Drywall, Wallboard, Gypsum Board
From standard gypsum products to more purpose-specific options, FBM carries drywall products for application on a range of commercial and residential projects with characteristics such as moisture and mold resistance, impact protection, fire ratings and more.
Drywall, also known as wallboard, plasterboard or gypsum board, is a cost-effective building material used specifically to make interior and exterior structural walls and ceilings. Drywall was introduced to the building products market as a more efficient and effective means of building walls when compared to the historic, labor intensive practice of applying lath and plaster. The term sheetrock® is also widely used across the construction industry to refer to drywall. Sheetrock is a registered tradename for drywall panels developed by the gypsum board manufacturer U.S. Gypsum (USG).
Drywall is made from mined and crushed gypsum rock or synthetic which is processed by drywall manufacturing companies into a sheet good. Sheets of drywall are easy to handle, stack and transport. There are many different types of drywall for a wide-range of specified uses.
Types of drywall include:
Standard or Regular Drywall
Standard drywall is the most commonly used material and is characterized by a white surface on both sides. It is typically available in thicknesses ranging from 1/4“to 5/8” with 1/2” most often used for residential applications and 5/8” for commercial projects. The lengths vary from 8’ to 16’ and widths of 48” to 54”.
Mold and Moisture Resistant Drywall
Moisture resistant drywall has a greater level of moisture resistance when compared to standard drywall and used to be called “green board” because there was a green coating which faced the room. This material is typically used in rooms or areas with a greater exposure level to moisture, i.e. bathrooms, basements, kitchens and laundry rooms. Mold resistant drywall has an even higher moisture resistance level than moisture resistant drywall and is designed for use in rooms or areas that may get wet. PURPLE® drywall is a brand name of National Gypsum, one of the premier drywall suppliers to the construction industry. It’s a specially treated, fire- and moisture-resistant gypsum core, sandwiched between moisture- and mold-resistant paper…purple on the front, gray on the back.
Soundproof Drywall
In today’s construction environment, we are seeing a lot more specifications calling for sound-dampening or soundproof drywall to be installed. While acoustic drywall demands a premium price, if it’s installed correctly the performance is much better than double-layering drywall panels. Higher Sound Transmission Class (STC) numbers mean better sound-proofing. It’s important to note that STC ratings are not for single panels, but rather a rating for installing an entire wall system correctly…including the wall and ceiling surfaces. This means dual-layer soundproofing wallboard, framing studs, and insulation. While soundproof drywall panels are all inherently better than standard drywall at resisting sound transmission, it is not until these panels are integrated into a complete wall system that the true benefit is enjoyed.
Fire Resistant Drywall (Type X)
Fire resistant drywall or Type X drywall is designed for use in apartments, garages and rooms to delay the spread of fire. It is constructed with special non-combustible materials and is usually required to be 5/8” thick. Is often required by specific building codes and must have a fire rating of no-less than 1-hour for the 5/8” material. Other thicknesses of fire-resistant drywall have different fire-rating requirements.There are a range of different drywall manufacturers within the continental U.S. and Canada, Foundation Building Materials partners with the leading drywall vendors listed below.
Some Of The Drywall Brands We Carry
Foundation Building Materials partners with the leading drywall manufacturers listed below.
Find a Foundation Building Materials Location Near You
Foundation Building Materials supplies the construction industry with over 300+ locations across the United States and Canada.