A Closer Look At The Advantages and Disadvantages of Gypsum Board

If something happens to damage your home or its interiors, it’s crucial to get it fixed. It is vital to act quickly too!

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But where do you start?

Are you looking at restoring any residential or commercial damage to your building and don’t know where to start? Not sure what materials you might need to patch up a leaky roof or moldy wall? Have you ever heard of a gypsum board? Wondering what this fancy-sounding board is?

You can find the answers to these questions and more below:

What Is Gypsum Board?

Gypsum is naturally found around the world in large quantities. Commercial quantities of gypsum are found in Pakistan, Iran, Thailand, England, Ireland, Canada, and several others.

It is a sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate and has the chemical formula CaSO4 2H2O (if you want to impress anyone).

This material has a wide variety of functions and applications. Gypsum board, commonly known as plasterboard, drywall, or wallboard, is a gypsum plaster panel sandwiched between two sheets of fiberglass or thick paper.

Gypsum Board Advantages

There is a reason why the gypsum board is one of the most common names among all paneling products. Compared to different paneling materials such as fiberboard, hardwood, and plywood, the gypsum board stands out for its advantages.

Fire Resistance

Due to the non-combustible core and paper facers of gypsum board are more prevalent where fire resistance is required.

The non-combustible core of the board is chemically mixed with water at a rate of 21%. Therefore, the board releases steam when exposed to high heat as the temperature rises. As a result, it is the most widely utilized interior finish where a fire resistance classification is necessary.

Versatility

The primary qualities of gypsum boards, such as performance, availability, simplicity of application, ease of repair, and their versatility in decorative purposes, make them superior to any other surfacing product.

Countless architectural requirements can easily be achieved through the versatility of gypsum board.

Durability

Gypsum boards construct high-quality drywall panels.

Besides being suitable for ceiling applications, they are highly durable and dimensionally stable. The boards are straightforward to decorate and refinish, especially for anyone requiring repairs to your homes or businesses due to any water, fire, mold or natural disaster damage.

Easy Installation

The installation process of these wallboards or drywalls is far faster and easier than other materials like hardwood or fiberboard.

As a lightweight material, not much workforce is required to handle this product. Nor is any heavy-duty tool needed to cut through the material; a simple knife or hand saw could do the job.

Low Cost

The price is one of the reasons why this is a popular choice for many. It’s a low-cost building material that can build homes quickly and efficiently. That speed and low cost would benefit those looking for cost-effective solutions to reduce their spending.

It is a good fire-resistant wall surface and ceiling covering material that is reasonably inexpensive compared to other products. The total cost of installation/labor for the entire construction system is relatively low, making this system more appealing.

Gypsum Board Disadvantages

Just as there are upsides to a product, there certainly are drawbacks to any product.

Water Damage

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Gypsum plaster is unsuitable for exterior walls due to its susceptibility to moisture, especially continuous moisture exposure. Continually moist spaces, such as bathrooms, toilets, washrooms, and kitchens, would be suboptimal for this material.

Water damage may cause the panels to fall apart and mold to grow. There are, however, the more expensive fiberglass boards that are more resistant to water damage.

Not as Durable

Gypsum boards are not suitable for installation on curved surfaces. Bends will damage the structural integrity and cause cracks.

Wallboards may not be as long-lasting, especially in high-traffic locations. It is possible to dent them by heavy impact.

Difficult to recycle

If recycling is important to you, you should know that drywalls are challenging to recycle and often end up in landfills after the demolition of a building.

FAQs

Is Gypsum Board Bad for Health?

The short answer is No.

Drywall is not dangerous. There are no known adverse long-term medical effects from ingesting gypsum.

Gypsum and silica dust could be generated during drywall installation. While handling drywall, it is advisable to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask.

Plaster powder/dust can potentially irritate eyes, skin, or respiratory systems. If any adverse reactions occur, they should be short-term. Rinse thoroughly with water and wash off. Consult your physician if in doubt.

Is Gypsum Board Waterproof?

Yes, the boards are waterproof to a certain level.

If exposed to prolonged durations of moisture, regular boards can allow water to seep into the board and cause water damage. Panels with fiberglass are more water-resistant.

Conclusion

Now that you are an expert on everything gypsum board, you’ll be ready to use it for your next construction project!

Are you looking for residential & commercial restoration & repair services to work on your property? All Dry USA has years of experience protecting homes and keeping the elements at bay!

