Which is better to plaster or drywall. Which is better - plaster or drywall? Fine sand for plastering mortars

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 beginners 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, its composition contains elements such as coloring pigments, nylon fibers, acrylic resins and others, it is very beautiful and practical. Moreover, such plaster is versatile and environmentally friendly, creating the right microclimate in the room. It is worth noting 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 the question of 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 work, they will also cost less, as at least 20% than the installation of gypsum boards, especially if the work is carried out independently;
• plaster allows 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 quite dry, 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.

Plasterboard 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

Drywall 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 people wonder 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 the 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.

Korovin Sergey Dmitrievich

Master of Architecture, graduated from the Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 11 years of experience in design and construction.

When performing finishing work both in new buildings and in rooms with a history, it is often required to resolve the issue of leveling the surface of the walls for subsequent pasting with roll products or cladding with other materials. Traditionally, plaster mortars and sheet products such as drywall are used to solve these problems. Below we will consider in what cases it is necessary to use drywall instead of plaster, the pros and cons of these materials, as well as the options for using each type of finish based on the characteristics of the room.

Drywall

This material has been actively conquering the domestic construction market for more than ten years. At some point, the use of drywall began to be associated with "Euro repair", since the use of this sheet product was mainly accounted for in Europe and the USA, where drywall is the leader in sales.

Sheets consist of an even, dense layer of gypsum, 9 to 12 mm thick, on both sides of which cardboard is glued. The ideally flat surface of the sheet allows you to build various structures and level the walls for subsequent filling and finishing. The cardboard fixed to the glue keeps the rather fragile gypsum from chipping and creasing, which makes it possible to mount it on a metal profile frame.

In construction, they began to replace plaster with plasterboard, based on the following positive qualities of this material:

• drywall sheets make it possible to embody any ideas of an interior designer from standard use for alignment, to the design of curly elements;
• drywall is installed if the vertical drops exceed 40 mm, which is impossible when using standard methods for eliminating errors;
• these sheet products protect the room from extraneous sounds and help preserve heat;
• with the help of sheets of plasterboard and metal profiles, they mask water and electrical communications;
• installation of gypsum board does not take much time;
• this material is very easy to process and assemble, as a result of which even a person who is not experienced in construction work can independently build any structure;
• gypsum is not an allergen and therefore gypsum plasterboards are classified as environmentally friendly materials;
• on the installed plasterboard base, you can immediately glue wallpaper or tiles;
• when working with gypsum boards, there is practically no debris - the material is cut with a knife, and it is attached to the guides with self-tapping screws;
• it masks the remnants of adhesive solutions that arise when laying walls made of lightweight concrete materials - with minimal differences in such surfaces, it is enough to fix drywall with glue instead of plaster;
• gypsum is a natural regulator of humidity in a room - it absorbs excess moisture, and when less humid conditions are created, it evaporates;
• GKL is used to eliminate vertical drops arising in the lower part of the wall due to the foundation blocks going beyond the floor level.

In addition to positive qualities, this material has a number of disadvantages that limit its use in some cases:

• The use of GKL implies a significant reduction in the internal volume of the room, which is unacceptable in confined spaces.
• Walls made of gypsum plasterboard cannot withstand even medium loads - it will not work to hang a shelf on such a base, but experienced finishers find a way out in this situation: if the place of fixing the fasteners is precisely known, a hole is cut out in the gypsum board and the material is replaced with a more durable material (plywood, OSB ).
• GKL sheets do not withstand strong temperature changes, therefore, the use of drywall in summer cottages that are not heated in cold months is prohibited, since the product will quickly deteriorate and collapse.
• Before gluing the wallpaper to the base made of gypsum fiber board, it is necessary to treat the surface of the wall with a putty mixture, otherwise, when removing the wallpaper, the protective layer is removed along with it, which will lead to the need for a thorough reconstruction.
• The cavities formed when erecting walls of material become a refuge for rodents and insects.
• Despite the production of special waterproof grades of this material, the constant presence in rooms with high humidity reduces the service life of the gypsum board to 5-7 years.

Plaster

This method of leveling bases for the further application of finishing materials has been used for many centuries, but nowadays, plaster is actively used in construction work. This material can be based on various substances - cement, gypsum, lime and clay - accordingly, the use of plaster solutions also differs in the type of surface and operating conditions.

The following points are referred to the positive properties of plaster:

• this material, with proper preparation of the solution and application, can be used for at least 30 years;
• you can easily hang any elements on the plastered surfaces;
• the bases on which the plaster is applied do not react to changes in temperature and humidity, which allows it to be used in any conditions;
• if necessary, any damaged plastered area can be repaired;
• the layer of plaster does not exceed 20 mm, which allows you to maintain the volume of the interior space of the room;
• any types of plaster do not pose a danger to human health;
• plastered surfaces are used for further installation of any finishing materials.

