What Is The Difference Between Drywall And Plaster?

When renovating or building a new home, there are usually two options to choose from for interior wall materials: plaster and drywall plasterboard. But what is the difference between drywall and plaster? In our blog below, we’ve outlined the core differences so you can see the pros and cons of each material. Choosing the right wall material for a property can sometimes be easier said than done. Interior walls separate the building and create privacy inside the home. Alongside this, they can act as sound barriers and even some level of fire resistance.

Here at Drywall Pro-Cut, we are proud to be one of the leading drywall suppliers in the UK. We supply building materials to building, renovation, remodelling, and construction companies all over the country. Our experience and expertise has enabled us to provide a high level of support for even the most demanding of projects.

What Is Drywall? 

Drywall is a type of building material used in the construction of walls and ceilings in homes and buildings. It is usually a mix of gypsum plaster, shredded paper, a foaming agent, mildew, additives, and water. Drywall is sometimes known as gypsum board, plasterboard, and sheetrock.

What Is Plaster? 

Plaster is another type of building material that comes in many different formats and compositions. The most common types of plaster are usually made with gypsum and lime, or cement with water and sand. It usually arrives in the form of a dry powder. Builders or renovators will then use water to turn this into a stiff paste before the application.

The most common types of plaster are a composition of gypsum, lime or cement with water and sand. The plaster is typically manufactured as a dry powder and then worked to form a stiff paste by mixing in water before application

Installation

Is drywall plasterboard easy to install? Yes, drywall is easy to install. It’s definitely one of the less labour-intensive materials to work with, and contractors can easily adjust to the processes involved in drywall installation. Here at Drywall Pro-Cut, our specialist contractors manufacture the drywall plasterboard components offsite too. This means that tradesmen can guarantee a consistent level of quality with every component used.

Is plaster easy to apply? Plaster is more labour-intensive than drywall. Plastering will often take more time to install and therefore many cost more in labour alone. That being said, plaster is well known for delivering a high quality wall finish, so if time and money isn’t a factor, it easily wins a seat at the table for wall building materials.

Soundproof vs. Energy Efficiency

Plaster is denser and more rigid than drywall. As a result, it does a fantastic job when it comes to muffling and blocking sound movements between each room. For a more energy efficient wall finish, drywall plasterboard should be your go to choice. Its thermal capabilities are unbeatable, and with it being cheaper to install, it is ideal for contractors to use when working on homes.

Drywall And Plaster

Both drywall and plaster can provide fantastic wall finishes. With drywall components being manufactured and built off site however, costs and time are significantly lower than what you would expect using plaster. If you would like to find out more about drywall products, head to our website today or email enquiries@drywallpro-cut.co.uk.

If you have found this blog helpful, you may wish to read our previous blog on Drywall Maintenance.