Drywall is the most popular building material today. It is durable and flexible. It is completely harmless to the human body and has a lot of other wonderful properties.
Drywall characteristics
Drywall is a kind of finishing material that is made in the form of a sheet. There is a gypsum base in the middle of the product, and on the sides there are several layers of cardboard that perform 2 functions:
- Protective. On the front side, the paper is stronger and more resistant to abrasion.
- Cardboard elements are able to stretch and hold the internal pressure of gypsum, which may appear when working with it or during the operation of the finished structure.
But cardboard does not work on compression.
Main species
Gypsum board structures are often used to implement different types of work: finishing and creating all kinds of decorative elements.
Drywall happens:
- ordinary;
- moisture resistant.
Next will be discussedvariations in size and function of moisture-resistant drywall. These systems include not only sheets of dry plaster, but also the elements necessary to quickly mount the structures of the supporting base and configurations of high complexity. Also, with their help, it is possible to complete all work on the technical process of dry finishing in a short period of time, for this it will not be necessary to carry out activities that are associated with the formation of high humidity (plastering and other actions). Truly high-quality drywall has really changed the approach in construction and finishing work.
Dignity
The main advantage of drywall is simplicity and ease of finishing, rather low weight and good environmental friendliness. With plasterboard constructions, professionals can create all sorts of, even the most unusual solutions to design and construction ideas. Moisture resistant drywall is considered a very high quality building material. Usually it comes in standard sizes, so that even before the start of the erection of structures, it is easy to make a miscalculation of the required number of sheets and navigate the estimated costs.
Sizes
The size of moisture-resistant drywall is:
- layer level: 9.5 - 12.5 mm, also available from 8 to 24 mm;
- product width: 1.2 to 1.3 m;
- height: ranges from 2.5 to 4.8 meters.
Product dimensions may vary depending oncustomer preference.
Appearance of moisture resistant drywall
Knauf is considered the most popular manufacturer of drywall products. Today it is one of the most famous companies. Letters are printed on each sheet to identify the purpose of the material.
At the heart of a wide variety of drywall systems are simple frame elements that can be mounted very quickly. Drywall moisture resistant Knauf has amazing properties. For example, it can be given absolutely any shape, bent when wet, to create all sorts of decorative elements. Moisture-resistant drywall (VGKL) is impregnated with waterproof and antifungal impregnation, and the core is made using additives that significantly minimize moisture absorption. Such drywall sheets are used for damp rooms: bathrooms, kitchens, garages.
Moisture-resistant drywall "Knauf" is considered one of the commonly used building materials among analogues. This building material is produced in the form of a rectangular sheet (two-layer cardboard, including a gypsum mass with reinforced substances). Moisture resistant drywall sheet size: 1.2m x 3m, layer 12.5mm.
Moisture-resistant GKL "Knauf" has a high resistance to moisture absorption, and therefore is often used in rooms with high levels of humidity and poor air circulation, while being completely environmentally friendly and harmless to he alth.
Hygroscopicity
Gypsum boards are hygroscopic. This is considered both a plus and a minus. The ability to absorb moisture by the material limits the use of ordinary drywall sheets. For their installation, auxiliary waterproofing is needed, therefore it is preferable to purchase moisture-resistant drywall for these purposes. In the bathroom, ordinary sheets will soon become unusable.
How to distinguish between different types of drywall?
All drywall that has been produced recently is usually of standard sizes and has the abbreviation GKL, GKLO and GKLV (GKL - drywall sheet, GKLO - refractory drywall sheet, GKLV - moisture resistant drywall sheet). One surface of ordinary drywall products is brown, and the other has a natural paper color.
To determine which drywall is moisture resistant, you just need to look at the color of the sheet surface. Moisture-resistant material is painted green and has special qualities due to impregnation with antiseptic, antibacterial and hydro-resistant solutions. It is they who guarantee him maximum immunity to moisture. All additional substances that are part of the moisture-resistant material slightly affect the severity of the product. The weight of one sheet of moisture-resistant drywall in a standard size is only a couple of kilograms heavier than a sheet of ordinary drywall.
Technical characteristics of moisture-resistant material make it possible to use it in the decoration of the kitchen, bathrooms, but you need notforget about protecting the outside of the products. To protect drywall, special primers or water-repellent paints are used. Can protect PVC or ceramic tiles, located on top of drywall, all kinds of water-repellent films.
What you should pay attention to when buying GKL and profiles
There are so-called packing lists. In the production of drywall sheets, the material is stacked on large pallets, moved in packs by electric cars or other loading equipment. The lowermost sheet, which is subjected to mechanical action, is deformed as a result. This is what is called packaging. On such sheets leave a special marking "Packing list". He should not be sold. It is thrown away as a marriage. When buying, you should pay attention to this.
When buying, you should inspect the sheets for integrity. Drywall should not have broken corners, paper should not be torn off. Sheets must be stored lying down in closed warehouses.
It is also worth paying attention to the level of the layer of profiles and the hardness of the products.
Drywall profiles: UD and CD.
A high-quality CD profile does not deform under the influence of physical force, and if you take the UD profile by the end with one hand and lift it, the profile should not create the feeling that it can break under its own weight. The reliability of the entire structure depends on the size of the profile layer. Naturally, the thicker the layer, the stronger it will be.drywall construction.
Usually primed profile ends indicate bad galvanizing or improper storage. Galvanization must be visible, shine uniformly, it should not have white marks.
CD and UD drywall profiles are available in 3m and 4m lengths, but can be made in custom lengths at the factory (on request). This can be useful if, for example, you want to finish a wall with a height of more than 4 meters, then you do not need to join the CDs along the length.
Scope of application
In the process of cladding, the question may arise as to which specific surface to install moisture-resistant drywall. Each product has special edges with different profiles. Such a useful solution is needed in order to close gaps between products using various building materials.
There are several types of edges: rectangular (no need for embedding), stepped (requires a thin profile of reinforcing tape and plaster for putty), and rounded (requires putty without the use of tape).
When laying drywall sheets, the chamfer must be located outside. When using ordinary drywall sheets, the surface that is painted in a lighter shade should remain externally. The same instructions should be followed when installing moisture resistant material.
Moisture-resistant drywall sheets can be used instead of conventional counterparts, but ordinary sheets should not be used instead of moisture-resistant ones. True, the cost of moisture-resistant material is a little more expensive and it is better to use it exclusively for certain rooms. It is pointless to mount it instead of the usual one. When using moisture-resistant drywall, the manufacturer advises to control the required level of air circulation. This is necessary so that the drywall has the ability to return the accumulated moisture.
Conclusion
From all of the above, it follows that the dimensions of moisture-resistant drywall do not differ from ordinary ones. At the same time, it is more multifunctional, which makes it possible to carry out facing work indoors with it: this material is used for finishing walls and ceilings, for building various partitions and other systems.