The disadvantages of plaster solutions include:

• When working with plaster solutions, a large amount of construction waste appears.
• An untrained person will not be able to perform this work with high quality.
• With the help of plastering solutions, irregularities with a thickness of no more than 25 mm can be eliminated.
• In almost all cases, for the installation of the finish, it will be necessary to putty.
• To hide electrical wires or water pipes, you will have to prepare grooves using a puncher.
• It will take quite a lot of time to perform high-quality work on plastering the base. The final set of strength of cement-based plaster mixtures occurs within 28 days and only then is it allowed to perform the following work.

When is it better to use

Having found out the advantages and disadvantages of the materials in question, you can decide which is better, plaster or drywall on the walls in each case. To make a decision, you need to analyze the input data: the degree of deflection of the vertical wall, the base material, whether complex structures are required to give the interior the intended look, the operating conditions of the room, the need to mask any structures and communications, what material is planned to be applied in the form of finishing cladding on the walls and the experience of the master.

An important issue is the cost of materials. Plaster solutions are cheap, but they require a higher qualification of the finisher, drywall is more expensive, and guides and fasteners will be needed to mount the sheets, although a novice master can also handle wall cladding with this material.

Drywall

To resolve the doubt whether it is possible to sheathe the walls with plasterboard instead of plaster, the following list of circumstances will help in which the installation of drywall is preferable:

• if the base is a wooden surface, for example, in a country house or in a country house, when they are a permanent place of residence;
• if necessary, mask the internal communications without the use of tedious strobing and if there is free space in the room;
• if there is a need for additional insulation of the room or organization of sound insulation;
• with significant vertical differences in the wall (more than 20 mm);
• if necessary, completion of finishing work in the shortest possible time;
• when doing work with your own hands, when you cannot hire a professional to plaster the walls;
• if necessary, eliminate flaws in masonry from aerated concrete, gas silicate blocks, bricks and foam blocks;
• in cases where it is required to eliminate the protruding parts of the foundation made of FBS.

Under ambiguous conditions, when it is possible to use both materials, it is necessary to calculate how cheaper it is to level the walls - with plasterboard or plaster, and then make a decision.

Plaster

If it is necessary to decide how best to align the walls - with plasterboard or putty, the main criterion for making a decision is the vertical drop of the base and the purpose of the room.

With small deviations in the vertical, you can use gypsum board and plaster the surface, but if you have to hang heavy shelves or other objects on such walls, you will only have to plaster the base.

Leveling plaster is used in the following cases:

• when preparing the bases for subsequent finishing with heavy materials (slabs of decorative stone);
• for leveling the surface in rooms with high levels of humidity (in the bathroom);
• if necessary, fixing massive objects on the walls;
• in small rooms when you need to save space;
• with a deviation from the vertical of the treated surface within 20 mm;
• in rooms where sudden changes in temperature and humidity conditions are possible.

Aligning the walls in the apartment with plaster or plaster: what is better for the walls in a new building and which drywall is better to choose for alignment

Choosing between plaster and drywall involves understanding the differences between the two. The cost of material and the experience of the installer required for installation are important factors to consider when making a decision.

Plaster or drywall - which is better?

When building or renovating, many people face a choice: which materials to use - traditional or new?

Which is better - plaster or drywall? The latter method of wall decoration is becoming more and more popular because it has many advantages. However, plaster does not give up its positions.

Which is better for the walls: drywall or plaster?

It is difficult to unequivocally answer this question. It all depends on the budget, the time it takes to finish the walls, and the skills available. As a budget solution, it is recommended to use GK plates. They can be installed even by less experienced people.

Plaster is more resistant to mechanical damage and better insulates heat. It can be used in any room. Cement mixes are recommended in places with increased loads. Sacks with plaster are more expensive, and its application requires more skills. The drying time of the walls is up to three weeks.

When is it better to sheathe walls with plasterboard

While some argue that traditional plastered wall texture and aesthetic properties are not comparable to other finishes, it is important to note that drywall has tremendous flexibility. GK profiles reduce the need for expensive supporting structures and are pre-cut on site to allow faster on-site installation.

1. It is ideal for more modern conditions in terms of creating custom designs and unusual wall shapes.
2. Perforated plasterboard solutions have impressive sound absorption.
3. It can improve indoor comfort in a room much faster and cleaner than with old technologies.

Installation takes place without the messy application process, which traditional plaster cannot do without. For most modern apartments, a simple GC solution is smart and economical.

When is it better to plaster with plaster

Float: \u003d "" left \u003d "" margin: \u003d ""\u003e For interior walls in old houses, you can use both plaster and gypsum boards. GK is cheaper and easier to install, but it is less resistant to damage and is not suitable for damp rooms.

Correct application of plaster solutions requires the right skills, and a long drying process will lead to a significant extension of construction work. Machine plasters are a good alternative, which provide much faster and more effective wall covering.

Performance characteristics of plaster and drywall

Plastering is an older construction technique that can be found in historic buildings. The material is used for unusual shapes such as curved walls that cannot be fitted with drywall sheets.

