Properties of drywall: pros and cons. Which is better - drywall or plaster? We count, compare, choose. What is better to use for a very crooked base?

Have you built a house, or decided to make major repairs in an old home, and don’t know what to do with the ceiling and walls: drywall or plaster, which is better?

This situation is familiar to many. Most people are interested not only in the price of basic consumables, but also in the complexity of the work, as well as the possibility of doing it themselves.

The task of decorative interior design, however, does not remain aside. We invite you to discuss with us which is better: plaster or drywall on the walls.

If we compare which is more profitable: drywall or plaster, considering these materials solely as methods of leveling surfaces, then the main selection criterion becomes their cost, timing and technological difficulties of performing the work.

So:

• Plaster screed is a classic option for preparing walls and ceilings for painting or wallpapering. No matter what anyone says, doing high-quality leveling using the wet method is not at all easy without certain skills and knowledge. Even the most detailed instructions will not replace practice, and mistakes, as in any other matter, are fraught with financial costs.
• Fifteen years ago, the plastering process was more complex due to the fact that the solution had to be composed of separate components. Only professionals did this, since home-grown specialists were not always able to make the solution correctly, especially by hand.
• They mixed it “by eye”; not every batch yielded the same amount of ingredients, and, as a result, the screed quite soon began to peel off in places from the base and crumble. Repairs to the house had to be done often, and no one was particularly surprised by this.
• Today the situation has changed dramatically. With the advent of factory-prepared dry plaster mixtures, the process of repairing premises has been significantly simplified. There is no need to purchase each ingredient separately, since the base and finishing compositions are already combined. You just need to add water, and the manufacturer also thought for us exactly how much.

• Modern mixtures for leveling surfaces are clearly oriented towards certain operating conditions of the coating and have specified physical and mechanical characteristics. In addition to the binder and mineral filler, polymer resins are added to them, which give the solutions unusual qualities.
• No drywall can compare with the strength of cement-polymer and gypsum-polymer screeds - and that’s a fact. For this reason, for example, industrial premises are almost never sheathed, but plastered. The only difference is that they do not use factory mixtures for plastering work, but prepare solutions at on-site painting stations. Moreover, builders have their own recipes.
• The purpose of the room matters. Let's say that the walls of corridors, halls and lobbies of public buildings, where there is a high traffic volume of visitors, are most often also plastered. If they are sheathed, then not with plasterboard, but with gypsum vinyl or wood-polymer panels.

• They eliminate the need for final decorative finishing, but the cost of such cladding, as you understand, is far from budget. Plastering and painting the walls in this case is much cheaper. In addition, for the walls of public institutions, completely different requirements are imposed on the strength of the coating.
• There is the possibility of mechanical impact: furniture, equipment, and appliances are carried around the building. The wall can be touched, and drywall can be easily broken, since apart from the cardboard shell, the sheets are not protected by anything. What can we say about production shops! For such premises, covering walls with plasterboard is unprofitable.
• The reason for this is the large height of the premises, the solid dimensions and weight of the gypsum board, which is simply inconvenient to install at a height of 5-6m. Plastering and painting work at such facilities is completely mechanized, which makes it possible for a small team to quickly plaster and paint walls and ceilings.

Speaking about leveling using the “wet” method, one cannot help but remember that there is also decorative plaster, which provides opportunities for a design that cannot always be done on drywall. The costs of decorative plastering are higher, this is natural. But not everyone thinks the same way: this finishing option is interesting to those who consider the main criterion for choosing not economy, but interior aesthetics.

Using drywall instead of plaster: pros and cons

If the walls of a particular room require a durable coating, instead of plasterboard for cladding, you can use gypsum fiber sheets (gypsum fiber sheets). Due to internal reinforcement with asbestos fiber, they have sufficient strength. That is why they are used to construct internal partitions, work niches, and built-in cabinets.

So:

• Firstly, this material is more expensive than gypsum board. Secondly, it is not advisable to sheathe every room. Let's take the same corridors: they are already quite narrow, and after paneling they become even smaller. So plastering the walls is the most logical option for them.
• As for residential premises of a small area, the same problem is present: installing plasterboard on a frame (see Plasterboard cladding based on a frame: finishing nuances) takes up space of at least 5 cm from each wall, which is very clearly visible in the photo below . The advantages of frame cladding are that it allows you to level the surface where differences are more than 5 cm.

