.
Once you've done all the heavy lifting by installing sheets of drywall on a wall, the next stage of work begins. To get a smooth, seamless finish, you'll need to apply joint tape and joint compound over any vertical or horizontal seams where different sheets of drywall meet, in addition to patching over any screws in the drywall. A number of basic tools are required to accomplish the job.
Before drywall was introduced to the American market by the United States Gypsum Company in 1916, the most common method to finish interior walls was lath and plaster. Even though it is more difficult, it continued to be the method of choice until a manpower shortage during World War II forced builders to switch to drywall. Contemporary builders use drywall almost exclusively because, among other things, it is fire resistant, stable and inexpensive.
Gypsum is commonly called drywall and is a plaster plank compressed in between two very thick sheets of paper. Gypsum is commonly used as the interior wall and ceiling material and is applied directly to the studs of the building frame. Gypsum board is a raw material and needs to be properly treated to be successfully painted.
Many homeowners will eventually need to patch a hole in their drywall. Drywall is a durable material. However, it can get dented, especially if you bump it with a heavy piece of furniture. There are patch repair kits on the market today that make hole-patching a simple job. If your hole is large, though, you will need to patch it with a new piece of drywall. The repair job itself will not take long. Smoothing out the area will take a bit of time only because each coat of mud will need to be completely dry before you can apply…
Firebloc Type C gypsum is the trademarked name for a fire-resistant wallboard that can provide fire resistance in walls, columns, roof-ceilings, floor-ceilings, beams, trusses and girders. Intended for interior residential or commercial applications only, the wallboard is used as a covering material. As a nonstructural product, the wallboard should not be used as a nailing base.
Finishing drywall is the process of masking all the seams, screw holes and damaged spots. The purpose is to create a smooth, flat canvas that accepts any type of paint or covering. The beauty of finishing drywall is that when done properly, the finished product hides incorrect cuts or imperfections in the wall. A drywall taping knife, premixed drywall mud, and drywall tape are all that is necessary to create the blank canvas needed for painting.
Gypsum wallboard, or drywall, is the most common material used for walls in homes and businesses. The material is easy to use and customize, non-toxic and easily repaired. Drywall is available in sheets measuring 4-by-8 foot, and widths from 1/4 to 5/8 inches. You can use drywall on walls, ceilings or any project that needs a smooth surface. Installing drywall is not difficult but can be time-consuming. Always plan for ample time to install drywall, and use the proper tools.
Installing floor tile requires a strong, flat, stable surface that can support the tile and the adhesive holding it in place. Unless you have a concrete subfloor, you will probably have to install an underlayment, a layer between the subfloor and the tile. Your underlayment material must be easy to work with and water-resistant. Gypsum wallboards fit both critera. It is strong enough to support the weight of most tiles, quick to cut through with a scored and snapped line, and simple to secure in place with a few ring shank nails.
USG gypsum wallboard--also known as drywall--comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets or larger. Half-inch-width wallboard is applied to walls with wallboard nails, and 5/8-inch wallboard is applied to ceilings using wallboard screws. The wallboard is attached to wall studs or ceiling joists, and large sections are cut to size using a tradesman's knife. Smaller areas like receptacle or switch boxes are cut out using small wallboard saws. Once installed, the wallboard joints are sealed with mesh tape, corner beading and then smeared with compound.
Gypsum, a common mineral (hydrated calcum sulphate) has several sources. Often mined, it originates as a by-product of flue gas, or as an evaporate of salt marshes and other tidal areas. As the world supply of wood diminishes and the price for wood products increases, gypsum has become an important substitute for many wood products in the building industry. Historically found most often in interior wallboard, gypsum has more recently become a substitute for plywood as a component of a fire-rated exterior, structural sheathing board. Other forms of gypsum sheathing qualify as a fire-rated non-structural sheathing product.
Gypsum is the raw material from which wallboard or drywall is made. It was created long ago when ocean water infiltrated continental shelves; as the sea water receded and evaporated, minerals like gypsum--called evaporites--were left behind. There are a number of gypsum mines around the country that supply the construction and agricultural industries with products made from gypsum. Gypsum is ideal for construction because it has a lot of water embedded in it, which retards fires.
Gypsum board is a product that is also commonly known as drywall and is used as wall board in residential and commercial construction. It generally has paper on each side and is noncombustible, meaning that it is fireproof. Different types of gypsum drywall exist for different purposes; for example a bathroom that is high in moisture content will be a different type from one that is used for living rooms or bedrooms and offices. Be sure to consider what your uses are before your purchase and store it flat and in a dry place to prevent warping or crumbling edges.
Gypsum wallboard is the most commonly used material to cover walls in interior projects. It has evolved into a versatile, dependable material that is quick to install and easy to repair. Made from a natural crystallized mineral, wallboard is naturally fire resistant and can also act as a sound barrier.
Gypsum wallboard was introduced by the United States Gypsum (USG) company in 1916 as an alternative to plaster for covering interior walls. It was called drywall since it could be installed without water, and also Sheetrock, which is USG's trademarked name for drywall. The product comes in 4-by-8 and 4-by-12 sheets in thicknesses of 1/2 and 5/8 inches and is fire resistant. Special green colored Sheetrock is also water resistant. Installers screw or nail drywall to the house framing and then cover it with tape and mud to form a flat wall.
You have two choices when preparing gypsum wallboard (also called drywall) for painting: You can do it the right way, or you can do it the wrong way. If you do it the wrong way, you'll forever have walls that will peel and wear quickly when washed and that won't have the optimal, velvety smooth finish you probably want. Doing it the right way involves priming and being a bit nit-picky. It will be worth it both in how attractive the surface looks when it's done and how well it withstands stains, washing and general abuse.
Wallboard is a catch-all term for any material that's attached to studs to create finished wall surfaces. Drywall is a specific kind of wallboard made with gypsum.