Plaster has a textured look that some people consider to be a more upscale and sophisticated finish. At the same time, the room looks seamless and smooth. Building material can be purchased pre-mixed or in the form of a dry compound that is prepared using water.

Drywall is a panel of plaster sandwiched between two sheets of thick paper. The material first appeared in Australia in 1940 and its benefits include:

• simple cutting;
• little weight;
• easy transportation.

Another plus is the smooth surface, which is suitable as a backing for paints or wallpaper. The disadvantage of using drywall, especially on the frame, is the reduction in indoor space.

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Which is better and cheaper, to plaster the walls or sheathe the walls with drywall?

What building material is more preferable for leveling walls - plaster or drywall? This is one of the most pressing repair issues, which must be resolved in advance so as not to face many problems that are inevitable with the wrong approach. Both materials show excellent results when leveling walls and ceilings and look great after finishing work, but both of them have drawbacks, and working with each of them has its own nuances.

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To answer the question of which is better - drywall or plaster, it is worth comparing their characteristics, considering the pros and cons.

Types of drywall

On the modern construction market, there are many types of drywall from Western and Russian manufacturers, designed for different purposes, differing in size, sheet thickness and operational characteristics:

• Standard gray plasterboard with blue markings for walls and ceilings in rooms with low and normal air humidity.
• Waterproof gypsum plasterboard GKLV with silicone granules, which includes antifungal components, intended for rooms with high humidity levels and unstable air temperatures. GKLV color is green, marking is blue.
• Fire-resistant gypsum plasterboard GKLO of pink or gray color with red markings is used to protect the premises from fires. In an apartment, such material is sometimes chosen for the nursery.
• Waterproof and fire-resistant material GKLVO green with red marking for industrial premises with high levels of humidity and increased fire safety requirements.

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By thickness, drywall is divided into wall (from 12.5 mm), ceiling (8-9.5 mm) and arched (6 mm).

Advantages of drywall over plaster

Drywall has the following advantages:

• High noise absorbing properties. Plaster also has sound insulation properties, but not to the same extent.
• Convenience of arranging heat and sound insulation. Materials are placed between the frame and the wall or ceiling.
• Plastering the surface with plasterboard is easier and faster than leveling with plaster, especially in the case of a ceiling, which is especially difficult to plaster.
• Plasterboard is indispensable when creating complex structures - arches, figures, interior and zonal partitions, multi-level ceilings.
• Suitable for walls of any curvature.
• Plasterboard cladding is a relatively clean way to level surfaces, leaving only dry debris.

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Disadvantages of drywall

Among the disadvantages of GCR:

• fragility of the erected structure;
• reduction of the area of \u200b\u200bthe room;
• the need for a complete replacement of plasterboard in cases of flooding from the upper floors;
• difficulties with placing heavy objects on the walls, special fasteners are required, and in order to hang heavy cabinets in the kitchen on drywall, you will have to think over ways to strengthen it.

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Aligning the walls with plasterboard involves a whole range of work. To create an ideal surface, you will need to seal the seams and the location of the screws with a putty, apply a layer of primer to the entire surface of the drywall, and then putty, after drying - sand it. When everything is dry, you can start wallpapering, painting or finishing with decorative plaster.

Types of plaster

Plastered walls and ceilings are the ideal base for painting or wallpapering. Types of plaster for leveling surfaces:

• The most economical option is a cement mixture that provides a durable coating with high heat and sound insulation and fire resistance characteristics. The composition withstands high levels of humidity, while being very heavy, which makes it difficult to apply on walls and especially on ceilings. It needs to be putty and sandpaper before painting or tiling, but with a successful leveling it can last a very long time.

• Cement-lime plaster is distinguished by its antibacterial properties, protecting the room from the appearance of mold and microorganisms.
• Gypsum is a dry mix consisting of gypsum powder with plasticizers. Gypsum plaster is plastic, vapor-permeable, environmentally friendly, has a low weight in comparison with cement, is compatible with concrete and brick surfaces, does not require putty before painting or wallpapering.
• Decorative plaster - can be silicone, mineral, silicate, used for finishing, allows you to create unusual and unique surfaces. It makes no sense to compare such exclusive types of this material as travertino, Venetian, Moroccan plaster with drywall, since their cost is much higher than the most expensive types of gypsum plasterboard together with finishing.

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Advantages of plaster over drywall

Plaster is one of the most ancient building materials, the composition and properties of which have changed over the centuries. Modern mixtures with various additives are successfully used for both interior and facade work, maintaining the excellent look of the cladding for decades. Among its main advantages:

• High strength and reliability.
• Long-term operation.
• Saving space.
• Low material cost
• No problems with the placement of wall cabinets and any other items.

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Disadvantages of plaster

Plaster also has significant disadvantages:

• Plastering is a laborious and messy process.
• The need to use beacons to create a uniform layer.
• Risk of cracking when applying a thick layer.
• Long-term drying. When plastering in several layers, the repair can take several weeks.
• It will be difficult for a beginner to plaster walls without special skills.