• For plaster, this is the maximum possible thickness, and the plane of the plasterboard lining can be leveled using direct hangers. It is important that installing gypsum board on a frame allows you to insulate the room, which is especially important for private houses.

Here you must decide for yourself what is more important: extra centimeters of space, or insulation - fortunately, in a private house it can be done outside.

• Drywall can, of course, be installed using the adhesive method, but the walls must be fairly even for this. This leveling method is used more often when preparing walls for wallpapering, as it reduces the number of technological operations. It is enough to seal the joints between the sheets, and you can glue the roll covering.
• But before painting, drywall needs to be puttied and sanded over the entire area. What's the point of gluing it when you can putty the base - especially if it is already smooth. In general, when deciding for yourself which is better: drywall or plaster, you need to be guided, first of all, by logic.

• When it comes to ceilings, the criteria are completely different. If we talk about the options for finishing them, then plastered ceilings have fewer options. Their design is based mainly on color combinations, which is quite acceptable for residential premises, entertainment and children's facilities.
• This is not always suitable for public institutions. But plasterboard for ceiling design provides a lot of advantages: in addition to color, shape can also be involved. With the help of drywall, you can change beyond recognition not only the configuration of the ceiling, but also the space of the room as a whole.
• Decorative niches, arches, figured partitions, built-in cabinet furniture and multi-level ceilings - all this is the merit of plasterboard. The height of office premises is higher by standards than in residential buildings, therefore, you can always fit a suspended ceiling into their interiors.
• This makes it possible not only to diversify the interior design as a whole, but to organize high-quality lighting, ventilation and sound insulation. In the example above, we see this approach to finishing the lobby of an administrative building: the walls are plaster, and the ceiling is two-level plasterboard.

• In houses and apartments, plasterboard ceilings play the same role, but there are much more design possibilities, thanks to various lighting and finishing options. By the way, it is ceilings that are most often difficult to level due to significant differences between two adjacent ceilings. Using plasterboard, the shortcomings of the base ceiling can not only be hidden, but also enhanced with a suspended structure.

If the height of the room does not allow installing a suspended ceiling, the base surface can simply be hemmed with plasterboard in one level, which will make it possible to insulate or soundproof it. Many people immediately have a question: “What is cheaper – to line the walls with plasterboard or plaster?” We will try to answer it in the next chapter.

Cost of materials and work

So, we are interested in what the difference in the cost of leveling surfaces will be if the work is done using “dry” and “wet” methods. Drywall or plaster, which is cheaper?

Let's do the math together, using the example of a standard bedroom in a brick house, with preparation for painting. If the room size is 3m*4m*2.5m, the area of ​​its walls will be 35m2.

We cover with plasterboard

Plastering the walls

So:

• To have a true picture, we took the market value of materials from one manufacturer as a basis. This is just an approximate calculation. If the screed on the walls is not so thick, less material will be used, and accordingly the cost of “wet” leveling will decrease.
• As for covering with plasterboard, we considered a cheaper option: using wooden sheathing. On a metal frame it will cost more, and the cost of work will be slightly higher.

Thus, we can confidently answer the question “Which is more profitable: drywall or plaster”, that the economic costs of both leveling methods are approximately the same. We think that the video in this article will convince you of this.

You can only save money if you do the work yourself. We wish you to succeed!

Man has always strived for perfection and ideal, regularly inventing new and better universal building materials and tools. As a result of many years of testing and unlimited experience, today plasterboard has become the most in demand; it also has advantages and disadvantages. It is a universal building finishing material that is firmly established on any construction site and is actively used at the stages of creating design, amenities and comfort inside any room with little humidity.

Leveling walls with plasterboard on mortar

Benefits of drywall

Drywall, primarily as a finishing material, has a number of advantages, which have led to its widespread use everywhere.

Its first advantage is lightness. The material is produced in sheet form with standard dimensions of 1.2x2.5 m, thickness 6, 9, 12 mm. Dimensions may vary depending on production technology and the manufacturer. Today from the well-known company Knauf you can find sheets with smaller sizes for ease of installation in small spaces.

Resistance to wet environments

Plasterboard walls also have their pros and cons when installed in wet areas. It is important to choose the right material here. There are at least 3 types of drywall available for sale, depending on possible operating conditions:

• moisture resistant;
• refractory;
• ordinary.

