Which is better drywall or plaster walls. Rough wall finishing: drywall or plaster? Performance characteristics of plaster and drywall

Building a new house or renovating 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 the walls would have boiled down 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 specific case, the owner will have to decide what to buy. 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 he did not receive wide distribution. Over time, choosing which is better - drywall or plaster, more and more people began to give preference to drywall. From the middle of the next century, its use spread throughout the world, and it also appeared in the USSR.

Drywall is a building material. It consists of two sheets of cardboard and an inner layer between them of hardened gypsum dough. Plasterboard is used for the ceiling, for interior wall cladding and for creating interior partitions. Not suitable for outdoor work and for rooms with high humidity. Of course, you can level the walls with drywall, but after a few years, the appearance of these walls will deteriorate. The repair will have to be repeated after a maximum of 6-8 years.

Manufacturers produce drywall sheets in three basic standard sizes. The width is one - 1200 millimeters, and the length can be 2, 2.5 or 3 meters. The thickness of the sheet comes in two sizes: 9.5 or 12.5 millimeters.

Responding to consumer requests, manufacturers have launched the production of three types of drywall: standard gypsum plasterboard (GKL), waterproof gypsum board (GKLV) and fire-resistant gypsum board (GKLO).

Waterproof sheets are distinguished by the addition of special anti-fungal substances to the gypsum core. Gypsum in fire resistant sheets is reinforced with clay and fiberglass reinforcement. Due to the fire-resistant properties of these materials, a drywall sheet withstands open fire for an hour, without spreading it and smoke. The buyer can distinguish the types of drywall by the color of the sheets: if it is gray, it means that it is ordinary drywall, green marking indicates a waterproof material, and pink indicates fire resistance.

What is plaster?

For a long time, the alignment of walls and ceilings was carried out with plaster. It is a building mixture used to decorate the inside or outside of walls and ceilings. Plaster is also understood as the hardened layer obtained by applying it to the walls. Three are usually distinguished:

1. Normal - used to level the surface of walls and protect them from the negative effects of the environment. It is possible to process walls both indoors and outdoors.
2. Special - by adding certain components, it provides different characteristics: heat-saving, sound-insulating, X-ray shielding, adro-insulating.
3. Decorative - at the final stage of finishing walls or ceilings, it gives an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the surface. There are colored, silk, Venetian, stone and others.

Ordinary plaster can 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. Environmentally friendly mixture is quickly applied, used for outdoor use. A 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 level out large flaws; the plaster layer does not collapse for several decades. used for interior work. The coating is smooth and white, suitable for finishing in any version: wallpaper, painting, tiles.

Advantages of drywall

In order to determine which is better - drywall or plaster, you need to find out about the pros and cons of each type of finishing materials. Drywall has a number of advantages that plaster does not reach:

1. All finishing works with drywall are accompanied by a minimum of dirt, since the material is dry and does not require moisture.
2. Aligning the walls with this material does not require special skills, it is carried out quickly. It is not difficult to use drywall for the ceiling.
3. GKL sheathing provides sound insulation from external extraneous noise. The use of special fire-resistant drywall provides fire prevention.
4. The ability of drywall to absorb excess moisture allows the walls to "breathe".
5. An empty space is formed between the sheathing sheet and the wall, which can be used to good use. There you can hide communications or fill with insulation.
6. Drywall 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 drawbacks. The disadvantages include:

• reducing the usable space inside the room, because the sheets are attached to the crate;
• upholstery of the walls with plasterboard is only part of the finishing work: you also need to putty the seams and apply the finishing material;
• drywall walls cannot hold a heavy shelf or cabinet hung on them; for this, additional elements must be laid under the sheet.

Advantages of plaster

It is not for nothing that plaster is called the old, proven way of leveling walls and ceilings. It can compete with the apparent merits of drywall when choosing a material: which is better - drywall or plaster? The material remains in demand for so long, because the advantages of plastered walls cannot be overlooked.

1. Durability is the main advantage of plaster. The work carried out in compliance with all technologies allows you to forget about problems with irregularities for at least thirty years. Wallpaper, painting, whitewash will have to be updated more often.
2. The wall, leveled with plaster, is strong, shock-resistant, reliable.
3. It can withstand almost any load: furniture, electrical equipment or a painting in a heavy antique frame.
4. Keeps the same area of \u200b\u200bthe room without reducing it by a few centimeters on each side.
5. Electricians are allowed to use single insulation wires on plastered walls.