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What material to choose

Before proceeding with the repair, there are several important factors to consider in order to decide which of these materials will work in a particular case.

• If the speed of work is important and the repair must be completed quickly, drywall should be preferred.
• Walls in rooms with a high level of humidity are best leveled with cement or cement-lime plaster, which is an excellent base for all types of tiles and heavy wall structures - shelves, mirrors, water heaters. Plastered surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms and toilets will last for decades.

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• Surfaces with large differences are much more profitable to level with plasterboard than with plaster. When using gypsum board, the curvature of the walls does not matter; when using a plaster mixture, you will have to use up a lot of material.

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Which is cheaper - plaster or drywall? The cost of the plaster mixture is lower than the cost of gypsum plasterboard, plastering work will also require lower costs, but if a really good experienced master is doing the plaster, his labor will be paid higher. In this case, the price of work with these materials will be approximately the same.

• If the ceiling or walls need to be insulated, it is better to choose drywall.

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• When choosing paint as a finish, you should prefer gypsum board, since microcracks will not appear on it.
• It is advisable to finish walls in new buildings with gypsum or cement plaster in order to minimize surface cracking during shrinkage of the building.
• In a small room, it is better to plaster the walls and ceiling so as not to waste space due to the plasterboard frame.
• In the kitchen or in other rooms where heavy cabinets or other objects will hang, it is more advisable to choose plastering.

The better to level the walls: drywall or plaster, reviews

In turn, drywall can be installed using metal profiles rather quickly. Plus, drywall boards are cheaper than plaster. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, which we will look at in this article.

Drywall or plaster - which is better to use?

Many new home owners are increasingly opting to use plasterboard on interior walls instead of traditional plaster. This solution, however, has some drawbacks, although, without a doubt, this technology is much cheaper and allows you to quickly finish all the walls.

From year to year, drywall is becoming an increasingly popular material in housing construction, renovation and reconstruction. It is really a very good material for walls in any room, including baths and kitchens, and can also be used for false ceilings. But, in order to make the right choice, you need to analyze well how to align the walls: drywall or plaster, and what will be better in each case.

Plaster wall decoration - advantages

Plastering interior walls has many advantages:

For living rooms, living rooms, you should choose traditional gypsum or clay plaster. At the same time, such a choice will not be the best solution for premises where there is a high risk of damage to walls - garages, workshops, etc. For such premises, more durable cement-lime mixtures are best suited.

The mortar should be applied with a thickness of approximately 1-2 cm. To fix the surface and the durability of the coating, the walls should be primed with special compounds. And only then apply one or two layers of plaster.

You can also perform machine plastering, which greatly speeds up the finishing work.

Disadvantages of plaster

• The biggest disadvantage of this type of finish is the need to dry the walls well before applying a decorative coat such as paint or wallpaper. In order for the guaranteed wall to dry, you need to wait about 3 weeks. This extends repair time but provides a durable finish.
• Carrying out the work requires experience and high precision in applying mortar and leveling it in order to create a perfectly perfect wall, without "waves". Special beacons for plaster facilitate the process, but they will require additional costs.

In turn, the big advantage of plastering walls in comparison with drywall is that the plaster along the entire wall forms a dense surface, in contrast to gypsum boards. With poor-quality finishing of the seams between the slabs, over time, vertical and horizontal cracks may appear on the walls.

In a plastered wall, it is very easy to make grooves for wires and cables, as well as plumbing pipes. This is important if you need to reconstruct and install or add new cables.

Plasterboard wall decoration

Installation of gypsum plasterboards can be done in two ways:

• dry (on profiles);
• by gluing to the surface with special glue.

In practice, these two technologies are durable and this is enough for domestic needs.

Benefits of plasterboard finishes

• you can do this work yourself, even if you don't have much experience;
• gluing the panels is not difficult, you just need to accurately determine the location of each plate and devote a little more time to decorating the wall with windows and doors.

Many people say that the advantage of drywall is that it makes the wall very flat and smooth. There are two points to consider here:

1. It is possible to do this with plaster, but it will take more experience.
2. For less experienced people, drywall will be easier to work with, but care must also be taken that the wall itself is not too crooked. The layer of glue for gypsum should be within certain limits, it should not be too little, and too much, which sometimes may require additional processing of the walls before assembling the panels. Part of the problems can be solved by the installation of plates on profiles, but this solution is more expensive and more laborious than installation by gluing.

In the case of installing drywall, it is important to choose the right type of slab for the room, namely, to choose it for the conditions where there is a certain temperature and humidity. In bathrooms, kitchens, laundries it is necessary to use impregnated, so-called "green" slabs, which have increased moisture resistance, but it should be borne in mind that they are not waterproof.

After installing the panels, on profiles or on glue, a very important stage of work is the correct finishing of all joints between the panels. If at this stage we make mistakes, then over time, unaesthetic cracks may appear on the surface of the walls, which spread to the paint layer.

