Drywall is the term, more commonly used in the United States, for the sheet material that UK builders call plasterboard. It is one of the most widely used internal lining materials in residential and commercial construction and has largely replaced traditional wet plaster on stud and masonry walls in modern UK building.

Construction of Plasterboard

Plasterboard consists of a core of calcium sulphate dihydrate, commonly known as gypsum, sandwiched between two layers of paper facing. The gypsum core provides fire resistance, rigidity, and a base for finishing with skim plaster or jointing compound. The paper faces provide tensile strength and a surface that can be painted, tiled, or decorated. Standard plasterboard is available in 9.5mm and 12.5mm thicknesses, with 12.5mm being the most common for walls and ceilings in domestic construction.

Types of Plasterboard

Beyond standard plasterboard, specialist types are manufactured for specific applications. Moisture-resistant plasterboard has a green-coloured core that resists surface moisture, suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens as a tile background. Fire-resistant plasterboard has a pink or red core containing glass fibres and added gypsum that slow fire penetration, used in fire-rated wall and ceiling constructions. Acoustic plasterboard is denser than standard board and is used in party walls and between floors to improve sound insulation. Insulated plasterboard, which has a layer of rigid foam insulation bonded to one face, is used to improve the thermal performance of walls without reducing the room size significantly.

How Plasterboard Is Fixed

Plasterboard is fixed to timber or metal stud frames using drywall screws at regular centres, typically 200mm on vertical studs. On masonry or concrete walls, it can be fixed directly using adhesive dabs, a method known as dot and dab. Once fixed, the joints between sheets are taped with paper or mesh tape and filled with jointing compound, and any screw heads are filled, to produce a flush finished surface ready for skim plastering or direct decoration.

Summary

Drywall (plasterboard) is a gypsum-core sheet material faced with paper, used for internal walls and ceilings. Standard 12.5mm plasterboard is the most common type; moisture-resistant, fire-resistant, acoustic, and insulated variants serve specific applications. It is fixed to stud frames with screws or to masonry with adhesive. Joints are taped and filled before decoration. Cutting is done with a knife and snap technique or a drywall saw.