Material disadvantages

The plaster is good, but it is not without its drawbacks:

• Plastering the walls is carried out with the addition of water, therefore it is accompanied by a huge amount of dirt.
• Plastering is not quick. It takes time to apply the material, then it dries. And only then can you start finishing. This may take three weeks, or even more.
• Accepting the completed work from the plasterer, the customer may easily miss the flaws. A non-professional is often not able to check the correctness of compliance with the technology. There are many builders who want to carry out plastering work. The price depends on the level of skill and responsibility of the specialist.

Room decoration using drywall

The plaster well and reliably hides irregularities on the walls. Drywall is capable of more - it can transform the space. When plastering, a box with perfectly even walls is obtained. Plasterboard 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, nursery, living room.

Cost of plaster and drywall

Comparison of the price of drywall and plaster components shows a substantial cheapness of the second material by almost two times. But you need to prepare a mixture from the starting materials, and then apply it to the wall. The drywall is ready to use and the sheet looks great. It is not difficult to lift and carry it, it is lightweight.

It is not difficult to calculate the required number of drywall sheets. It is enough to measure the area of \u200b\u200bwalls and ceilings in each room. Even a master can miscalculate 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. Hence, to the question of which is cheaper - drywall or plaster, we can confidently answer that the second material is more affordable.

Remuneration for specialists

The cost of wall cladding with plasterboard and plastering is about the same. There is another problem here: finding a good master. It, of course, will cost more, but the game is worth the candle.

There are construction firms that require a rather high price - up to $ 4 for processing one square meter. The length of the tool is not specified. An experienced plasterer for that kind of money will only work with a one and a half meter spatula. The customer must understand that this option is preferable for him. The work of a highly qualified professional will cost much more: from $ 20 per square meter.

It will be much cheaper to align walls or ceilings with drywall. So, on average, the installation of drywall (price per sq. M.) - about $ 5. Additional expenses will be required for smoothing the joints of the sheets, for facing drywall. It is still cheaper than plastering.

Comparison of these prices unequivocally gives an answer to the question of which is more profitable - plaster or drywall. Plaster will be cheaper.

Making a choice

Plaster and drywall have similarities. Let's consider which ones. It is not for nothing that drywall is called It is able to align walls without unnecessary difficulties. Both types of finishing materials are made from environmentally friendly components. Therefore, they are harmless.

If we compare the speed of work, then the undisputed leader will be drywall. Moreover, you can work with it already at +5 degrees. For plaster, a warmer temperature regime is needed. When comparing service lives, the lead will remain with the plaster. A small disclaimer: if the procedure for its application 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 engineering communications or large flaws in the walls. Additional insulation is also possible when installing this material.

Plastering is preferable in the country, since there is no constant heating in winter. The small plasterboard room will become even smaller. 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

These are the conclusions. The decision about what is right for you - wall decoration with plaster or drywall, take on your own. Successful renovation!

Rare redevelopment does without the construction of new partitions, unless you decide to make a studio and only break the old walls. New walls can be erected from piece materials such as bricks, slabs and blocks of various compositions - we have already talked about them in the article "". Or use sheet materials. There are three most popular ones today, and we are ready to tell you about all their pros, cons and features so that you can choose the best one.

1. Plasterboard walls - GKL

Gypsum plasterboard is a layer of gypsum wrapped in thick paper, measuring 1200x2500x12.5 mm and weighing 29 kg. Sometimes it is thinner - 9 mm wide, but this option is very fragile. It is mounted as follows: first, a frame is formed from a metal profile, then gypsum plasterboard sheets are sewn onto the frame in two overlapping layers on all sides. The final wall thickness will depend on the width of the used metal profile 50/65/75/100 and you will get 100/115/125/150 mm, respectively. GKL sheathe not only walls, but also ceilings.

A green waterproof gypsum plasterboard (GKLV) is also sold, but it is conditionally waterproof: with constant water ingress, such sheets will swell, even if they are covered with tiles on top. It is better not to use it at all in "wet" rooms.

