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Call it wallboard, plasterboard, Sheetrock, or just plain "rock," like some pros do, drywall revolutionized the way walls and ceilings are covered. Before the 1950s, when these paper-wrapped gypsum panels came into widespread use, it took days for lathers and plasterers to create a firm, flat foundation for paint or wallpaper. With drywall, it takes a fraction of the time. Two pros can typically cover a 12-by-16-foot room in about an hour.
To work that fast takes practice and a few specialized tools. But hanging drywall is not just about speed. Doing the job right means using screws of the correct length, off-setting panels so seams don’t line up, and making sure wires and pipes aren't vulnerable to puncture.
Installing drywall is easy enough for a homeowner, as long as there's someone to help; the heavy sheets are difficult to lift, particularly when doing ceilings.
To work that fast takes practice and a few specialized tools. But hanging drywall is not just about speed. Doing the job right means using screws of the correct length, off-setting panels so seams don’t line up, and making sure wires and pipes aren't vulnerable to puncture.
Installing drywall is easy enough for a homeowner, as long as there's someone to help; the heavy sheets are difficult to lift, particularly when doing ceilings.
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