Just How Much Drywall Is Used in the United States?

Here's everything you need to know about drywall and its prevelance in homes and buildings all around us.

People walk by miles of this material every single day in their homes, offices, and virtually every other building they enter. It is one of the most commonly used material in building construction. It can go by the names plasterboard, gypsum wallboard, sheetrock, wallboard, or most commonly, drywall. Despite how common it is and how prevalent drywall is in our everyday lives, the average person knows little about what it is, how it is used, and why it is so widely used.

The Prevalence of Home Drywall

This building material is most widely used to create walls and ceilings in new home constructions. It's also applied to many other architectural spaces around the home, such as arches, eves, and other decorative areas. Home drywall is quick and easy to install, extremely durable, and is easily repaired or replaced. Drywall has long been added to buildings as a fire safety measure due to its fire-retardant properties. According to a recent report from the Gypsum Association, over 20 billion square feet of drywall is manufactured in North America annually, and then used in homes and businesses.

Before Drywall There Was Plaster

Before drywall became so commonly used in home constructions, the interiors of most homes were made of plaster. Walls and ceilings were built up and designed by placing layers of wet plaster over wooden support slats. The wet plaster would dry and harden, but the process was slow and tedious, and it was difficult to get uniform applications and results. In addition to how difficult it was to install, installing plaster walls was quite labor-intensive, requiring skilled craftsmen to spend days and weeks on a single wall to build it up to the right thickness or to repair holes and damaged areas. It is little wonder why home drywall became so popular once its applications and benefits became widely known.

If you are working on building your dream home or are in the midst of a home renovation project, you are likely already working with drywall professionals. If you want to learn more about home drywall and what benefits it has to offer you as a homeowner, call your local home design company or construction contractor. They can tell you everything you need to know about this versatile building material option!