It is also necessary to carefully control the location of the places where the adhesive is applied, so that this does not lead to bending of the board, for example, when hanging heavy shelves on the wall, which can even lead to a crack in the board.

Disadvantages of plasterboard finishing

• high water absorption;
• complete disrepair in case of flooding by neighbors;
• lower strength and load capacity;
• the thickness of the wall will steal the area of \u200b\u200bthe room.

How to choose which is best?

If the financial aspect is the most important, then it is better to decide on the wall decoration with sheets of drywall glued to the wall. However, if we want a more durable and reliable coating, then traditional plaster is recommended. Here we have a fairly wide selection:

• gypsum plaster;
• clay;
• limestone;
• cement;
• their combinations and some other modern technologies.

Both types of coatings must then be covered with a putty and carefully sanded to a completely flat surface before we paint them or wallpaper.

Gypsum boards are a less demanding material in installation than plaster, so we can, if we have certain skills, finish the walls with them ourselves. For plastering work, you need to have some experience, this is a more labor-intensive technology. An interesting alternative is machine plastering, which allows you to quickly and efficiently perform a large amount of work.

In terms of speed of work, drywall is better than plaster, as it allows you to finish repairs faster. It should be remembered that when plastering, we have to wait before painting, usually 2-3 weeks. This problem does not occur with drywall, which can be painted much faster.

GKL or plaster?

It is not a very simple and even, one might say, a philosophical question in the field of construction and finishing works: what to choose for interior wall decoration - drywall or plaster? Drywall today is very popular both in the West and in Russia, and there are many times more specialists in working with drywall than good plasterers. However, plaster is still very much in demand. What is the reason for this: just with the conservative tastes of some specialists and their clients, or is it still with the advantages of plaster? Let's try to figure it out and answer the main question: which is better - drywall or plaster?

Plaster

Plaster is a type of finishing work aimed at creating a flat surface for its subsequent finishing.

Mixtures and mortars for plaster are made of lime (for example, the plaster-lime mixture "Tanilit" from StroyBrig), gypsum (for example, gypsum plaster "Volma Stroy" from Volm) or cement (such is, for example, a dry mix m 150 from Baustrol) with the addition of special substances that give the plaster additional properties.

There are several types of plaster: first of all, these are common plasters used for interior and exterior decoration work. Such plasters are divided into simple and improved, and depending on the availability of special additives - into sound-absorbing and waterproofing.

Plaster can also be decorative - These are colored plasters, which, among other things, have added pigments or "colors".

Plasters are also distinguished by the base - it can be aqueous or non-aqueous. In the latter, polyurethanes (for all types of work) and epoxy resins (mainly for interior work only) are included as bonding elements. Plaster mixes on a non-aqueous basis are more often used for applying the so-called textured plaster.

Plaster: advantages

1. Plastered walls, subject to quality work, do not require repair (except for finishing) for many years (up to 30 years or more).

2. Plaster is not as expensive as people think. Comparing plaster and drywall or rather, their cost, we came to the conclusion that materials for plaster cost almost 2 times cheaper. The work itself is also, in most cases, cheaper (on average, 10-30 percent cheaper than installing drywall).

However, the work of a good plasterer is valued higher. But even in this situation, the plaster will be cheaper, or the cost will be the same.

4. Well-plastered walls are strong, reliable and impact-resistant.

5. If the walls are plastered, there is no problem if you need to hang something on them. Drywall, on the other hand, may not withstand high loads, therefore, to hang heavy objects, or you have to strengthen it.

Plaster: disadvantages

1. Plaster assumes carrying out "wet" works, while installation of gypsum board (drywall sheets) is a "dry" job. If you have to choose between dry and wet work, preference is often given to the former for obvious reasons.

2. Plastering can take a long time - it depends, first of all, on the original quality of the walls and the experience of the plasterer. Installation of drywall usually proceeds without difficulty, regardless of the quality of the walls, and requires significantly less time.

3. If the walls are uneven, plastering can be quite expensive. But the cost of installing the gypsum board practically does not correlate with the quality of the walls.

4. It is difficult for a non-specialist to control the quality of the plasterer's work and to identify technology violations in time.

Plasterboard for walls

Drywall is called dry gypsum plaster and, accordingly, its main counterpart. It is he who is preferred by most Europeans and Americans.

The result of using drywall for wall decoration - a perfectly flat surface, suitable for any finish.

Drywall is a sheet with an inner layer of gypsum and several outer layers of cardboard. GKL is intended for interior decoration of walls and ceilings, as well as for the creation of walls and in dry rooms and in rooms with normal humidity.

However, there is also moisture resistant drywall ... Moisture-resistant gypsum board can be used in more humid rooms, but it is still not recommended to use it for. In the bathroom, even a moisture-resistant gypsum board after 5-10 years requires replacement.

