What Is Drywall Made Of?

Drywall is a common building material used in interior construction. It consists of a core made of gypsum, a mineral compound sandwiched between layers of paper or fiberglass. This composition gives drywall strength and fire resistance, making it a versatile and cost-effective option for wall and ceiling surfaces. Read on to find out how this material can fit into your home project plans.

Drywall Composition: Explained

One of the most identifiable building materials, drywall is a construction staple thanks to its affordability, durability, and simple installation. You may also be familiar with this material after learning on the fly how to patch and repair a section of your wall after an accidental hole from moving furniture or installing a shelf.

“Drywall is one of the most common materials in buildings today. It is relatively simple to install, maintain, and repair,” said Andrew Kilborn, an Angi Expert Review Board member who has 20 years of experience in home repair and remodeling.

The term drywall is used interchangeably with many other names, including gypsum board, gypsum wallboard (GWB), wallboard, and plasterboard. You’ll also hear about the popular brand name Sheetrock®. All these products are similar but vary slightly in composition and include a combination of the following materials. 

Gypsum

Drywall is primarily composed of gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral that contains calcium sulfate dihydrate. Renowned for its fire-resistant qualities, gypsum is an ideal material for ensuring safety in building construction. The addition of water to gypsum results in a hardened core, creating a sturdy and resilient surface. The core bolsters drywall's structural stability and offers excellent soundproofing and insulation attributes, making it the preferred choice for interior walls and ceilings.

Paper or Fiberglass

The outer layers of drywall are composed of paper or fiberglass sheets. These layers encapsulate the gypsum core and provide the drywall with additional structural integrity. Paper-faced drywall is the most common type, where sheets of paper are adhered to the gypsum core, creating a smooth and paintable surface.

Fiberglass-faced drywall uses fiberglass mats instead of paper, offering increased resistance to moisture and mold growth. This makes the material suitable for areas with higher humidity levels, like bathrooms and basements. Both paper and fiberglass layers contribute to the overall durability and workability of the drywall.

Additives

Drywall can also contain various additives to enhance its performance. These additives can include fire-resistant compounds, anti-mold agents, and strengthening materials such as vermiculite or perlite.

Fire-resistant drywall, for instance, incorporates glass fibers and other fire-retardant chemicals to improve its fire resistance, making it a safer choice for high-risk areas. Anti-mold additives help prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the drywall surface, particularly in damp or humid environments. These additive materials, when combined with the gypsum core and paper or fiberglass layers, contribute to the overall functionality and safety of drywall.

Types of Drywall

Drywall is a catch-all term for gypsum wallboard sandwiched between backing and facing paper, but specific types of drywall fall under the category. A drywall installer can help you choose the right drywall for your project. 

Fire-Resistant Drywall (Type X)

Type X drywall contains fiberglass and other non-combustible materials that improve the fire resistance of drywall. It often comes in ⅝-inch thickness and is rated for different fire-resistance levels. It’s best for walls and ceilings in rooms that need more fire protection, such as garages, utility rooms, and areas around stoves and fireplaces.

Green Board

Green board is so named because of its green coating, which makes it more resistant to moisture than regular drywall. It isn’t waterproof, but it does offer better moisture resistance in bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and areas with high humidity.

Blue Board (Plasterboard)

Blue board, or plasterboard, has a special coating to help it bond with plaster. Use it under plaster veneer wall finishes.

Cement Board

Made from a mixture of cement and reinforcing fibers, cement board resists water, mold, and mildew. It’s heavier and more durable than traditional, gypsum-based drywall. Pros recommend using it in bathrooms, showers, and other wet areas. It’s also a good base for tile installation.

Soundboard (Soundproof Drywall)

Sound transmission between walls can make rooms and homes too loud for comfortable living. In spaces where you want to limit sound traveling, choose soundboard or soundproof drywall. It’s often thicker than traditional drywall and can be made of multiple layers of gypsum, dense cardboard, and other materials that absorb and dampen sounds. Choose soundboard for home theaters, bedrooms, offices, and other spaces and rooms where you want better sound control.

Eco-Friendly Drywall (Enviroboard)

If you want eco-friendly building materials, consider enviroboard. It’s made from recycled materials and designed to protect the environment during manufacturing and after it’s lived its useful life. That means it’s sustainably made, can be recycled after removal, and is best for green-building projects and eco-conscious construction projects.

Purple Board (Mold-Resistant Drywall)

This specialty type of drywall has a special coating (often purple in color) and core that enhances mold and mildew protection. Choose it for high-humidity locations and wet rooms like bathrooms, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms, and utility rooms.

Lead-Lined Drywall 

Lead-lined Sheetrock has layers of gypsum board covered in sheet lead, making it a shield against X-ray and gamma ray radiation. This isn’t a common choice for homes, but it’s important for medical facilities, X-ray rooms, and other locations where radiation safety is a challenge.

Foil-Backed Drywall 

This drywall has a special foil backing that acts as a vapor barrier to control moisture, particularly moisture coming in from outside. It’s best for exterior walls and ceilings, porches, converted attic and garage spaces, and other rooms needing upgraded moisture control. 

Flexible Drywall

Architecturally complicated rooms with curved walls and ceilings, arched doorways, or complicated angles and curves are good fits for flexible drywall. This material is thinner and more flexible than traditional drywall, so it can be bent to form curves and arches.

Impact-Resistant Drywall

If your household is rougher on drywall, impact-resistant materials can keep your walls from getting dented and dinged. This material has a denser core and reinforced facing (the side that faces outward into the room), so it can withstand impact that can otherwise leave marks on regular drywall. It’s also an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, corridors and hallways, schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, and busy office buildings.

Is Drywall Dust Toxic?

