Drywall Vs. Plasterboard – The Complete Comparison

Many may find drywall and plasterboard confusing as they are almost the same, in the sense that they are both made with a gypsum mixture and water as the core layer of the boards. 

Drywall and plasterboard are basically the same, except for the apparent difference in names. Plaster was initially used before drywall, and drywall was developed with better building technologies to make the plastering process more efficient.

If you seek to know which is better among the two, you are in the right place. 

This article will provide a clear comparison of both materials to determine which suits your needs. 

All You Need To Know About Drywall

Drywall are boards created through the combination of gypsum mixture and water. The said mixture is then sandwiched between two large sheets of heavy paper and processed through intense energy levels to finish.

Drywall is usually used for wall interiors and ceilings but rarely in outdoor environments. Its water component makes it more susceptible to mold and moisture, causing damage in the long run. 

If you want to know how many screws per sheet on walls and ceiling click here and if you can use spackle on wood paneling click here.

Moisture

Surface moisture occurs when there’s the presence of stagnant liquid water. It’s an easy breeding ground for microbial changes and the release of moisture that can easily affect the quality of a gypsum mixture. (Source

Drywall does not agree with moisture. Moisture will quickly destroy a sheet of drywall, given the opportunity. However, you can get various types of drywall, and some are specially made to prevent molds that grow in the presence of moisture.

Sizing

There is drywall available at a thickness of 9.5mm to 12.5mm. You can also paint over drywall as you would with a plastered wall. Plus, it does a great deal of reducing noise when designed as enclosures. 

Advantages

  • It does not need sanding (although mud applied will require it)
  • Has fire retardant features
  • Provides good sound insulation
  • It tends to be more stable than the plaster on its own

Disadvantages

  • Installation is complicated because of wall studs and joint placement.
  • You can’t use it for bathrooms or sauna spaces (Regular drywall).
drywall at fire resistant concrete board
Firecode drywall joins at fire-resistant concrete blue board

What You Should Know About Plasterboard

Plaster use is one of the oldest building methods used today. Plasterboard is created through a plaster mixture composed of lime or gypsum. This mixture hardens as it dries and is usually used as wall barriers and ceilings. 

You can also use it to put together pieces of bricks or masonry, as you can mold it as it is applied. You guessed it, plasterboard and drywall are basically the same thing.

How Is Plaster Created?

Plaster is created by combining water and a powdered mixture that produces a paste-like substance that you can apply to walls and surfaces. Plaster is usually made with sand, water, cement, and a binding component. 

The primary components of plaster include a large portion of water which makes it a preferred safety material in the building industry. Plasterboard has thermal behaviors that adhere to most fire and building safety conditions that governments apply locally and internationally. (Source

Advantages

  • It does not crack easily
  • The mixture spreads evenly with water
  • Mold resistant
  • It gives an excellent soundproofing effect

Disadvantages

  • It takes more time to dry and finish
  • It can be challenging to install frames and shelves on

Drywall Vs. Plasterboard (The Real Difference)

  1. Installation Ease 

Drywall

One of the reasons why drywall became famous is because of the speed at which it accelerates construction time. Unlike traditional plaster, which can take days to finish installing, the use of drywall significantly decreases installation time. 

With drywall as your primary material in building interior walls on your property, you can easily finish it in just a couple of hours. 

Plasterboard

The use of plasterboard works almost the same way as a drywall installation. 

However, several research studies have reviewed the ease of plasterboard installation through automation, which significantly shows efficiency and fewer chances of damage with plasterboard use. (Source

Like drywall, plasterboard is best used indoors, not in intense weather and moisture-prone spaces. 

Despite the automation at work in terms of plasterboard installation, one would see that the use of drywall is much more favorable for now as it can quickly be done even by non-professionals. 

  1. Costs 

Drywall

Since drywall is manufactured cost-efficiently, it has become popular in the market as a cheap solution to construction needs. 

And because it’s easy to install, you also won’t have to spend much labor cost expense for it. In fact, with the proper tools, you can use drywall for DIY projects on your property. 

Plasterboard

Plasterboard tends to be denser in terms of material components, which is why it costs even more. This density makes it more durable and long-lasting than other board panels. 

Because of this, plasterboard is usually more expensive than drywall. However, you can be sure that it won’t incur damage and will cut out repair expenses for long periods. 

  1. Paint Tolerance 

Drywall

The drywall is finished with PVA adhesives, making it easy to coat with paint. These adhesives are water-based and have organic compounds along with them. You can easily apply it with water or oil-based paint. 

What You Should Know About Plasterboard explained at DIYAthena.com.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard works best with a stain-blocking primer and an oil-based paint. But before applying paint, make sure that you cover and patch up all cracks that can affect the smooth finish you’re aiming for. 

There are paintable caulk or primers that you can use to patch up cracks and dents on your wall. Afterward, when the primer has dried, you can then start applying coatings and paint to your plasterboard. 