Drywall: benefits

1. Decorating the walls with plasterboard involves carrying out only dry works, as opposed to plaster.

2. Drywall has good sound insulating properties, which can not be said about plaster.

3. Drywall capable absorb excess moisture and give it backtherefore plasterboard walls are called breathable.

4. Using drywall, you can easily create interesting, intricate curves and structures on the walls and ceiling. Drywall can be bent, so even curved lines are available.

All this is easily realized thanks to drywall

5. Decorating the walls with plasterboard faster and easierthan plastering.

6. Between the drywall and the base wall, you can to lay insulation - this is especially in demand when decorating walls in cold rooms (balconies, loggias, verandas, etc.).

Drywall: disadvantages

1. The first and most important drawback is reduction of room volumes, since drywall is attached, as a rule, not to the wall itself, but to the crate.

2. Drywall on the walls is not a fine finish... Subsequent filling of seams is required, as well as finishing.

3. Very heavy pieces of furniture or equipment must not be hung on drywall, so the drywall walls have to be strengthened or additional elements of the crate should be laid in advance in those places where the object will hang. If you want to rearrange and outweigh, for example, you will have to resolve the issue of strengthening.

When is drywall better?

1. If necessary finish faster, it is worth giving preference to drywall. It's not just that plastering is more difficult. The plaster must dry before it can be finished.

2. If necessary hide engineering communications, wiring etc., plasterboard sheathing will help to do this. In this case, there is no need to resort to chipping the walls.

3. If the wall drops are large, plastering work will be difficult and expensive. And it is not a fact that in this situation the results of the work will completely satisfy you. Thus, the worse the initial condition of the walls, the more significant the advantages of drywall.

4. If necessary insulate the walls, it is worth giving preference to drywall - its installation on the crate allows you to lay insulation. However, due to the peculiarities of drywall, associated with the absorption of moisture both from the inside of the room and from the outside, it is necessary to use a vapor barrier film for insulation.

Insulated walls

5. When decorating walls with plasterboard, it is much easier control the quality of work... Sometimes this is important.

6. If you prefer staining as a finishing of the walls, give preference to drywall, since, unlike plaster, microcracks do not appear on it.

Drywall or plaster for wall decoration.

When is plaster better?

1. If you choose finishing for a summer residence, which is heated from time to time in winter, it is better to give preference to plaster. Since for drywall, this may not have the best consequences.

2. If the room is very small, choose plaster, as this finish practically does not eat up valuable centimeters, unlike drywall on the crate.

3. In some, plaster is actual as a finishing of walls (for example, in style, Provence, antique, etc.). If you have chosen one of these styles, consider applying decorative textured plaster: it is both wall alignment and finishing.

Decorative plaster on the walls

4. In those rooms where there will be hanging very heavy objects (for example a large water heater in the bathroom), it is better to plaster the walls. IN very humid rooms it is also better to use plaster - this finish will last much longer.

Before carrying out repair work, the question arises which material is preferable for finishing walls and ceilings, plaster or drywall.

Each of these materials has, in addition to many advantages, some disadvantages. In this article, we will consider the types, characteristics, pros and cons of these materials, methods of wall decoration. Based on this data, you can select the appropriate material for a particular case.

Drywall or plaster

Both materials are very popular for renovation work. Let's try to figure out how to finish the walls with plasterboard or plaster, what is better to use to make the walls beautiful and durable.

To choose the best option for finishing work, you need to study the properties of drywall and plaster mixes.

Based on the knowledge gained about the types of materials, you can choose the most suitable option.

Everyone chooses building materials individually, based on their own requirements, the functional purpose of the premises and the budget.

Drywall

Gypsum sheets are completely harmless to humans

Plasterboard is often used instead of plaster in order to quickly and efficiently level the walls.

The material is a sheet made of several layers: there is a layer of gypsum in the middle, layers of cardboard are glued on the outside and inside. It appeared on the market not very long ago, but managed to establish itself well among builders due to its many advantages.

Gypsum is made on the basis of natural materials, it is completely harmless to humans and the environment. No special tools are required to process this material.

By slightly wetting the sheet, you can give it a comfortable shape, therefore it is often used for the manufacture of arched and wavy structures.

Let us consider the types of drywall produced in the table:

№	Drywall type	Characteristic
1	Wall sheets (GKL)	They make sheets of gray color, 12.5 mm thick, 1200 mm wide, 2300-2500 mm long.
2	Ceiling sheets	Ceiling, niches are sheathed, arches, multi-level structures are made. It has a thickness of 9.5 mm, a width of 1200 mm, a length of 2000 and 2500 mm. It is cheaper than the wall one due to its lower thickness.
3	Flexible (arched)	They are distinguished by a small thickness of 6.5 mm and the presence of fiberglass threads in the composition, which increase the bending strength. They are stacked in two layers, as they are very thin. The cost of the structure is quite high due to the reinforcing threads and double material consumption. They produce sheets 1200 mm wide and 3000 mm long.
4	Fire resistant (GKLO)	It is distinguished by the presence of a large amount of reinforcing fibers and other additives in the gypsum layer, making it resistant to fire. It is used in rooms with increased fire safety requirements and for finishing fireplaces and chimneys. Has a light gray color, thickness 12.5 mm, width 1200 mm, length 2000, 2500, 3000 mm.
5	Moisture resistant	The cardboard and the core are impregnated with special moisture-proof compounds. Suitable for use in wet rooms.