GKL cost: RUB 250-350 / piece GKLV will be more expensive.

Pros:

• Inside the frame, which is sheathed with plasterboard, it is convenient to lay communications.
• Easy installation.
• If you mount the frame over the floor screed, the plasterboard wall can be dismantled and re-erected as needed.
• Very lightweight material, gives very little load on the floors.

Minuses:

• 1 m² of plasterboard wall can hold no more than 20 kg of facing material. That is, the tiles will withstand normally, but porcelain stoneware is no longer a fact. When overloaded, the finish will soon fall off along with the layer of cardboard, exposing the gypsum.
• On one butterfly dowel (the tip of which opens after screwing in), an object weighing no more than 10 kg will be held in the plasterboard wall, and no more than 4 kg on the ceiling (you will have to make a cutout or lay a beam on the ceiling under the curtain rod). If you want to hang something heavier, you need to know in advance exactly where, and lay a beam or profile there.
• Very poor soundproofing.
• Low strength - impact dents remain.
• Use with great care in wet areas.

2. What is better than drywall: Gypsum fiber sheet (GVL)

GVL is also based on gypsum, but reinforced with various environmental additives. The assortment includes PC sheets - with a straight edge, they are intended for walls, and FC - an edge with a notch (for the floor). It also exists in the assortment of GVLV (waterproof gypsum fiber sheet): it does not differ in color in any way, only it has a seal with the designation of moisture resistance.

Dimensions of gypsum fiber sheet 2500 x 1200 x 10 / 12.5 mm, weight 36/42 kg. More often, a thickness of 10 mm is used for interior partitions. The metal frame is sheathed with GVL sheets in one layer, in contrast to the gypsum board. To improve sound insulation, you can make two layers, but then it is better to combine: one layer from gypsum fiber board, the other from gypsum board.

Thickness of the final single-layer GVL partition 10 mm: 70/85/95/120 mm depending on the width of the selected profile.

Cost: 450-500 rub / piece The final wall turns out to be approximately the same in cost for gypsum board and gypsum board, since gypsum board is mounted in two layers, and gypsum board in one.

Pros:

• On a butterfly dowel, it already withstands up to 20 kg on the wall and up to 8 kg on the ceiling, which is twice as high as that of the gypsum board.
• Non-flammable material, can be used in saunas.
• Good water resistance, can be used in the bathroom; even a frame for a bathtub or sink can be made from GVLV.
• Well processed to create complex shapes: arches, bulges, concavities.
• Inside the frame, which is sheathed with GVL, it is convenient to lay communications.
• Easy installation.
• The wall is flat and does not require additional leveling.
• If the frame is mounted on top of the floor screed, the gypsum fiber wall can be disassembled and re-erected as needed.

Minuses:

• Sound insulation is better than that of gypsum board, but not much. It can be improved by mounting the material in two layers.
• For items heavier than 20 kg, you will still have to make additional wall reinforcement at the hanging point.

3. Another alternative: Cement particle board (DSP)

DSP is the golden mean between wood and stone in terms of their properties. Made from cement, wood fibers and liquid glass (office glue). There are slabs for interior decoration and for facade (FTSSP). The size of one slab is 2700 x 1250 mm or 3200 x 1250 mm, and the thickness is 8/10/12/16/20/24/36 mm. For interior partitions, widths of 10 and 12 mm are most often used, the weight of slabs of this width is, respectively, 46 and 54 kg. It is better to choose the widest frame - metal or wooden. The final wall width is about 12 cm.

Cost: 800-900 rub. per slab 2700 x 1250 x 10 mm.

Pros:

• The assortment includes DSP with a three-dimensional decorative pattern imitating brick, stone, wood, etc. Such DSPs are more expensive, but do not require finishing.
• Moisture resistant material, can be used in bathrooms even with direct water ingress.
• Non-flammable - can be used in saunas, baths and around fireplaces and stoves.
• Does not decay, very durable.
• Many other elements can be made of DSP, besides walls: use as a top layer for leveling sub-floors, make window sills, steps.
• On a butterfly dowel it can hold up to 50 kg.
• The partitions are durable, but easy to groove.
• Easy to mount, except that because of the weight it is more convenient to do it together.
• Good soundproofing.

