There are several different types of drywall materials available, and to put up drywall, you will have to obtain the appropriate ones for your project. Among the various materials available are the different types of drywall, fastening materials, plaster, and drywall tape. Each of these supplies plays an important role in putting up drywall. For instance, the different types of wallboard will have different purposes and are best used in different situations. In certain applications, you will need to obtain a specific type of wallboard required by authorities.
The first of the many drywall materials you will need in order to put up drywall is the wallboard itself. Drywall is essentially two pieces of paper with a gypsum center. The paper on one side of the board is rough, and the other side is smooth. The rough side is to be placed facing the studs, while the smooth side is known as the finishing side and should be placed facing outward.
Normal drywall is fine for general applications, but if you are planning to place a wall in a place where it may get wet, other options are needed. Greenboard is a type of drywall that is resistant to water and can be used around sinks and toilets. It is easy to spot because it is normally green. If a person plans to put the wall in a place where it will get wet, such as near a shower, a more waterproof drywall option should be used. Drywall materials, such as cement drywall, which has a cement center and has fiberglass on the outer layers, is better suited to such applications.
Apart from the drywall itself, there are several other types of drywall materials. To fasten the drywall to the wall studs, special nails or screws are used. These drywall nails are specifically made for fastening drywall into wooden studs and should not fall out in the future. In addition, there are special fasteners that will do their job even when wet. To join the drywall together and get rid of any holes or gaps that may exist between drywall panels, drywall materials known as joint compounds are used.
Several types of joint compound exist, including pre-made and powdered versions which should be mixed on site. The compound by itself will not do the job, however. To make sure the gaps between drywall panels stay closed, drywall tape is used. Drywall tape is essentially a roll of paper. It is held in place by the compound and is designed to keep the two panels of wallboard together.