Does your facility need some updating or remodeling? Drywall is an important material that is needed when considering most construction projects. 

What Is Drywall

Drywall is a type of board, with the middle made from hardened wood pulp, plaster, or other materials and then placed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used in the construction of interior walls of homes and offices. Newer drywall is made with fiberglass in the middle to help prevent mold growth. 

Drywall is nailed or screwed to the wooden framework of the building or house. Once all of the drywall is hung in place, it is then “mudded” by using a paper, reinforced paper, or fiberglass tape to cover the seams and then using a special plaster or joint compound to fill in the seams to make the walls smooth and to help keep the drywall in place.  

What Is Sheetrock

Drywall is also called wallboard, plasterboard, gypsum board, or Sheetrock. Sheetrock is actually a brand of drywall, like DeWalt is a name brand of tools. However, you wouldn’t say “hand me that DeWalt,” expecting a saw and being disappointed when you get handed a drill. But if you ask someone for Sheetrock, you will get drywall, it just might not be made by the United States Gypsum Corporation. 

The United States Gypsum Corporation was formed in the early 1900s and began its history of manufacturing drywall. Sheetrock got its official name in 1917 and has been updated over the years to include water- and fire-resistant boards, 1/2-inch ceiling panels to help prevent saggy ceilings, and more recently, it has been redesigned to be lighter and stronger. 

Who Came Up With This Stuff?

Augustine Sackett received a patent for a prototype of drywall called Inside Wall Covering in 1984. Later it would be called the Sackett Board. This invention helped builders to build houses in a fraction of the time that it had taken with wet-plaster wall construction. The Sackett Board became popular during wartime rations in the 1940s and has grown in popularity ever since. Later it became a popular material for building other buildings too. Today, the drywall industry brings in more than three billion dollars annually. 

Fun Facts About Drywall

There are water molecules within the panels attached to the gypsum. When the drywall is exposed to fire, the water molecules are released and the gypsum does not burn, which helps to protect the wood framework of the building and slow the fire progression. 

The lifespan of drywall is 30-70 years, depending on environmental factors such as insects, accidental holes, and water or fire damage. The good thing is that you can replace it in sections when it is damaged and may not have to replace all of the building’s drywall, depending on the type of damage that was done. 

Facilities Maintenance From 4SYT Industries

Servicing the East Coast, 4SYT Industries can help you with your facility maintenance. Drywall is one of our specialties, along with other maintenance, repair, remodel, and restoration services.