You built a house, or decided to make major repairs in an old dwelling, and do not know what to do with the ceiling and walls: drywall or plaster, which is better?

This situation is familiar to many. Most people are interested not only in the price of basic consumables, but also in the labor intensity of the work, as well as the possibility of doing them with their own hands.

The task of interior decoration, at the same time, does not stand aside either. We suggest discussing with us which is better: plaster or drywall on the walls.

If we compare which is more profitable: drywall or plaster, considering these materials exclusively as ways of leveling surfaces, then the main selection criterion is their cost, timing and technological complexity of work.

So:

• A plaster screed is a classic option for preparing walls and ceilings for painting or wallpapering. Whoever says anything, it is not at all easy to do a high-quality alignment in a wet way, without having certain skills and knowledge. Even the most detailed instructions will not replace practice, and mistakes, as, indeed, in any other business, are fraught with financial costs.
• Fifteen years ago, the plastering process was more complicated due to the fact that the solution had to be composed of separate components. This was done only by professionals, since home-grown specialists did not always succeed in making the solution correctly, especially by hand.
• They kneaded it "by eye", not every batch produced the same amount of ingredients, and as a result, the screed pretty soon began to flake off the base in places and crumble. Repairs in the house had to be done often, and no one was particularly surprised at this.
• Today the situation has changed dramatically. With the advent of factory-made dry plaster mixes, the process of renovating premises has become much easier. There is no longer the need to purchase each ingredient separately, since the base and finishing compositions have already been assembled. You just need to add water, and how much, the manufacturer also thought for us.

• Modern mixtures for leveling surfaces are clearly focused on certain operating conditions of the coating and have specified physical and mechanical characteristics. In addition to the binder and mineral filler, polymer resins are added to them, which endow solutions with unusual qualities.
• No drywall can compare with the strength of cement-polymer and gypsum-polymer screeds - and this is a fact. For this reason, for example, production facilities are almost never sheathed, but plastered. The only difference is that they do not use factory mixes for plastering work, but prepare solutions at on-site painting stations. Moreover, builders have their own recipes.
• The purpose of the room matters. For example, the walls of corridors, halls and lobbies of public buildings, where there is a large traffic of visitors, are often plastered as well. If they are sheathed, then not with drywall, but with gypsum vinyl or wood-polymer panels.

• They eliminate the need for finishing decorative finishing, but the cost of such a covering, as you know, is far from the budget. Plastering and painting the walls in this case is much cheaper. In addition, for the walls of public institutions, completely different requirements are imposed on the strength of the coating.
• There is a possibility of mechanical impact: furniture, equipment, appliances are worn around the building. The wall can be touched, and drywall is easy enough to break through, since in addition to the cardboard shell, the sheets are not protected by anything. What to say about production workshops! For such premises, plasterboard wall cladding is unprofitable.
• The reason for this is the large height of the premises, the solid dimensions and weight of the gypsum board, which is simply inconvenient to mount at a height of 5-6 m. Plastering and painting works at such facilities are fully mechanized, which makes it possible for a small team to quickly plaster and paint walls and ceilings.

Speaking of leveling in a "wet" way, one cannot but recall that there is also decorative plaster, which gives opportunities for such a design that cannot always be done on drywall. The cost of decorative plastering is higher, this is natural. But not everyone thinks the same: this finishing option is interesting for those who consider the main criterion for choosing not economy, but interior aesthetics.

Using drywall instead of plaster: pros and cons

If the walls of a room require a strong coating, instead of drywall for cladding, you can use GVL (gypsum fiber sheets). Due to the internal reinforcement with asbestos fiber, they have sufficient strength. That is why they are used for the construction of internal partitions, working niches, built-in closets.

So:

• Firstly, this material is more expensive than GCR. Secondly, it is not advisable to sheathe every room. Let's take the same corridors: they are already quite narrow, and after plating they become even smaller. So plastering the walls is the most logical option for them.
• As for living quarters of a small area, there is the same problem: the installation of gypsum plasterboard on the frame (see Plasterboard cladding based on the frame: finishing nuances) takes up space of at least 5 cm at each wall, which is very clearly visible in the photo below ... The advantages of frame cladding are that it allows you to level the surface where the differences are more than 5 cm.