Each of them has its own advantages, as do the designs made from it. If the sheet does not burn from fire, then from direct exposure to water and gypsum board it will become completely unusable. But this will happen to a lesser extent than with conventional material for dry rooms. Gypsum is gypsum, you can add hardeners and hydrophobic components to it, but it will not change its main property - hygroscopicity, as a result of which it swells.

This is another of the few disadvantages of drywall and structures made from it. Therefore, due to the possibility of flooding by neighbors above, it is not recommended to build partitions and ceilings from ordinary plasterboard. This can lead to additional financial and nervous waste. It is better to use materials that are more moisture-resistant, for example, foam blocks, and it is better to make the ceiling suspended or suspended without the use of plasterboard.

Drywall walls also have pros and cons in terms of versatility and practicality. By creating a structure from this material using frame technology, it is possible to perfectly hide communication elements without much difficulty. Pipes, wiring, ventilation ducts. But again, if there is a threat of flooding, it is better to use gypsum board sheets. They have a distinctive feature - green cardboard.

But the main advantage of drywall is that only from it can you make entire works of art and unique compositions:

• bar counters;
• decorative designs in Art Nouveau style;
• huge massive columns.

Disadvantages of plasterboard walls

Seemingly massive and durable plasterboard structures are actually not so if they are directly impacted. They can easily be destroyed with an ordinary carpenter's hammer, making a through hole in the sheet with one blow. This drawback will be significant when planning the installation of heavy hanging furniture on a wall or partition. Ideally, this should be thought through at the stages of creating the frame, investing wooden blocks or additional profiles into the guide and rack profiles. If this is not foreseen in advance, then the idea should be abandoned. Otherwise, you may end up with new repair problems and get rid of the equipment.

An ordinary brick wall or a foam block wall with a thickness of at least 15 cm can easily cope with the loads placed on it. All kinds of brackets, hinges and even simply screwed screws are held perfectly in the foam block, securely fixing the TV shelf. But due to the lack of perfection of the geometry of the blocks and the shortcomings of the master, and even the large weight of the masonry material, a partition made of blocks may become impossible or undesirable. Useful information on choosing,

When choosing a material for constructing thin walls and partitions, you should take into account a lot of parameters and weigh them carefully. But still, in most cases, drywall is the best solution, because only from it can you make truly unique and inimitable

It’s rare that a redevelopment can be done without erecting new partitions, unless you decide to make a studio and are just tearing down the old walls. New walls can be erected from piece materials, such as bricks, slabs and blocks of various compositions - we have already talked about them in the article “”. Or use sheet materials. There are three most popular today, and we are ready to tell you about all their pros, cons and features so that you can choose the best one.

1. Walls made of plasterboard - gypsum plasterboard

A plasterboard sheet is a layer of gypsum wrapped in thick paper, measuring 1200x2500x12.5 mm and weighing 29 kg. It can also be thinner - 9 mm wide, but this option is very fragile. It is mounted as follows: first, a frame is formed from a metal profile, then plasterboard sheets are sewn onto the frame in two layers, overlapping on all sides. The final wall thickness will depend on the width of the metal profile used 50/65/75/100 and will be 100/115/125/150 mm, respectively. GKL sheathes not only walls, but also ceilings.

Waterproof plasterboard sheets (GKLV) of green color are also sold, but they are conditionally waterproof: with constant exposure to water, such sheets will swell, even if they are covered with tiles on top. It is better not to use it in “wet” rooms at all.

GCR cost: 250-350 rub./piece. GKLV will be more expensive.

Pros:

• It is convenient to lay communications inside the frame, which is sheathed with gypsum board.
• Easy installation.
• If you mount the frame on top of the floor screed, the plasterboard wall can be dismantled and rebuilt as needed.
• Very light material, gives very little load on the floors.

Minuses:

• 1 m² of plasterboard wall can withstand no more than 20 kg of facing material. That is, the tiles will withstand normally, but porcelain tiles are no longer a fact. If overloaded, the finish will soon fall off along with a layer of cardboard, exposing the plaster.
• One butterfly dowel (the tip of which opens after screwing) will hold an object weighing no more than 10 kg in a plasterboard wall, and no more than 4 kg on the ceiling (you will have to make a cutout under the curtain rod or lay a beam on the ceiling). If you want to hang something heavier, you need to know in advance where exactly and lay a beam or profile there.
• Very poor sound insulation.
• Low strength - dents remain from impacts.
• Use with great care in damp areas.