It's clear why drywall remains a go-to product across construction industries. It’s widely available, simple to install, low-cost, light, and all-purpose, yet specialized. 

Drywall itself is not inherently toxic. However, installing and cutting drywall can potentially release harmful substances, particularly in the form of dust. One concern is the production of silica dust during the cutting and sanding of drywall, which can pose health risks.

Drywall contains crystalline silica, which produces silica dust when disturbed. Prolonged exposure to airborne crystalline silica dust, especially after moisture and mold damage, can lead to serious respiratory issues.

One of the best drywall sanding tips, or best practices when working with drywall, is the recommendation from drywall pros that individuals wear safety glasses, gloves, and dust masks when working with drywall.

The History of Drywall

After World War II, the housing construction boom led to the everyday use of drywall, thanks to the affordability of labor and material costs. Compared to the older, labor-intensive technique of covering wood walls with plaster, drywall is much easier and faster.

Today, drywall is frequently used in commercial and residential construction to build rooms or create separations, especially in condominiums and apartment complexes, because it’s non-flammable. All drywall contains fire-resistant materials, though Type X and Type C drywall stand up the best against fire.

Some multi-resident housing complexes tout specialized drywall with sound-dampening material. This is a cost-of-living perk you’ll definitely want if your upstairs neighbor has a late-night vacuuming habit.

Drywall is one of the most common DIY projects for homeowners because repairing drywall is fairly easy to do—even without installation experience. However, if it’s your first time, you may find working with drywall challenging, as it is somewhat delicate and easily damaged. The bonuses outweigh the negatives, though, as drywall is lightweight and versatile.

Drywall projects go beyond simple residential uses. Specialized drywall performs well in these circumstances.

• Drywall can be water-resistant to keep bathrooms and mudrooms mold-free.

• Thick drywall is used for high-traffic walls and hallways in buildings like schools and hospitals. 

• Builders use drywall to line elevators and mechanical shafts. 

• Drywall is used in custom designs because its flexibility allows for curved walls.

• Builders install drywall lined with lead for medical and research facilities to avoid radiation.

Pros and Cons of Drywall

Now that you know all about your drywall options, take a moment to read and consider the pros and cons of this building material.

Pros

Drywall is prevalent because it has a lot of upsides, including these:

• Cost-effective: Compared to other finishing materials for walls and ceilings (like wood, brick, plywood, oriented strand board, fiberglass panels, or lath and plaster), drywall is relatively inexpensive.

• Drywall is fast and easy to install: Other methods of covering walls—we’re looking at you, lath and plaster—can take multiple days to weeks to install. Drywall, however, takes only a day or two.

• Can be DIY friendly: If you’re relatively handy, you can install your own drywall. For most jobs, it’s fairly simple to determine how much drywall you need. You’ll need a few simple tools and supplies, such as a hammer, screwdriver, drywall nails, screws, and finishing materials, along with some patience and precision.

• Versatile: No matter your circumstances or needs, there’s probably a drywall type that fits. For example, you can get soundproof, moisture-resistant, mold-resistant, flexible, and eco-friendly drywall.

• Smooth finish: If you or your contractor do it right, drywall has a smooth and flat surface you can paint, wallpaper, or cover with decorative treatments, giving you various finishing options.

• Fire resistance: Most types of drywall are naturally designed to provide some fire resistance to keep your home safer.

• Repairable: Do you have dings, dents, and damage in your walls? You can repair rather than replace if your walls are drywall. This is more convenient and cost-effective for most situations. 

• Energy efficient: Drywall is a great insulator, and you can buy extra-efficient versions to help maintain indoor temperatures and reduce energy costs.

Cons

Don’t overlook these possible downsides. While drywall is a great option for most applications, it might not be the best fit for your project if any of these cons apply to your job.

• Susceptible to water damage: Regular drywall can soak up water and sustain damage from small spills, leaks, and flooding. If it gets waterlogged, it can swell and not return to its original shape, grow mold and mildew, and deteriorate. So don’t put it in rooms that are frequently wet or have high moisture levels, like bathrooms and garages.

• Damage from impacts: Feet, furniture, pets, and incidental bumps can leave dents and damage that live long past the original event. If you’re putting drywall in a high-traffic area, kid’s room, recreation space, or similar spot, consider installing an impact-resistant version.

• Limited sound insulation: Standard drywall isn’t soundproof, so upgrade to soundproof versions if you want more sound protection. Keep in mind that those products can be much more expensive.

• Dirty to install: Cutting drywall creates dust and debris that can make your whole home feel dirty. Take care when remodeling or adding to your home so you don’t regret using drywall.

• Labor-intensive installation: Drywall might go up fast, but the finishing process can take a while. You’ll need to tape, mud, and sand the joints and seams, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, even for experienced pros.

• Heavy: Drywall is made of gypsum, and depending on the thickness, it can feel as heavy as stone for a single installer.

• Not structurally strong: If you’re looking for a load-bearing material, drywall is not it. Even though it makes up most of the wall space in homes, it’s not load-bearing and provides little structural support. For safety’s sake, only use it in non-structural applications.

• Environmental concerns: Traditional drywall manufacturing and disposal are not eco-friendly. In fact, both use energy for production and take up a lot of landfill space. However, you can choose eco-friendly options that limit the impact, including versions that are made with post-consumer recycled content.

How Much Does Drywall Cost?

The average cost of buying a sheet of drywall ranges from $0.40 to $0.65 per square foot. The price will increase for specialized drywall for jobs like repelling moisture or reducing sound. If you hire a local drywall professional, the drywall installation costs will range between $65 for a 4-by-8-foot sheet and $100 for a 4-by-12-foot sheet for labor, materials, and finishing.