• For plaster, this is the maximum possible thickness, and the plane of the plasterboard cladding can be leveled using straight hangers. It is important that the installation of gypsum board on the frame allows you to insulate the room, which is especially important for private houses.

Here you must decide for yourself what is more important: extra centimeters of space, or insulation - it's good that in a private house it can be done outside.

• Drywall can, of course, be mounted with the glue method, but the walls for this must be sufficiently flat. This alignment method is used more often when preparing walls for wallpapering, as it reduces the number of technological operations. It is enough to close up the joints between the sheets, and you can glue the roll coating.
• But for painting, drywall needs to be putty and sanded over the entire area. What is the point then to glue it when you can putty the base base - all the more so if it is already even. In general, deciding for yourself what is better: drywall, or plaster, you need to be guided, first of all, by logic.

• When it comes to ceilings, the criteria are completely different. If we talk about the options for their finishing, then plastered ceilings have fewer possibilities. Their design is based mainly on color combinations, which is quite acceptable for living quarters, entertainment and childcare facilities.
• This is not always the case for public institutions. But drywall for ceiling design gives a lot of advantages: in addition to color, form can participate in it. With the help of drywall, you can change beyond recognition not only the configuration of the ceiling, but also the space of the room as a whole.
• Decorative niches, arches, curly partitions, built-in cabinet furniture and multi-level ceilings - all this is the merit of drywall. The height of office premises is higher by standards than in residential buildings, therefore, you can always fit a suspended ceiling into their interiors.
• This makes it possible not only to diversify the interior design as a whole, but to organize high-quality lighting, ventilation and sound insulation. In the example above, we see this approach to decorating the lobby of an office building: there is plaster on the walls, and the ceiling is a two-level plasterboard.

• In houses and apartments, plasterboard ceilings play the same role, but there are much more design possibilities thanks to various lighting and finishing options. By the way, it is the ceilings that are most often difficult to align due to significant differences between two adjacent floors. Using drywall, the disadvantages of the base ceiling can not only be hidden, but also played up with a suspended structure.

If the height of the room does not allow the installation of a suspended ceiling, the base surface can simply be hemmed with plasterboard in one level, which will make it possible to insulate or soundproof it. Many people immediately have a question: "What is cheaper - to level the walls with plasterboard or plaster?" We will try to answer it in the next chapter.

Cost of materials and work

So, we are interested in what will be the difference in the cost of leveling surfaces, if the work is done "dry" and "wet" methods. Drywall or plaster, which is cheaper?

Let's count together, using the example of a standard bedroom in a brick house, with preparation for painting. With a room size of 3m * 4m * 2.5m, the area of \u200b\u200bits walls will be 35m2.

We cover with plasterboard

Plaster walls

So:

• To get a true picture, we took the market value of materials from one manufacturer as a basis. This is just a rough estimate. If the screed on the walls is not so thick, less material will be consumed, and accordingly the cost of wet leveling will decrease.
• As for the plasterboard sheathing, we considered a cheaper option: on a wooden crate. On a metal frame, it will cost more, and the cost of work is slightly higher.

Thus, we can confidently answer the question "Which is more profitable: drywall or plaster", that the economic costs of both methods of alignment are approximately the same. We think that the video in this article will convince you of this.

You can only save money if you do the work yourself. We wish you to succeed!

Everyone knows that the guarantee of a quality repair will be a perfectly flat and beautiful surface of the ceiling, because this is the object that catches the eye first of all when entering the room. The entire appearance of the room will depend on a good leveling of the ceiling, since an uneven surface will distort the lighting, create the effect of poor-quality repairs, and also make the room uncomfortable. It's no secret that drywall is a material that not only perfectly levels, but also insulates and also soundproof the room, but plaster is still relevant and popular. What is the reason for this? This will be discussed in this article, where the advantages and disadvantages of each of the finishing materials will be described in detail, as well as in which cases this or that option is better suited. So which is better plaster or drywall?

What is this article about

What is plaster and what is it like?

Plaster is a material that is widely used in construction and repair activities to create perfectly flat and smooth surfaces of walls and ceilings, as well as to prepare them for subsequent decorative finishing. It contains gypsum or cement, lime, as well as various special additional substances that enrich the material, make it resistant to moisture, mold, fungi and other adverse environmental influences.

