What is the Difference Between Drywall and Plaster?
by Jenny C. Blogger and Outreach ExpertIf you are looking for
putting up a wall for your next home improvement project, we have got you
covered. The two most commonly used materials when it comes to wall building
are drywall and plaster, and if you are planning to get your walls re-done, you
must have definitely heard about it. Newer houses tend to use drywall, a
material consisting of gypsum sandwiched between two sheets of paper which are
usually sold in 4-foot-by-8-foot panels. Drywall is fairly quick and easy to
install by screwing it into the studs of the wall. It also comes in a variety
of thicknesses and different options to choose from. On the other hand, plaster
is more labor-intensive yet high-end wall treatment. Here workers nail lengths
of wood called lath to the studs and then apply numerous coats of plaster over
the surface. The vintage houses or really old houses have a wall structure of
this sort. If you are a resident of New Jersey, you can fix up a meeting with
your nearest drywall contractor in NJ to have some helpful insights into
the matter.
When you consult your
nearby drywall contractor in NJ, they can help you through the process
of selecting the right material for your wall by breaking down the pros and
cons of both the materials according to your specifications and house
structure. However, both the methods have their respective strengths and
weaknesses, so here is everything you need to know about drywall and plaster-
Plaster is a much
older and hence traditional style of wall construction than drywall. The prime differences
between the two cover their daily usage, installation, and expense. However,
drywall is considered to be a more common building choice than plaster walls
are. As mentioned earlier, it is easier to install drywall, as it requires
nails and tape while plastering is more time consuming and can be rather
regarded as a craft form. When it comes to the labor, drywall installation much
labor-intensive when compared with plastering. From that, we can deduce that
putting up drywall is not as expensive as plaster walls. Apart from that,
plaster walls are much more durable and also sets up a high-quality finish.
1.
Plaster-
Plaster
is a compound that can be purchased pre-mixed or as a dry compound which can
then be prepared with water. One thing to be noted is that applying plaster is
not a simple project that you can do yourself. It involves and requires
knowledge in the application technique, which is a skill that a professional or
an expert acquires over years of experience. A more modern version of this wall
making material involves veneer plaster. Veneer plaster has resemblance with
drywall. It has drywall-like gypsum panels that go upwards like sheetrock
drywall panels. They are then finished with a multiple-coat veneer plaster that
looks like the same old traditional plaster.
2.
Drywall-
Drywall
typically and generally comes in wall-size boards made of sheetrock. The ease
of use and level of required soundproofing is determined by the thickness of
the boards. Sheetrock usually comes in thicknesses of 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch.
5/8-inch sheetrock gives strength to the wall and minimizes sound. 1/2-inch
sheetrock is comparatively less expensive than 5/8-inch drywall and can be
easily manipulated during installation. Almost any level of drywall
contractors in NJ can advise you to use sheetrock because probably that is
what they use as well. Sheetrock is cut to length, nailed or screwed and then
placed into the position. A tool that can come handy in the installation
process is the sheetrock hanger. It acts as an easel for the drywall board and has
a lever that lifts the sheetrock into place and holds it while the screws and
nails are placed. Professional installers prefer to using screws over nails. Nails
tend to pop out over time, making little bumps appear along the seam. On the
other hand, screws hold better and remain in place even after the wall is
ready.
3.
Cost
Comparison-
As
discussed earlier, drywall is generally less expensive than plaster
applications, but plaster applications have a better quality to provide. This
cost comparison is made, including factoring for labor as well as taking into
account the set up costs associated with applying plaster as opposed to screwing
the drywall into place.
However,
the veneer plaster solutions offer a competitive middle-ground for people who
want a plaster finish without any messy application procedure that comes with
traditional plaster. Yet, for most areas in a home, a simple drywall solution
is both sensible and cost-effective depending upon your specifications and
structure of the house.
So, this was all you
needed to know about the difference between drywall and plaster. You can
further your knowledge by visiting any drywall contractor in NJ and get
your walls done.
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Created on Oct 15th 2019 01:33. Viewed 1,017 times.