Lesson 13. Drywall in Practice

Drywall is one of the most common materials in modern construction. It is used not only for leveling walls and ceilings but also for creating partitions, arches, niches, and other interior structures. For a decorator, it is important to understand its properties: how sheets behave during installation, what types exist, how to store the material correctly, and how to prepare the surface for finishing. Knowing these nuances minimizes the risk of defects, speeds up work, improves quality, and allows confident planning of subsequent finishing stages.

In this lesson, you will learn about the different types of drywall, when its use is most appropriate, and what storage rules must be followed to preserve its properties and ensure reliable installation.

Drywall Sheets

Drywall is produced in different thicknesses depending on the construction tradition:

European/CIS standards (mm):

• 6.5 mm — flexible, used for curved structures.
• 9.5 mm — for ceilings.
• 12.5 mm — standard for walls.
• 15–25 mm — reinforced, with fire‑resistant and sound‑insulating properties.

U.S./Canada standards (inches):

• 1/4 inch (≈ 6.35 mm) — for curved structures.
• 3/8 inch (≈ 9.5 mm) — for ceilings.
• 1/2 inch (≈ 12.7 mm) — standard for walls.
• 5/8 inch (≈ 15.9 mm) — reinforced, often used for fire resistance and soundproofing.

By purpose, drywall is divided into types:

European/CIS classification:

• GKL — standard.
• GKLV — moisture‑resistant.
• GKLO — fire‑resistant.
• GKLV‑O — combined.

U.S./Canada classification:

• Regular drywall — standard.
• Moisture‑resistant (green board) — for humid areas.
• Fire‑resistant (Type X) — for increased fire safety.
• Mold‑resistant (purple board) — for areas prone to dampness.
• Specialized boards also exist for soundproofing and extra durability.

When Drywall Is Preferable to Plaster

Plaster is traditionally used for leveling walls made of strong bases such as concrete, brick, or aerated concrete. It creates a monolithic surface resistant to mechanical loads and does not reduce room size significantly. However, drywall is more practical in certain cases:

• Large wall irregularities requiring thick plaster layers.
• Weak or loose bases where plaster may detach.
• Wooden walls subject to seasonal deformation.
• Need for insulation or soundproofing.
• Convenience of hiding communications (wiring, pipes, ventilation).
• Creating complex structures — arches, niches, multi‑level ceilings.

Installation Methods

Drywall is most often mounted on a metal frame assembled from profiles. This method allows leveling walls with large irregularities and placing insulation or communications inside. Sheets are fixed with screws in one or more layers, then primed, seams reinforced with tape, and filled with putty.

If the base is strong, drywall can be glued directly to the wall with adhesive.
Storage and Microclimate Rules

A drywall sheet is not just gypsum between cardboard layers — it must remain in working condition before installation.

Therefore, before moving on to the lesson on installation and achieving Q1–Q4 quality levels, it is essential to understand the rules of handling and storage.

The main problems with drywall are deformation and geometry changes, caused by moisture, temperature fluctuations, or base deformation.

Key rules:

• Install drywall only after completing processes that affect room microclimate (floor leveling, plastering, etc.). Sheets must be mounted in conditions close to those of future use.
• If sheets absorb moisture before installation, they expand slightly. Once humidity normalizes, they shrink, causing cracks in seams filled with non‑shrinking putty. Fixing such defects requires re‑priming, re‑puttying, and sometimes removing the decorative layer.
• To avoid this, drywall should be acclimatized for 2–3 days in the room before installation.

Storage rules:

1. Sheets must lie horizontally on a flat surface, not at an angle.
2. Do not stack in very tall piles — sheets adapt unevenly, leading to warping.
3. Protect from drafts and direct moisture — even short contact leaves marks that affect finish quality.

Conclusion

Thus, the conditions of storage and the microclimate during installation directly determine the quality of the result. Ignoring these factors will inevitably lead to cracks or warping, even if the frame is assembled perfectly and the sheets are mounted carefully.

In the next lesson, we will examine in detail the technology of fastening drywall to achieve Q1–Q4 preparation quality.

Additional Note: International Practices

Construction traditions differ across countries. In Europe and the CIS, brick, concrete, and block walls are widespread, and plaster systems are applied directly to these mineral bases. In the United States and Canada, however, drywall has become the dominant material in residential construction, used not only for leveling but also for partitions, ceilings, and decorative structures.

This makes knowledge of drywall handling and storage especially important for decorators working in North America. Even though mineral bases are less common there, the same principles of preparation apply: correct priming, control of microclimate, and prevention of deformation. By mastering these rules, you can ensure that decorative finishes remain durable and aesthetically pleasing across different construction traditions.