Types of plaster:

1. Ordinary plaster - this type is designed specifically for finishing interior or exterior surfaces. It has a democratic price, while not whimsical to use. It is preferred by both professionals and novices in the repair business. Ordinary plaster is the most versatile and most popular because it has excellent noise-insulating and drainage properties.
2. Decorative plaster is a newer and more perfect version of the usual one. In addition to standard components, it contains elements such as coloring pigments, nylon fibers, acrylic resins and others; it is very beautiful and practical. At the same time, such plaster is versatile and environmentally friendly, creating the correct indoor microclimate. It should be noted that high-quality decorative material can last for more than a decade with regular cleaning and maintenance. It does not burn out over time and does not collect dust, and in the event of a fire, it does not burn.
3. Water and non-water plaster - the second option is a material that contains polyurethanes and epoxy resins, which are used as finishing components for interior work to make the surface more textured.

Advantages and disadvantages of plaster

The advantages include the following:

• after quality plastering, the surfaces of the walls and ceiling are able to maintain their presentable appearance for a long time, they can last 30 or more years without additional repair;
• the price of the material is very democratic, if someone asks what is cheaper than drywall or plaster, then we can easily say that plaster costs about half the price of finishing analogs, while, as for finishing works, they will also cost less, as at least 20% than the installation of gypsum board, especially if the work is carried out independently;
• plaster allows you not only to level the walls well, but also to make them stronger and more reliable, and if you try especially well, they will turn out to be shockproof;
• surface after plastering great for creating additional decor, for example, for installing heavy and dimensional elements such as furniture or appliances, drywall, in this case, loses a lot, because it is not able to withstand strong physical exertion, for this it will have to be additionally strengthened, which means spend extra money and time.

With all the advantages, the material has its disadvantages:

• the use of plaster is not complete without "wet" work, while the installation of gypsum plasterboards is dry enough, therefore, beginners, wondering which plaster or drywall is better, prefer drywall, fearing not to cope, since an incorrectly diluted material can ruin the entire surface repair;
• working with plaster takes a lot of time, especially if a beginner takes on the job, and the work surface is not of high quality. Drywall, unlike plaster, is less whimsical in installation, therefore, in some cases, experts advise using it, especially if the repair needs to be completed as soon as possible, without special skills and knowledge in the field of installation and repair;
• the unevenness of the walls greatly affects the plaster, since very rough surfaces will require much more starting material, which will greatly increase the cost of the entire repair. Drywall in this case is more advantageous, since the complexity of working with it does not depend on the quality of the surface;
• not having professional and titles, it will be much more difficult to determine whether any technological aspects of the application of plaster have been violated.

This video describes in detail the process of leveling walls with plaster:

What is drywall and what is it like?

Drywall is a material that is the main analogue of plaster, it is made of gypsum, which is finished on both sides with cardboard. With its help, both walls and ceilings can be finished; they become perfectly flat and smooth, prepared for further decorative finishing.

Ordinary drywall is well suited for rooms with normal humidity levels, without strong temperature changes. But, if the humidity in the room is increased, for example, in the bathroom, in the kitchen or the bath, then this is not a reason to abandon the plasterboard finish, because now there is a moisture-resistant analogue of conventional plasterboard sheets. It will look very beautiful and noble, while not deteriorating from exposure to moisture, and also not covered with mold and fungi, which will allow it to last long enough.

Advantages and disadvantages of drywall

Plasterboard sheets are very widespread during installation not only in Russia, but also in North America and Europe, because:

• now drywall instead of plaster is used more often due to the fact that it involves the conduct of exclusively "dry" work, which greatly facilitates the entire installation process;
• many are wondering what is better drywall or plaster when it comes to sound insulation or thermal insulation of a room, here the answer is simple - drywall definitely wins;
• drywall sheets have the property of "breathing" - this is due to the fact that the material constantly absorbs excess moisture and later gives it back, this property allows the drywall to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room;
• the material is flexible and elastic enough, therefore, it is suitable not only for sheathing, but also for creating decorated structures of various shapes from smooth lines to any geometric shapes;
• working with drywall takes much less time, and also requires less effort, skills and knowledge;
• plasterboard structures suggest additional insulation of the room (if necessary), this is very much in demand in cold climatic zones.