2. What is better than drywall: Gypsum fiber sheet (GVL)

GVL also consists mainly of gypsum, but is reinforced with various environmental additives. The assortment includes PC sheets - with a straight edge, they are intended for walls, and FC - an edge with a recess (for the floor). There is also a GVLV (waterproof gypsum fiber sheet) in stock: it does not differ in color in any way, it only has a seal indicating moisture resistance.

Dimensions of the gypsum fiber sheet are 2500 x 1200 x 10/12.5 mm, weight 36/42 kg. More often, a thickness of 10 mm is used for interior partitions. The metal frame is sheathed with GVL sheets in one layer, unlike gypsum plasterboard. To improve sound insulation, you can make two layers, but then it is better to combine: one layer of gypsum fiber board, the other of gypsum plasterboard.

Thickness of the final single-layer gypsum fiber board partition 10 mm: 70/85/95/120 mm depending on the width of the selected profile.

Price: 450-500 rub./piece. The final wall turns out to be approximately the same in cost for gypsum plasterboard and gypsum board, since gypsum plasterboard is mounted in two layers, and gypsum board in one.

Pros:

• The butterfly dowel can already withstand up to 20 kg on the wall and up to 8 kg on the ceiling, which is two times higher than that of gypsum plasterboard.
• Non-flammable material, can be used in saunas.
• Good water resistance, can be used in the bathroom; Even a frame for a bathtub or sink can be made from GVLV.
• It is well processed to create complex shapes: arches, convexities, concavities.
• It is convenient to lay communications inside the frame, which is sheathed with GVL.
• Easy installation.
• The wall turns out smooth and does not require additional leveling.
• If you install the frame on top of the floor screed, the gypsum fiber wall can be dismantled and rebuilt as needed.

Minuses:

• Sound insulation is better than gypsum plasterboard, but not by much. It can be improved by installing the material in two layers.
• For items heavier than 20 kg, you will still have to make additional reinforcement of the wall at the hanging location.

3. Another alternative: Cement particle board (CSP)

DSP is the golden mean between wood and stone in its properties. Made from cement, wood fibers and liquid glass (stationery glue). There are slabs for interior decoration and for facade (FCSP). Size of one slab: 2700 x 1250 mm or 3200 x 1250 mm, and thickness to choose from 8/10/12/16/20/24/36 mm. For interior partitions, widths of 10 and 12 mm are most often used; the weight of slabs of this width is 46 and 54 kg, respectively. It is better to choose the widest frame - metal or wood. The final width of the wall will be about 12 cm.

Price: 800-900 rub. per slab 2700 x 1250 x 10 mm.

Pros:

• The assortment includes DSP with a three-dimensional decorative pattern imitating brick, stone, wood, etc. Such DSPs are more expensive, but do not require finishing.
• Moisture-resistant material, can be used in bathrooms even with direct contact with water.
• Non-flammable - can be used in saunas, baths and around fireplaces and stoves.
• Does not rot, very durable.
• You can make many other elements from DSP, besides walls: use it as a top layer to level subfloors, make window sills, steps.
• On a butterfly dowel it can withstand up to 50 kg.
• The partitions are strong, but easily chipped.
• They are easy to install, except that due to the weight it is more convenient to do it with two people.
• Good sound insulation.

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We place bets: which is better, drywall or plaster?

This is probably one of the most popular questions regarding finishing: which is better, plaster or drywall for walls? Each of these materials deserves attention, and each of them has its own characteristics.

Plaster is one of the oldest finishing materials, known since ancient times. It is practically a “classic” in the construction world, and is still popular today. Therefore, we can safely say that such finishing is very relevant.

Drywall appeared not so long ago, but quickly won a large “army” of fans. It is easy to use, does its job well, and generally adds new possibilities for finishing. Thanks to these features, it became a worthy competitor to plaster, but could not displace it from the construction market.

So what is the main difference between them? What disadvantages and what advantages do the materials have? Is it possible to choose the ideal option for the wall according to price and quality? You will find answers to all these questions in this article.

Individual characteristics of materials

First, let's take a closer look at plaster. At the moment, the most commonly used mixture is based on a cement-sand composition. Most types are used as a rough treatment for walls, to smooth and level the surface. But there are other types of mixtures intended for finishing the wall.

Types of plaster

You can plaster the walls with any type of mixture, depending on the result you want to get. Naturally, finishing types of plasters have a cheaper price, but are not suitable for major leveling of walls.