Sheets must be marked:

Any kind of drywall will not burn or sustain combustion. When exposed to fire, the core is charred, which leads to its destruction. Flame retardant grades will withstand fire and will not degrade.

Plaster

Inside the premises, the walls are finished with plaster or lime mixture

Plaster has been used for a very long time, it has proven itself well in external and internal decoration.

Cement-based plaster is most often used for outdoor work.

For interior decoration, gypsum and lime mixtures are used.

A wide variety of formulations are produced, which differ in components and methods of application.

Classic plaster

Consider in the table the types and characteristics of plaster mixes used for rough work:

№	Type of plaster	Characteristic
1	Mineral	They are made on the basis of lime with the addition of sand, sometimes gypsum. A wall lined with such a mixture has a high vapor permeability, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, fire, bacteria, and mold. Sold as a dry mix, which must be diluted with water before use. The disadvantages include low elasticity, during operation it can crack.
2	Acrylic	Made from acrylic resin on a water-dispersion basis. The surface treated with this composition is resistant to moisture, withstands temperature changes, elastic, not susceptible to fungal infections. Durability 25 years. It is prepared as a ready-to-use mass.
3	Clay	Made from clay with the addition of straw and cellulose fibers. Colored with pigments. Allows you to get both a smooth and textured surface.

Decorative plaster

In addition to classic plasters, many mixtures are produced for decorative finishing works.

Consider in the table the main types of decorative plasters and their properties:

№	Types of decorative plaster	Properties
1	Silicone	Made on the basis of silicone resin. Has the highest cost. Used together with a silicone-based primer. Forms a vapor-tight, elastic surface with high water and dirt repellent properties.
2	Structural	Heterogeneous granular mass with the addition of quartz, wood fiber, small stones, marble chips.
3	Textured	It is made on the basis of lime flour. Gives the surface a relief structure.
4	Venetian	Made on the basis of marble flour, a transparent surface is obtained, almost indistinguishable from marble.

If you have no experience in applying plaster, in order to get the perfect durable surface, it is better to turn to professionals.

Characteristics of drywall and plaster

To choose the most suitable material, you need to study its strengths and weaknesses.

Based on the table, we will consider the characteristics of the most popular materials used for finishing work:

Type of material	Drywall	Plaster
Surface preparation	Not required	Required
Work execution time	Ceilings and walls in rooms can be finished quickly, within 1-3 days. Easy handling.	The work is carried out in stages, a rough layer is applied, when the surface is dry, covered with a finishing layer.
experience	Not required. Simple flat structures can be fixed by a person who has no experience in construction work.	A beginner can apply a rough coat, but you will have to hire a professional to apply some types of topcoat.
Laying of communications	You can lay cables, pipes behind drywall.	It is required to groove the walls.
Warming	It is easy to install the thermal insulation material under the drywall.	It is possible to insulate the walls under the plaster, but this will take time and additional work. Sometimes plaster is applied to drywall, under which insulation is laid.
Soundproofing	High.	Low.
Cracking	Not formed.	The surface may crack during use.

Wall decoration with plasterboard without plaster is undesirable. A thin layer of plaster mortar provides additional protection for the material. When wallpapering, it allows you to replace them without damaging the cardboard layer. If you paste the wallpaper directly onto the cardboard, it will come off along with the wallpaper during the next repair.

Drywall needs to be plastered

Drywall will have to be putty

After the walls have been sheathed with plasterboard, they need to be plastered: close up the joints and apply a thin layer of putty.

This process is faster than complete plastering of the walls.

What is drywall plaster for:

1. Drywall has beveled edges, so the joints and screw caps need to be putty. A tape is glued along the joint, and covered with a plaster mixture on top. After it dries, grout with sandpaper.
2. After grouting the joints, cover the sheet with a thin layer of plaster. To do this, use the finishing mixture, diluted to the consistency of sour cream. Apply it to the surface with a roller. For what is cheaper, see this video:

At the last stage, drywall is painted with water-based paint or a third, denser layer of plaster is applied under wallpapering.

Which material is better

We looked at the characteristics of drywall and plaster. Even experienced builders cannot unequivocally answer which is better, drywall or plaster. It all depends on many factors, and everyone will have to make a choice independently based on the advantages and disadvantages of each material. For more information on which to choose, see this video:

If you want the room to have less dirt and moisture, then finish the walls without using plaster. Plasterboard cladding significantly speeds up the work process. If you load the walls with hanging shelves, it is better to finish them with plaster. Such a surface will withstand any stress.

One of the most popular questions for a homeowner planning to decorate a wall is which plaster or drywall should be used during renovations? The first material has a long history, for our ancestors it was practically uncontested, drywall is a relatively new trend in the field of repair, although it has already gained considerable popularity and is crowding out the time-tested plaster.