With a large number of advantages, plasterboard sheets have disadvantages:

• it is not recommended to use it if the room has low ceilings, because the gypsum board tends to "eat up" the space due to its volume and frame method of attachment;
• during installation, the material cannot be left without finishing, which will require additional materials and time;
• ordinary drywall sheets will not survive a flood or other serious wetting, it will strongly bend and even dry, it will not return to its previous shape, while it will not withstand strong objects and decorations, for this it will have to be strengthened in advance, which will take a lot of time.

What is better plaster or drywall?

To answer the question posed, you need to figure out for what situations, what material is most effective. Drywall is usually used if the installation work must be completed as soon as possible, this is due to the fact that it does not need to be applied in several layers, like plaster and wait for it to dry completely, which can take a whole day. After installation, drywall boards can be immediately finished and decorated, while they perfectly hide all communications, such as ventilation, telephone wires, and so on, without implying a replacement for the intended design solution.

There are times when, from unfavorable climatic conditions or improper wall decoration, they become of poor quality and poorly prepared for the next stage of finishing, in such a situation it is better to use drywall, because it is not picky about the quality of the walls, plaster is clearly losing here. It is also worth noting that this is the only option that is compatible with additional sound insulation and thermal insulation, because the structure is very well adapted to this.

Drywall is very practical if the design of the room requires precisely painting the walls or ceiling, because it turns out to be perfectly smooth without microcracks and scratches (unlike plaster), which the paint will immediately emphasize and make it more obvious.

As for cases when the use of plaster will become a more advantageous option, then these include cases when the finished room is exposed to serious temperature changes, for example, it is not heated for a long time in the cold season.

Also, plaster is indispensable when it comes to finishing small rooms with a low ceiling, it not only does not "steal" extra centimeters, but is also a universal finishing material, it simultaneously evens out the surface and decorates it, this is very important if the country style or Provence is chosen. Plaster will do well if it is supposed to place sufficiently large decor items on the walls in the room. From all of the above, the conclusion follows, when asked which plaster or drywall is better, the answer cannot be obvious, it all depends on the specific conditions, be it the quality of the walls, the qualifications of the master or the area of \u200b\u200bthe room.

Each of us during the renovation was faced with crooked and uneven ceilings and walls. Such "charms" are always found in apartment buildings. Today, there are several ways to level walls: drywall or plaster. And the question of which of them is better has not been resolved so far.

I must say that both materials, both drywall and plaster, remain in demand today.

It would seem, what is there to choose? Today everything in the house, including the walls and ceiling, is sheathed with plasterboard. But it was not so, because today plaster is also actively used to level the walls. Consider the pros and cons of each of these finishing materials.

Still relevant

Plastering

Plaster today, with such a material as drywall, should have already covered with cobwebs. But no, it still hasn't lost its value. Let's take a closer look at what allows it to stay afloat for so long.
Plaster is a special construction mixture. It is usually used for leveling walls. In addition, it is also used as a material that gives walls a uniform color. The plaster fills in all the irregularities and defects of the walls well, leveling their surface. That is why plaster is still one of the most demanded building materials.

Today on the construction market you can find the following types of plasters:

Monolithic plaster

• ordinary. They are often universal. They are used for both external and internal work;
• narrow profile. Better for narrowly targeted actions, such as wall leveling;
• special. Possess protective properties. They can be used to protect against fire, X-rays, etc .;
• decorative. Accordingly, they are better suited for wall decoration. They have a different structure and color.

In addition to this classification, plaster can be divided according to the method of application:

Certain types of mortar can be used for finishing.
In modern renovation, a cement-sand mixture is often used for wall decoration. But lime or gypsum mixture is also widely used. At the same time, the gypsum mixture is considered more environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is better to choose it if there are small children in the house.
Correct work with putty will allow you to perfectly level the walls and make them outwardly presentable. Such a finish will give the walls a great sound and sound absorption capacity. In addition, plaster has a number of other advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plaster walls

Of course, in order to figure out which material is better, you need to find out the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
The advantages of plaster include:

• high-quality plastering will save you from the further need to level the walls;

• you can work with the solution in any room, even in the bathroom;
• cost. Compared to other materials, plaster is clearly much cheaper. Therefore, it will be much easier for many to choose between it and expensive options, and the purchase itself will be more profitable. Even drywall, and that will be more expensive;
• the walls after such alignment will be able to withstand any load without additional devices. Here you can easily hang a TV, a mirror or a huge picture on the wall;
• high wall strength. It will be extremely difficult to pierce or break through them.