In general, all plasters can be divided into two main categories:

1. Decorative. This plaster has special segments added to it, which make it multi-colored. It looks very original and opens up wide scope for creativity. It is also worth noting its special structure, which allows you to create elaborate patterns. Drywall instead of plaster is clearly not suitable in this case.

1. Regular. It is mainly used for rough, rough finishing of walls both inside and outside. It can be in the form of a regular composition or an improved one. Some special additives allow it to obtain a sound and moisture-absorbing effect.

Each type includes many elements, including polyurethanes, which are the connecting link. Epoxy resins are also sometimes added, mainly for mixtures intended for interior decoration.

It is noteworthy that the plaster can be made according to your preferences by choosing an aqueous or non-aqueous base. Of course, before choosing a foundation, it is recommended to try several options. Therefore, plastering walls or drywall does not exclude an individual approach.

However, as soon as drywall (gypsum board) appeared, it was first called dry plaster because of the gypsum from which the sheets are made. If you stick to the correct calculations, then with its help you can get absolutely flat walls without any problems.

Types of drywall

Of course, drywall differs little from each other, except in size and thickness. But there is another indicator that draws a line between them - moisture resistance. Drywall itself is very susceptible to moisture, but thanks to special additives, it is able to better withstand it.

Whether you plaster or plasterboard surfaces is up to you, but it’s definitely worth exploring these options:

1. Ordinary. A standard type of drywall, which consists of a completely ordinary cardboard sheet, inside of which there is a gypsum base. With its help you can decorate not only the walls, but also the ceiling. You can also make separate walls if you first install the frame. A serious drawback of the material is the fear of water, so its installation in rooms with high humidity is strictly not recommended.

1. Specialized. It is not surprising that in such a period of time since its appearance, manufacturers have found a way to make moisture-resistant drywall. Unlike the usual type, it tolerates high levels of humidity much better.
   But despite this, it must be replaced after 5-7 years, as it loses its original appearance. There are also fireproof plasterboard, its name speaks for itself. And its fire resistance is really great.

Material characteristics

As I said above, each of these materials is good in its own way. Although they are intended for the same purpose - finishing walls with subsequent leveling, they are fundamentally completely different.

Plaster

Plaster has long been in great demand, which subsided slightly with the advent of drywall. But one question immediately arose - is it cheaper to line the walls with plasterboard or plaster? Looking at the advantages of plaster, as well as its disadvantages, can provide a more detailed answer.

pros

So, I will highlight the following advantages:

1. If you compare plaster and drywall, then their price immediately catches your eye. Considering the cost of the material alone, plaster definitely wins. Although there are other factors that need to be taken into account, you will learn about them below.
2. Properly plastered walls will help you achieve the desired result for many years. Well prepared and applied plaster will be very reliable and impact resistant.

1. The material provides long-term durability without additional work. Complete the finishing stage and you can enjoy excellent results for up to 25 years or more.
2. Plaster does not cause problems to hang any objects on the wall, be it paintings, equipment or. You can do all this yourself, without additional work or involving specialists.

Flaws

Of the minuses, I can’t help but mention the following:

1. Such work can take a lot of time. Of course, this largely depends on the initial condition of the walls themselves, as well as on the experience of the plasterer. Although many specialists do similar work in a short period, but, unfortunately, with a serious markup.
2. Please note that plastering falls under the category of wet work associated with mixing mortar, etc. Therefore, during repairs, be prepared for a dirty environment. If you want to avoid this, then such work will not be suitable for your walls.

1. If your walls have a large curvature, then a large amount of material will be needed to correct it. This is not entirely profitable, since a plasterboard sheet will cost less in this case.
2. If you are not well versed in such work, then it will be very difficult for you to control the master. Not every employee will do the job conscientiously, and perhaps due to their inexperience or laziness, they may make a number of technological errors that they cannot correct.

You probably noticed that plaster has a neutral characteristic, with its own number of advantages and disadvantages. But drywall also has a similar situation. Which one?

Drywall

Drywall is a fairly versatile material that provides a wide variety of repairs. You can completely level the walls by sacrificing a small area of ​​your room. What else is remarkable about the material?

Advantages

Its advantages are:

1. Wide possibilities in design. Thanks to drywall, you can create really interesting things, from convex walls in the form of a built-in stand, to the ceiling. Its versatility is really great, so if the question: “What is cheaper to plaster the walls or cover with plasterboard?”, and there is also versatility, then the choice is obvious.