In order to facilitate your choice in this difficult dilemma, we considered in this article the pros and cons of each of the materials, found out what would be cheaper - to plaster or sheathe the walls with plasterboard, and also asked a specialist about which situations would be preferable to use one or another finishing method.

Material features

Plaster is an extremely flexible material with which you can get a lot of different final repair options. It can be used both for rough work, such as leveling walls, and for finishing work. Plaster can be divided into two broad categories:

Advantages and disadvantages

Plaster as a material for leveling and decorating walls has a number of undoubted advantages:

1. Price. Whoever says what, but in the conditions of a prolonged crisis for an increasing number of compatriots, this point is crucial when carrying out repairs. Drywall also does not belong to the category of expensive materials, but plaster gives it a big head start in this matter.
2. Plaster, especially when applied correctly, guarantees a high quality result and enviable durability. Unlike drywall, plaster has the highest maintainability, its structure allows you to precisely and accurately eliminate any defects that have arisen on the walls.
3. To maintain the ideal result, one or another additional work is not required, as soon as you complete the repair, you can forget about interfering with wall decoration for decades.
4. Plaster is loyal to interference with wall space. If you want to hang a TV or a picture on the wall, then nothing stands in your way. This does not require additional work or the involvement of professionals, everyone can handle it.

Nevertheless, like any other material, plaster has several disadvantages:

1. Renovation using plaster is a lengthy process. Of course, if you have perfectly flat walls at your disposal, and you yourself have good experience in repair work, then you can do it in a moderate amount of time, but otherwise other materials allow you to complete the repair faster.
2. Anyone who has ever faced plastering walls knows that during such work, an apartment turns into a battlefield. This type of repair belongs to the category of wet work, which means that dirt will be an inevitable companion throughout the repair.
3. Although plaster pleases with its cheapness, in especially neglected cases, when the curvature of the walls is visible to the naked eye, you may need an excessively large amount of material for finishing, which will make the final estimate of the work more than when using drywall sheets. Thus, the answer to the question of plastering the walls or sheathing with drywall directly depends on the initial parameters of the walls themselves.
4. Working with plaster requires serious experience, not everyone will be able to understand by eye what result the person making the finishing has achieved. If you have hired a specialist, then it is advisable to have a person nearby who can take a job from him and note all the shortcomings, if any.

Drywall

Material features

Drywall is a heterogeneous material with little variation from species to species. Yes, gypsum plasterboard can take on various sizes and shapes, but by and large the main difference is the presence or absence of moisture resistance. This point can become critical for your renovation if you plan to decorate the walls in rooms with a humid microclimate, for example, a bathroom or a bathroom. Let's take a look at the existing options:

1. Plasterboard is a classic cardboard sheet with a gypsum base. It can be used both for wall decoration and on the ceiling. The downside of this material is, as already mentioned, the fear of water, which limits the possibilities of its use.
2. A specialized, more modern type of drywall, easily tolerates moisture, thereby expanding the possibilities of its use. It should be noted that despite all the additives, moisture for drywall is still destructive, and therefore it is not necessary to hope that you can make repairs with it, and forget about it for twenty years. Most likely, it will begin to lose its aesthetic characteristics in five years, and therefore it will have to be regularly updated. Another type of specialized drywall - fire-resistant, can be useful when decorating a kitchen, although it is also not an optimal solution when fighting a fire hazard.

The versatility of drywall excites the minds and imaginations of many people who are facing renovation work, so now we will try to review the strengths and weaknesses of the material.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of plasterboard products include the following characteristics:

1. Drywall gives practically unlimited room decoration. If plaster is able to please with a variety of shades and imitate the appearance of other material, then drywall gives real freedom of expression - convex shapes, curly patterns and much more can be realized with its help.
2. Works with drywall are dry, and therefore the apartment in which the repair is taking place does not turn into a dirty non-residential premises for the duration of the repair work.
3. Drywall "breathes", and therefore disease-causing fungus will not start on your walls. Also, a drywall sheet significantly increases sound and heat insulation, which is often a key indicator in the context of thin walls of the Russian housing stock.
4. Works that use drywall sheets are quick, so you don't have to live in a state of permanent repair.

But this material also has disadvantages:

1. Although it is possible to use drywall in rooms with high humidity, it will add a lot of headaches. No moisture-repellent solutions will allow the material to exist in its normal form for a long time.
2. The main disadvantage when it comes to small-sized rooms is that drywall eats up space.
3. Drywall is fragile, and therefore, to install a certain object on the wall, you will need to carry out preliminary work to strengthen the finish on the wall.
4. The cost of the material is low, but higher than that of plaster. As already mentioned, the final cost of the repair directly depends on the complexity of the work - if the walls are even, then plaster will be a more affordable material from a financial point of view. If they are to be seriously leveled, then finishing the walls with plasterboard instead of plaster may be cheaper.