Building a new house or repairing an old one, renovating an apartment or restoring damaged walls invariably leads to the need to start repairs. A few decades ago, construction work to level walls would have been reduced to plastering them. Today, this option has a worthy competitor - drywall. This is where the dilemma arises: which is better - drywall or plaster?
There is no definite answer to this question. In each case, the owner will have to decide for himself what to purchase. The choice will become obvious only after reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of each building material.
What is drywall?
This material was invented at the end of the 19th century in America. But then it was not widely used. Over time, choosing which is better - drywall or plaster, more and more people began to give preference to drywall. From the middle of the nextcenturies, its use has spread throughout the world, it also appeared in the USSR.
Drywall is a building material. It consists of two sheets of cardboard and an inner layer of hardened gypsum dough between them. Drywall is used for the ceiling, for interior wall cladding and to create interior partitions. Not suitable for outdoor work and for rooms with high humidity. Of course, you can level the walls in the bathroom with drywall, but after a few years the appearance of these walls will deteriorate. Repairs will have to be repeated after a maximum of 6-8 years.
Manufacturers produce drywall sheets in three main standard sizes. The width is one - 1200 millimeters, and the length can be 2, 2, 5 or 3 meters. Sheet thickness comes in two sizes: 9.5 or 12.5 mm.
Responding to consumer requests, manufacturers have launched the production of three types of drywall: standard drywall sheets (GKL), waterproof drywall (GKLV) and fire-resistant drywall (GKLO).
Waterproof sheets are distinguished by the addition of special substances against fungi to the gypsum core. Gypsum in fire-resistant sheets is reinforced with clay and fiberglass reinforcement. Thanks to the fire-resistant properties of these materials, a drywall sheet can withstand an open fire for an hour without spreading it and smoke. The buyer can distinguish types of drywall by the color of the sheets: if it is gray, then it is ordinary drywall, green marking indicates water-resistant material, and pink indicates fire resistance.
Whatis plaster?
For a long time, the alignment of walls and ceilings was carried out with plaster. This is a building mixture used for finishing the inside or outside of the walls, as well as the ceiling. Plaster also means the hardened layer obtained by applying it to the walls. Usually there are three types of plaster:
- Plain - used to level the surface of the walls and protect them from the negative effects of the environment. It is possible to process walls both indoors and outdoors.
- Special - provides different characteristics by adding certain components: heat-saving, soundproofing, X-ray protection, waterproofing.
- Decorative - at the final stage of finishing walls or ceilings, it gives an aesthetically attractive appearance to the surface. There are colored, silk, Venetian, stone and others.
Ordinary plaster may have a different composition: lime, gypsum or cement-sand mixture.
Lime mortar is a mass of lime and sand in a ratio of 1:4. You can add cement for strength. The environmentally friendly mixture is quickly applied, used for outdoor work. Cement-sand mass in a ratio of 1:4 can be applied to the outer and inner sides of the walls. This solution will be able to even out large flaws, the plaster layer does not collapse for several decades. Gypsum mixture is used for interior work. The coating is even and white, suitable for finishing in any variant: wallpaper,painting, tiles.
The benefits of drywall
In order to determine which is better - drywall or plaster, you need to learn about the pros and cons of each type of finishing materials. Drywall has a number of advantages that plaster falls short of:
- All drywall finishing work is accompanied by a minimum of dirt, as the material is dry and does not require moisture.
- Alignment of walls with this material does not require special skills, it is carried out quickly. It's not difficult to use drywall for the ceiling.
- GKL sheathing provides sound insulation from external extraneous noise. The use of special fire-resistant drywall provides fire prevention.
- The ability of drywall to absorb excess moisture allows the walls to "breathe".
- There is an empty space between the cladding and the wall that can be put to good use. There you can hide communications or fill with insulation.
- Gypsum board sheets bend well. This allows you to design original design on walls and ceilings from this material.
Disadvantages of drywall
Like any material, it has flaws. Cons include:
- reducing the usable space inside the room, because the sheets are attached to the crate;
- wall upholstery with plasterboard is only part of the finishing work: you still need to putty the seams and apply finishing material;
- plasterboard walls cannot hold a heavy shelf or cabinet hung on them, for this you need to under the sheetpave additional items.