1. Working with drywall becomes dry and is definitely cleaner. If you don't want to bother with water, then this is your right choice.
2. Another useful feature of drywall is its ability to “breathe”. Such walls are capable of not only absorbing, but also releasing moisture.

1. Drywall has excellent soundproofing properties and also allows you to create an additional layer of thermal insulation.
2. Work with gypsum boards is carried out much faster.

Disadvantages

However, like any finishing material, gypsum plasterboard has some disadvantages:

1. Strong dependence on the humidity level of the room. In short, it simply cannot be used in rooms with high humidity.

1. Reducing the area of ​​the room. Layers of drywall using framing can significantly reduce the size of a room. If you are renovating small spaces where every meter counts, then this drawback should influence your choice.

1. Drywall is a rather fragile material, and therefore does not allow hanging heavy objects on the wall, and if this is very necessary, then additional reinforcement is required.
2. The cost of the material itself is slightly higher than the price of plaster.

Whether the advantages outweigh all the disadvantages is up to you to decide. But, despite the disadvantages of gypsum board, its popularity is growing every day.

So which is better?

And now we come to the final choice between two methods of wall decoration. But be that as it may, there is simply no clear answer to this question. Even if you ask: “What is cheaper - drywall or plaster?”, then the answer to this question will be very relative.

Although the plaster itself is cheaper than plasterboard, the work can cost much more, and this does not include its duration. Therefore, we can say that the cost of finishing is almost equal to each other.

There are no unambiguous instructions for choosing finishing works, but I will give good advice - rely on the dimensions of the room, as well as what you want to get in the end.

Do you want to insulate your house, carefully level the walls, or even make an additional wall? Drywall will help you with this. And if you own a room with irregular heating in winter, a small area and high humidity, then plaster will be the best choice.

The photo shows a plasterboard wall with lighting.

Brief summary

As with many issues, it all depends on your preferences. I think that when choosing, you should focus on the performance of your room; it would be a good idea to carefully study the advantages and disadvantages of the materials.

Have questions? Ask them in the comments. And for a complete presentation of the topic, watch the video in this article.

In the process of wall repair, both specialists and novice finishers are trying to figure out: what is better, plaster or drywall on the walls? Each technology option has its pros and cons. The final decision is influenced by the slightest nuances that you don’t pay attention to in everyday life.

There are no perfectly straight walls. Painting or wallpapering them will not hide them, but, on the contrary, will highlight all the imperfections more clearly. Therefore, when finishing an apartment (private house), it is always necessary to level the walls.

For these purposes, two completely different technological solutions are used:

• drywall;
• plaster.

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. To make a final decision, you need to learn more about them.

Drywall

The most popular building material, the leader in sales in the USA and Europe, plasterboard, is rapidly gaining ground over plaster in Russia. Real professionals can use this material to greatly diversify the interior of a room, which cannot be done with plastering work in principle.

Drywall consists of a layer of gypsum covered on both sides with cardboard. Its abbreviation is GKL (not to be confused with gypsum-fiber sheets GVL, where the strength of the sheet is achieved by fibers mixed with gypsum, rather than cardboard). Professional work during its installation ensures a perfectly flat surface of the walls.

If you use drywall instead of plaster: the pros and cons of this technological solution are below.

Advantages of drywall:

• Allows you to implement any design solutions - it bends perfectly, as a result of which you can create various decorative elements.
• Allows you to hide significant curvature of walls (more than 4 cm) both horizontally and vertically, as well as their defects - chips and peeling.
• Serves as an additional, and this good, sound and heat insulating layer.
• Ideally hides utility lines.
• Installation work is completed quickly.
• No experience or qualifications are required for installation - basic concepts are sufficient. This results in significant savings - the cladding can be done by hand.
• The material is environmentally friendly.
• Further finishing work can be carried out immediately after attaching to the wall.
• There is no dirt during work - plasterboard sheets: cut with a construction knife practically without debris and dust; attached to the wall or with self-tapping screws on a metal sheathing, or glued on.
• It hides mortar or adhesive seams of walls well if aerated concrete, foam blocks or gas silicate were used for their construction.
• Allows walls to “breathe” - gypsum plasterboard reacts very quickly to changes in humidity. When it increases, it quickly takes moisture from the air, and also quickly releases it when it decreases.
• Indispensable when eliminating inconsistencies between walls and FBS (foundation building blocks), when the blocks protrude into the building by more than 4 cm.

