Which building material is more preferable when leveling walls - plaster or drywall? This is one of the most pressing repair issues that must be resolved in advance so as not to encounter many problems that are inevitable with the wrong approach. Both materials show excellent results when leveling walls and ceilings and look great after finishing work is completed, but both of them have disadvantages, and working with each of them has its own nuances.
To answer the question of which is better - drywall or plaster, it is worth comparing their characteristics, considering the pros and cons.
Types of drywall
On the modern construction market, there are many types of drywall from Western and Russian manufacturers, designed for different purposes, differing in size, sheet thickness and performance characteristics:
- Standard GKL gray with blue markings for walls and ceilings in rooms with low and normal levels of humidity.
- Waterproof drywall GKLV with silicone granules, which includes antifungal components, designed for rooms with high levels of humidity and unstable air temperature. GKLV color is green, marking is blue.
- Fire-resistant GKLO drywall of pink or gray color with red marking is used to protect the premises from fires. In an apartment, such material is sometimes chosen for a nursery.
- Water-resistant and fire-resistant GKLVO green material with red marking for industrial premises with a high level of humidity and increased fire safety requirements.
According to the thickness, drywall is divided into wall (from 12.5 mm), ceiling (8–9.5 mm) and arched (6 mm).
Advantages of drywall over plaster
Drywall has the following advantages:
- High noise-absorbing properties. Plaster also has soundproofing characteristics, but not to that extent.
- Convenience of arrangement of heat and sound insulation. Materials are laid between the frame and the wall or ceiling.
- Sheathing a surface with drywall is easier and faster than leveling with plaster, especially in the case of a ceiling, which is especially difficult to plaster.
- Drywall is indispensable for creating complex structures - arches, figures, interior and zonal partitions, multi-level ceilings.
- Suitable for walls of any curvature.
- Drywall sheathing is a relatively clean way of leveling surfaces, leaving only dry debris behind.
Disadvantages of drywall
Among the disadvantages of GKL:
- the fragility of the erected structure;
- reduction in floor space;
- the need for a complete replacement of drywall in cases of flooding from the upper floors;
- difficulties with placing heavy objects on the walls, special fasteners are required, and in order to hang heavy cabinets on drywall in the kitchen, you will have to think about ways to strengthen it.
Alignment of walls with drywall involves the implementation of a whole range of works. To create an ideal surface, you will need to seal the seams and the location of the screws with putty, apply a layer of primer to the entire surface of the drywall, and then putty, after drying, sand it. When everything is dry, you can start wallpapering, painting or finishing with decorative plaster.
Types of plaster
Plastered walls and ceilings are an ideal base for painting or wallpapering. Types of plaster for leveling surfaces:
- The most economical option is a cement mixture that provides a durable coating with high heat and sound insulation and fire protection characteristics. The composition withstands high levels of humidity, while being heavy, which complicates application to walls and especially ceilings. Needs puttying and sanding before painting or tiling, but with good leveling it can last a very long time.
- Cement-lime plaster has antibacterial properties, protecting the room from the appearance of mold and microorganisms.
- Gypsum - a dry mixture consisting of gypsum powder with plasticizers. Gypsum plaster is plastic, vapor-permeable, environmentally friendly, has a low weight compared to cement, is compatible with concrete and brick surfaces, does not require puttying before painting or wallpapering.
- Decorative plaster - can be silicone, mineral, silicate, used for finishing, allows you to create unusual and unique surfaces. It makes no sense to compare such exclusive types of this material as travertino, Venetian, Moroccan plaster with drywall, since their cost significantly exceeds the most expensive types of gypsum plasterboard, along with finishing.
Advantages of plaster over drywall
Plaster is one of the most ancient building materials, the composition and properties of which have changed over the centuries. Modern mixtures with a variety of additives are successfully used for both interior and facade work, while maintaining an excellent appearance of the cladding for decades. Among its main advantages:
- High strength and reliability.
- Long operation.
- Space saving.
- Low material cost
- No problems with the placement of wall cabinets and any other items.
Disadvantages of plaster
Plastering also has significant disadvantages:
- Plastering is a laborious and messy process.
- The need to use beacons to create a uniform layer.
- Risk of cracking when applying a thick layer.
- Prolonged drying. When plastering in several layers, repairs can take several weeks.
- Plastering walls for a beginner without special skills will be difficult.
What material to choose
Before proceeding with the repair, there are several important factors to consider in order to decide which of these materials is suitable in a particular case.
- If the speed of work is important and the repair must be completed quickly, drywall should be preferred.
- Walls in rooms with a high level of humidity are best leveled with cement or cement-lime plaster, which is an excellent basis for any type of tile and heavy wall structures - shelves, mirrors, water heaters. Plastered surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet will last for decades.
- Surfaces with large differences are much more profitable to level with drywall than with plaster. When using GKL, the curvature of the walls does not matter; when using a plaster mix, you will have to spend a lot of material.
What is cheaper - plaster or drywall? The cost of the plaster mixture is lower than the cost of plasterboard, plastering will also require lower costs, but if a really good experienced craftsman is plastering, his work will be paid higher. In this case, the price of work with these materials will be approximately the same.
- If the ceiling or walls need to be insulated, it is better to choose drywall.
- When choosing a paint as a finish, you should prefer gypsum plasterboard, since microcracks will not appear on it.
- Walls in new buildings are preferably finished with gypsum or cement plaster to minimize surface cracking during shrinkage of the building.
- In a small room, it is better to plaster the walls and ceiling so as not to waste space due to the plasterboard frame.
- In the kitchen or in other rooms where heavy cabinets or other items will hang, it is more appropriate to choose plastering.