On this wonderful note, all the advantages of plaster came to an end. It's time to discuss her shortcomings.
Solution disadvantages:

Dirt after finishing

• leveling the ceiling with it will be, to put it mildly, not very comfortable;
• the process of plastering the wall is very dirty and wet. After finishing the finishing work, you still need to wash the premises from all the dirt. The use of dry plaster can slightly fix the matter;
• plastering requires a good knowledge of construction. Therefore, a beginner in this business is unlikely to cope with the bedded task at least four. Usually it turns out either not quite evenly, or for a very long time.

When deciding the question "what is better to choose, drywall or plaster?", Professionals always suggest that you first assess the condition of the walls and ceiling. If the walls are very crooked, then when using plaster, you simply spend a lot of material and effort, and the end result may not work out very well. Therefore, in this situation, it is better to use drywall sheets.But if there is a slight curvature - plaster will be an excellent solution.

Versatility is the key to success

Drywall structure

So we finally got to the drywall. It is a modern material that is widely used in interior decoration works. With its help, you can easily carry out the installation of the ceiling, align the walls and create structures unimaginable in complexity. It is great for decorating ceilings and walls in the bathroom, kitchen, loggia or balcony.

Note! Depending on the microclimate of the room, there are several options for drywall sheets, each of which is suitable for a specific feature of the room - for a bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom and sauna.

Drywall acquired such distribution due to its properties and structure.
The material consists of:

• two layers of cardboard;
• gypsum core.

Note! Depending on the core additives, the sheets can be moisture resistant or fire resistant. You can choose a type that will combine both properties.

It is possible to use drywall for the following purposes:

Plasterboard table

• alignment of walls and ceilings;
• repair work in any room, even in the bathroom and kitchen;
• redevelopment of the apartment;
• creation of decorative or functional partitions;
• installation on the ceiling of complex multi-level structures;
• hiding defects and irregularities in the ceiling and walls;
• assembly of furniture ideally suited to your needs.

As you can see, the area of \u200b\u200bapplication of drywall covers a much wider spectrum than plaster. But in order to understand the issue completely, now it is necessary to find out the strengths and weaknesses of drywall.

Advantages and secrets

The obvious advantages of drywall include the following:

• the ability to sheathe walls in the bathroom, kitchen, loggia or in any other room;
• you can align a wall of any curvature.

Note! This is much cheaper than buying plaster. In addition, it is much cheaper to make repairs in the entire apartment from drywall, especially if there are too curved walls. Moreover, they will look just gorgeous;

• easy installation, which is easily carried out by one person. It will be cheaper to do all the work yourself than to hire a construction team. However, when working on the ceiling, you will still need an assistant;

Installation of sheets

• by installing just a couple of sheets, you will completely close the walls, for example, in a bathroom or toilet;
• drywall has a certain degree of sound and heat insulation. With it, your walls, especially with additional insulation, will become much warmer;
• the ability to create complex curly structures on the ceiling;
• you can hide all pipes and communications in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen;
• you will spend very little time on a small amount of work;
• all work with drywall is available even to a beginner in the construction business.

We will dwell on the advantages, since you can talk about them for hours, and the main thing has already been written.

Reducing space

As for the shortcomings, then, sadly enough, even drywall has them. These include:

• slight decrease in space in the room. This can be especially noticeable in the bathroom and toilet;
• additional processing of seams and places for screwing self-tapping screws is necessary (here, by the way, you will need the same plaster);
• the cost of the material is higher than that of plaster;
• you need to use special devices to hang a heavy chandelier, picture or TV on drywall, as the material can be deformed.

Nevertheless, if desired, all disadvantages can be minimized. The main thing is to know how!

What should you choose?

Even after such a detailed consideration of the question, it is still quite difficult to answer it. In each individual situation, the advantages of one material prevail over its disadvantages. Sometimes plaster will be more economical and practical, and sometimes drywall.
Therefore, when choosing a material, rely on the needs that exist in your situation, and you will not go wrong!