Dignity of plaster
Plaster is not without reason called the old, proven way of leveling walls and ceilings. It can compete with the visible advantages of drywall when choosing a material: which is better - drywall or plaster? The material has been in demand for so long because the benefits of plastered walls are impossible to ignore.
- Durability is the main advantage of plaster. The work carried out, subject to all technologies, allows you to forget about problems with irregularities for at least thirty years. Wallpaper, painting, whitewashing will have to be updated more often.
- A plaster-lined wall is strong, impact-resistant, reliable.
- Can support almost any load: furniture, electrical equipment or a picture in a heavy antique frame.
- Keeps the same area of the room without reducing it by a few centimeters on each side.
- Electricians allow single insulated wires to be used on plastered walls.
Material imperfections
Plaster is good, but it has its drawbacks:
- Wall plastering is carried out by adding water, so it is accompanied by a huge amount of dirt.
- Plastering is a slow business. It takes time to apply the material, then it dries. And only then you can start finishing. This may take three weeks or more.
- Accepting the work done by the plasterer, the customer canIt's easy to overlook mistakes. A non-professional is often unable to check the correctness of compliance with the technology. Among the builders, there are many who want to carry out plaster work. The price depends on the level of skill and responsibility of the specialist.
Designing a room using drywall
Plaster hides irregularities on the walls well and reliably. Drywall is capable of more - it can transform a space. When plastering, a box with perfectly smooth walls is obtained. Drywall design knows no boundaries. The most common options are: two- or three-level ceilings, room zoning, creating arches or columns. You can transform any room, from the bedroom to the hallway. Interesting ideas are offered by masters for decorating a bedroom, a nursery, a living room.
Cost of plaster and drywall
Comparison of the price of drywall and composite components for plaster shows a significant cheapness of the second material, almost twice. But from the source materials it is necessary to prepare a mixture, and then apply it to the wall. Drywall is ready to use, the sheet looks great. It is easy to lift and carry, it is light.
Calculate the required number of drywall sheets is easy. It is enough to measure the area of \u200b\u200bthe walls and ceilings in each room. Even a master can miscalculate with the right amount of plaster. Much depends on the condition of the walls. If they are in a deplorable state, then you will have to increase the consumption of materials. From here tothe question of which is cheaper - drywall or plaster, it is safe to answer that the second material is more affordable.
Payment of specialists
The cost of plasterboarding and plastering is about the same. There is another problem here: to find a good master. Of course, it will cost more, but the game is worth the candle.
There are construction companies demanding for plaster work, the price of which is quite high - up to 4 dollars for processing one square meter. In this case, the length of the tool is not specified. An experienced plasterer for that kind of money will work only with a one and a half meter spatula. The customer must understand that this option is preferable for him. The work of a high-class professional will cost much more: from $20 per square meter.
Align walls or ceilings with drywall will be much cheaper. So, on average, the installation of drywall (price per square meter) is about 5 dollars. Additional expenses will be required for smoothing the joints of sheets, for facing drywall. It's still cheaper than plastering.
Comparison of these prices unequivocally gives an answer to the question of what is more profitable - plaster or drywall. Plaster will cost less.
Making a choice
Plaster and drywall have common features. Let's see which ones. Drywall is called dry plaster for a reason. He is able to level the walls without unnecessary difficulties. Both types of finishingmaterials are made from environmentally friendly components. Therefore, they are harmless.
If we compare the speed of work, the undisputed leader will be drywall. At the same time, you can work with it already at +5 degrees. Plastering requires a warmer temperature regime. When comparing the service life, the leadership will remain with the plaster. A small caveat: if the procedure for applying it was carried out correctly.
For a quick completion of the repair, it is better to choose the installation of drywall. Price per sq. m will also be lower, which is important. Preference should be given to drywall if you need to hide utilities or large flaws in the walls. Additional insulation is also possible when installing this material.
Plaster is preferable in the country, because in winter there is no constant heating. A small room finished with drywall will become even smaller. The plaster will save the area from shrinking. And, of course, for rooms with heavy objects on the walls, this material is a win-win.
Conclusion
Here are the conclusions. The decision on what is right for you - wall decoration with plaster or drywall, take on your own. Successful repair!