We can handle any residential or commercial paneling project, no matter how big or small.

Contact All Dry USA today!

Fire-rated gypsum board is a form of drywall that helps prevent the spread of flames across a home or business. Gypsum is approximately 21% chemically combined water, which greatly contributes to its effectiveness as a fire-resistive barrier. When gypsum drywall is exposed to fire, the water is slowly released as steam, effectively slowing heat transmission. This gypsum is used to develop fire-resistant drywall.

  
Fire-rated gypsum drywall is more fire-resistant because it contains glass fiber reinforcement and other additives within its specially formulated gypsum core to help it hold up longer to fire exposure. 

Fire rated drywall is referred to as “Type X” and must be third-party certified by an independent testing and listing agency such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) and ULC (Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada) to meet the fire performance requirements prescribed in the ASTM C1396 Standard Specification for Gypsum Board.

Not only does this drywall reduce the spread of flames, saving countless lives each year, but it has become a requirement in the building codes for dry, fire-prone regions in order to limit the amount of damage caused by seasonal fires. 

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), in partnership with Headwaters Economics, reported that more than 35,000 structures were lost to wildfires in the last decade. By mandating fire-resistant drywall in building codes, this number will start to drop. Fortunately, the cost of installing this drywall for homebuilders is minimal. The IBHS reports that wildfire-resistant construction actually costs two percent less than typical construction materials. This means you can protect future homes from fire damage while saving money.  

At CertainTeed, we strive to create fire-rated drywall that meets the strictest code standards while looking ahead to develop even better products in the future. There are a few key factors to keep in mind as you shop for fire-rated gypsum board. The first is the Flame Spread Rating. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code has five classes of flame spread, which rates materials on a scale of 0-500+. This rating measures the rate at which a flame will spread over a material. Red oak has a rating of 100 and anything considered Class A fire-resistant needs a rating of 0-25. 

Fire-resistant drywall has a flame spread rating of 15, well below the maximum spread for a Class A product. Some CertainTeed products have a flame spread rating of zero. Additionally, most of our products have a Smoke Developed rating of zero, per ASTM E84, which means our products do not create smoke when they burn, helping families and firefighters see where they are going in the event of a fire. 

Types of Fire-Resistant Drywall

CertainTeed is committed to offering gypsum fire-rated drywall to help builders in fire-prone areas construct safer homes. We offer multiple products based on your building codes and construction requirements. 

• Type X fire-rated drywall has a gypsum core enclosed in ivory-colored face paper. This product is used in fire assemblies from 1 hour up to 4 hours. A one-hour fire-rated assembly is the standard for many building codes. Type X drywall is ⅝”(15.9mm) thick and installed on each side of nominal 2” x 4” (38x89mm) wood studs spaced 16” (400mm) off center (o.c.) or 3 ⅝” (610 mm) steel studs spaced 24” o.c. It has a minimum fire-rating for the assembly of 1 hour, which is a typical requirement for many building codes.
• Type C fire-rated drywall also has a gypsum core enclosed in ivory-colored face paper. Sometimes referred to as Improved Type X, it is similar in composition to Type X, except that it has more glass fiber reinforcement and other ingredients in the gypsum core that makes its fire resistive properties superior to Type X. Type C gypsum board is available in ½” (12.7 mm) and ⅝” (15.9mm) thicknesses.
• M2Tech® moisture- and mold-resistant drywall drywall is also available in Type X for enhanced fire resistance.
• GlasRoc® Interior high-performance interior drywall features a special formulation, treated core, and fiberglass mat facer technology, designed to provide exceptional moisture, mold and fire protection for interior applications and exterior soffits.
• GlasRoc® Shaftliner fire-rated drywall is a model of Type X that is made for multi-story buildings and multi-family residential apartments and condominiums. The thick gypsum board has a specially formulated fire-resistive, noncombustible, and moisture resistant core. This protects your home from mold and moisture as well as the spread of fire.
• GlasRoc® Sheathing is an exterior-facing product made with cementitious glass mat facers that are embedded into a water-resistant gypsum core. This Type X exterior sheathing features excellent fire-resistance properties and numerous fire-rated assemblies.

Each of our fire-resistant drywall options is developed with specific climates and building types in mind. Browse our products to learn which ones are best for your area and building needs. With your careful planning and dedication to fire containment, you can help residents in your area keep their homes and businesses standing during wildfire season. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of gypsum board equipment. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.