What is the Difference Between Drywall and Plaster?

by Jenny C. Blogger and Outreach Expert

If 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.

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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.

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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.