Both drywall and plasterboard can accommodate paint well. But if you want a more flexible painting type option, you can buy drywall as you can use it with water and oil-based paint. 

  1. Usage 

Drywall

drywall is designed to withstand multiple points of pressure for various purposes. Should you choose to install numerous shelves and drill holes for frames and other decorations in your space, then you’re safe to do it with drywall. 

There are even self-drilling anchors or screws that you can buy to make this process easier for you. Just remember to put in reasonable amounts of items on your wall to ensure that your drywall stays strong enough. 

Plasterboard

Plasterboard can carry heavy items, but you must ensure that the screws used to attach items are sunk deep into the lath with a stud. It is to strengthen the plasterboard’s grip on your wall accessory. 

However, even though plasterboard is longer lasting and more durable, it’s not advisable to install numerous amounts of nails and screw anchors in them. 

If you’re looking to maximize small amounts of space, then drywall is probably your choice. You can quickly drill multiple holes in your wall for shelves and decorations without worrying about unnecessary cracks. 

Is Plasterboard Better Than Drywall 

Of the two, plasterboard is more soundproof compared to drywall. But in terms of insulation, drywall is a better choice than plasterboard.

It is because plasterboard is created with more density than drywall, which is why it can block more rather than insulate. 

But in terms of ease of installation, drywall is much more preferred than plasterboard. It is also evidently cheaper than plasterboards. Really what it comes down to is what you need to accomplish. Does it require plasterboard or drywall? They both have their strengths and weaknesses. 

What Does The UK Call Drywall? 

In the UK, drywall is a term used to refer to either wallboards, wall panels, gypsum boards, or even plasterboard. Some famous manufacturing companies of drywall in the UK are GTEC and Gyproc. For other European countries, on the other hand, drywall is referred to as Placoplatre® board.  

In the UK, drywall or plasterboards are used as a smooth finish in decorating establishments. These materials are often used to design designs and intricate details on walls to meet specific aesthetic purposes. 

Local governments also recommend using drywall to meet fire protection and building regulations regarding moisture absorbance, acoustic effects, and thermal capacities. 

What Is The Difference Between Drywall And Plaster Wall In Terms Of Efficiency? 

Drywall is from softer materials formed to form a mixture called gypsum. It has multiple components, like fiberglass and water, that form a glue-like substance. Which, is then made into a sandwich with two heavy sheets of paper. 

Drywall installation is usually done in just a few hours as it only involves attaching joints and tape on building skeletons. 

Though this does not mean complete ease in installation, few countries and regions still prefer plaster walls instead of drywall. Some countries like Brazil do not have systems to successfully carry out proper drywall transport, leading to damage and contamination issues. (Source)

Required Drying Time

Plaster walls, on the other hand, are mixed with sand, water, and cement. It takes a longer time to dry as it needs natural drying time compared to drywall which is processed through high energy levels.

Creating walls through plaster not only takes a longer time to finish but also professional or skilled workers. Since plaster is firstly liquid that is only furbished and molded manually, one would need specialized tools to use it. It makes it more challenging than drywall that is already set and molded. 

What Is The Difference Between Drywall And Sheetrock? 

The difference between drywall and sheetrock is that one is a type of wall panel, and the other is a brand of wall panel.

Drywall is the actual type of wall panel that is primarily made with a gypsum mixture sandwiched with heavy paper. On the other hand, sheetrock has been an established name in manufacturing quality drywall for over a hundred years. 

How To Choose Between Drywall & Plasterboard 

If you’re trying to save on cost and prefer a wall panel that you can easily install by yourself, then drywall may be the right choice. These panels have been used in home trades for over a hundred years because of other installation ease and resilience. 

However, suppose you want to attempt a full-scale installation and plan to design your space with more intricate features. In that case, plasterboard is what you can choose. It’s durable and has soundproofing effects that are good for privacy and other purposes.

Sources

  1. Dedesko, Sandra & Siegel, Jeffrey A. “Moisture Parameters and Fungal Communities Associated with Gypsum Drywall In Buildings” https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-015-0137-y. Accessed August 2022 
  2. Keerthan, Poologanathan & Mahendran, Mahen “Numerical Studies of Gypsum Plasterboard Panels Under Standard Fire Conditions” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379711212000793. Accessed August 2022 
  3. Kumagai, Iori, Morisawa, Mitsuharu, Sakaguchi, Takeshi, Nakaoka, Shin’ichiro, Kaneko, Kenji, Kaminaga, Hiroshi, Kajita, Shuuji , Benallegue, Mehdi, Cisneros, Rafael & Kanehiro, Fumio “Toward Industrialization of Humanoid Robots: Autonomous Plasterboard Installation to Improve Safety and Efficiency” https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8867918. Accessed August 2022 
  4. Condeixa, Karina, Qualharini, Eduardo, Boer, Dieter & Haddad, Assed “An Inquiry Into The Life Cycle of Systems of Inner Walls: Comparison of Masonry and Drywall” https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/6/7904/htm. Accessed August 2022 
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