With so many advantages, this material also has disadvantages. Cons of drywall:

• It greatly “steals” the volume of the room, especially when attaching gypsum boards to the sheathing;
• Low strength - cannot withstand a medium-sized painting, let alone heavier objects. Experienced craftsmen solve this problem simply. At the place where heavy objects are fastened, a rectangle is cut out and plywood, or even better, OSB sheets, is attached in place of the gypsum board. Therefore, this disadvantage is rather relative;
• A categorical ban on use in homes with temperature changes down to sub-zero values. In country houses, or rather dachas, where there is no constant heating in winter, it is destroyed;
• Finishing wallpaper requires applying a thin layer of putty. If you glue wallpaper directly onto drywall, then when you replace it, which is done after about 7-8 years of operation, you will also have to change the gypsum board - when removing the wallpaper, the cardboard will be torn off from the plaster, which leads to inevitable destruction of its layer;
• Promotes the appearance of rodents in the apartment - mice live in the space between the wall and the drywall;
• The bathroom sharply, up to 7 years, reduces the service life of gypsum plasterboards, even if special moisture-resistant types (gypsum plasterboards) are used. They can be easily distinguished on sale by their green color with blue inscriptions.

Plaster

Plaster is a classic of construction work. It appeared as a way to level vertical surfaces in ancient times. Having passed through the centuries, it has remained relevant in our time. As a type of construction work, it involves applying a layer of a certain group of materials to a vertical surface to level it. Materials can be based on:

• cement - cement-sand, cement-clay, cement-lime;
• gypsum - gypsum, gypsum-lime;
• clay - clay, clay-lime, clay-gypsum;
• calcareous.

Like any building material or technology, plaster has its pros and cons. Positive aspects of plaster:

• Durable. If technology is followed, which only professionals can do, it will last 30-35 years;
• Durable. You can attach any hanging structures - paintings, sconces, hanging boxes, etc.
• Withstands seasonal temperature changes, as well as changes in humidity. Therefore, there are no restrictions on its use;
• Easy to repair;
• Saves room space;
• Environmentally safe - it contains no components harmful to health;
• A universal base for any type of finishing work - wallpaper, painting, tiles, decorative plaster.

The disadvantages include:

• The work is dirty and dusty;
• Requires certain experience and skill. Therefore, it is beyond the power of novice finishers;

Important: experienced builders do not use beacons for plastering walls. However, with their help, even a novice finisher can perform the work, and their installation does not cause much difficulty. Doing wall leveling work with your own hands significantly saves the family budget.

• Plastering work can only be used to eliminate surface differences of 2-2.5 cm;
• It is necessary to apply in several layers with a thickness of 1.5-2.5 cm, or use fiber as a reinforcing material, which leads to an increase in the cost of work;
• In almost 90% of cases, finishing of wall plaster with putty is required;

Attention: in Russian, the process of sealing cracks before painting is denoted by two verbs: putty and putty. The first term - putty comes from the word tow, it was used to caulk existing cracks, the second - putty, which is based on the word spatula, and sealing cracks or leveling walls is done with special mixtures. In materials devoted to leveling walls, the word putty is constantly used, but putty is not available for sale. There is only putty. Therefore, novice builders need to take this into account. There is another important point here - those making repairs with their own hands are looking for the answer: what is the best way to level the walls with plasterboard or putty? The question is not formulated entirely correctly, so on some sites where the word putty is not used, the answer will be unequivocal - no, since it is impossible to level the walls with tow. In fact, the answer is ambiguous, since one concept is simply replaced by another that has the same meaning. What exactly to use should be decided by analyzing the positive and negative qualities of each technology.

• For communications it is necessary to punch special grooves - grooves;
• It takes a long time to complete. With complete drying it takes about a month;
• The work is labor intensive, which, again, increases the cost of this type of wall leveling.

Which type of technology is cheaper?

An important point in choosing a wall leveling technology is the cost of the work. What is cheaper to level the walls - with plasterboard or plaster? To compare the cost factor, let’s take a room 3 x 4 x 2.5 meters with a total wall area of ​​30 m2. This figure is needed to determine the amount of gypsum boards. To determine the cost of work, minus 2 m 2 for the window and doorway. To level the walls you will need:

Attention: prices for materials and work are taken for St. Petersburg as of the summer of 2018. There may be significant differences in other regions of Russia.

