I’m a big history buff and always like to know where things, like drywall in this case, began. Drywall (also called plasterboard or gypsum board) is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) extruded between thick sheets of facer and backer paper. Even though drywall can be traced back to the late 19th century it didn’t become prevalent until the middle of the 20th century when it became a time and labor saving alternative to lath and plaster.

Sources differ on the exact beginnings of drywall, but most acknowledge the first plasterboard was invented in 1894 by Augustine Sackett and Fred Kane, graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was made by layering plaster within four plies of wool felt paper. Gypsum was introduced to the process between 1910 and 1930 and in North America the first real commercial efforts behind what we now know as drywall were led by the United States Gypsum Corporation.

Today the global drywall market is estimated to be worth more than US$25 billion annually and, on the back of continuing growth in worldwide residential and commercial construction, is projected to grow at an annual rate of 8% for the foreseeable future. There are a number of companies in the gypsum and drywall business, but the major players include USG Corporation, Georgia-Pacific LLC, American Gypsum Company and the China National Building Materials Company.

For anyone interested in taking a deeper dive into the history of drywall this is an excellent article. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/07/an-exciting-history-of-drywall/493502/

Good drywall is an inexpensive wall finish. In the hands of an experienced professional, it can be put up quickly and easily. In this post we’re going to answer the question: “Why use drywall?”

One of the beauties of drywall is that is neutral with good sound proofing and insulation qualities. It can also be painted or, if you prefer, covered with wallpaper, wood paneling and other wall treatments. Completing a drywall job does not require large cumbersome equipment requiring staging which is typical of other construction jobs. This is important as it means that for repair jobs your drywall crew can work around your home without having to worry about damaging your precious home.

For many new builds or renovations, seeing the drywall completed is when one can properly visualize the space and see how it all fits together as a floor plan. It is an exciting and important step in the construction process and Vancouver Drywall is always available to help. Click to learn more about what we do.