1. Drywall 2.5 m long and 1.2 m wide. The optimal thickness is 12.5 mm. You need to buy 13 sheets, including waste in the corners. The cost of plasterboard sheet (GKL) KNAUF GSP-A 2500x1200x12.5 mm is 269 rubles. (a similar Volma sheet costs 219 rubles). The total cost will cost approximately 3,500 rubles. (we still took the more expensive option). Delivery with lifting to the apartment will add costs by about 700 rubles. In total, gypsum boards will require 3,700 rubles;
2. Profile UD 27 (metal KNAUF) - 48 m at a price of approximately 50 rubles/linear. m. Total cost - 2,400 rubles;
3. Profile CD 60 (metal KNAUF) - 50 m at a price of about 50 rubles/linear. m. Total cost - 2,500 rubles;
4. Suspensions for the profile - you will need about 100 pieces for the amount of 300 rubles;
5. Three packages of dowels for attaching the sheathing to the walls - 250 rubles;
6. Packing of self-tapping screws for fastening drywall (650 pieces in a pack) - 300 rubles;
7. Three packs of self-tapping screws for fastening the sheathing - 300 rubles;
8. Gypsum or polymer finishing putty for sealing seams and corners of drywall - 15-20 kg for the amount of 1,000 rubles.
9. Installation of drywall - RUB 10,050. (30 m2 at 350 rubles per 1 m2) excluding windows and doors.

In total, leveling walls using gypsum plasterboard will cost approximately 21,300 rubles.

Attention: in all materials for drywall putty, it is recommended to use dry mixtures, since they have lower consumption and price. However, this does not take into account the property of dry mixtures diluted with water to set very quickly. As a result, frozen pieces of mortar remain on the spatula and in the container. Problems increase if they get into the working mixture - the entire solution from the spatula has to be thrown away. As a result, instead of saving, there is an overexpenditure in both weight and money.

If the walls are to be plastered, you will need:

1. Primer to improve adhesion between the wall and the plaster mortar (6.5-9.0 kg per 30 m2 depending on the type of wall: concrete, brick, etc.) for the amount of 500 rubles;
2. Dry plaster mixtures - you will need approximately 0.8 m 3 of solution or 584 kg of dry plaster (24 bags of 25 kg each) for an amount of 4,420 rubles;
3. Delivery of material with lifting to the apartment - 700 rubles;
4. Finishing putty 15 kg for the amount of 750 rubles;
5. Master's work - 14,000 rubles. (500 rubles per 1 m2) (2 m2 for the window and door are deducted).

Thus, it will cost 20,370 rubles to plaster the walls. If installation of beacons is required, the cost of work will increase by 2.0-2.5 thousand rubles.

A comparative analysis of the price factor of using plasterboard or plaster to level walls showed that neither method has a significant advantage, except for the case when plasterboard is used with glue instead of plaster.

When such an opportunity exists, this is the cheapest way to cladding walls. Gluing gypsum boards is quick and cheap, no professional skills are required.

When is the best time to use drywall?

Is it possible to cover the walls with plasterboard instead of plaster? Installation of gypsum boards is used in the following cases:

• the house has wooden walls;
• when it is necessary to hide communications, and building walls is time-consuming, dusty and expensive;
• it is necessary to carry out additional heat and sound insulation;
• there is a large curvature of the wall or the vertical is blocked;
• work must be completed as soon as possible - 2-3 days;
• there is no financial opportunity to attract specialists to carry out the work;
• when you need to hide the seams from the mortar in aerated concrete and gas silicate walls, as well as when using foam blocks;
• it is necessary to level the protrusion inside the room of the foundation blocks.

In all other cases, whether to replace plaster with drywall or not should be decided taking into account other factors.

When is the best time to use plaster?

Plaster is used in premises:

• with an unstable temperature regime, moving from heat to negative temperature values;
• where it is necessary to preserve the volume as much as possible;
• with height differences at the wall surface of no more than 2 cm;
• on the walls of which it is planned to mount heavy objects;
• with high humidity, for example, bathroom and kitchen;
• with finishing of the walls with heavy marble slabs.

Conclusion

With the exception of a few specific situations when the use of gypsum board or plaster for leveling walls is dictated by necessity, the choice of one or another technology remains with the owners of the room.