Lightweight Drywall
Two types of panels qualify as exterior drywall: exterior sheathing panels and exterior soffit panels. The exterior sheathing panels are made in such a way as to cover a building’s exterior, as the base layer of siding. Despite being listed as drywall, exterior sheathing panels have little in common with other types of drywalls. They are made of fibreglass and gypsum and are mainly used to replace plywood sheathing. Soffit board is another form of exterior drywall. It contains a water repellent paper and a water-resistant gypsum core on both the front and the back. Like the standard drywall commonly used on interior ceilings, soffit board is used on exterior porch settings. Soffit board can be finished, taped, and textured like the conventional drywall. Despite being resistant to moisture, the soffit board will fail when exposed to extreme moisture. It is commonly used in areas where the temperatures are dry.
When lightweight drywall first appeared in the market, it was mainly marketed as standard drywall. It was marketed as standard drywall that reduced the overall weight by as much as 15%. Lightweight drywall made its way into the market in the 2000s. At first, it was only available at half-inch thickness but later started being produced in different thicknesses. Currently, various types and brands of lightweight drywalls are available in the market. The typical types include Mold Resistant, Fire Rated, and Fire- Resistant Mold- Resistant, lightweight drywall. Compared to the standard drywall, lightweight drywall is easier to work with due to its lightweight. It’s an excellent alternative to the standard drywall.
Abuse – Resistant Drywall
The abuse-resistant drywall minimizes the impact damage and surface damage. Surface damage often includes indentation and abrasion. Impact damage may include cracks or holes resulting from impacts resulting from either soft or hard bodies. Soft bodies include animals, humans, and bags. Hardbodies include baseballs, doorknobs, tools, and vacuum cleaners, among others.
According to the ASTM C1629 standards, there are three main classification levels. Level 1 offers the least resistance, while Level 3 provides the highest resistance.
Other ASTM standards define the testing procedures used while determining the performance of gypsum panels before they submit to abuse. While testing for impact or indentation, different methods and objects are used. The testing process involves swinging or dropping weighted objects on the gypsum panels and determining how it withstands the force. It involves considering the magnitude of the force the gypsum panel takes before it breaks.
Conducting abrasion testing involves using a weighted brush to scrub against the drywall’s surface and measuring the abrasion depth. You should consider the ASTM classification level when purchasing abuse-resistant drywall. You should go through the product description to know its classification level. For industrial construction applications, it’s recommended to use the Level Three Abuse-Resistant drywall. In an industrial setting, intentional and incidental damage is likely. Levels 1 and 2 are ideal for residential uses where incidental damage might occur.
Standard Drywall
The standard drywall is the most popular and recognized drywall in the market. It comes in handy for residential constructions, mainly used on walls and ceilings with a specified minimal fire rating. The standard drywall comes in thicknesses of 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, and 1/2 inch. If you don’t need specific drywall, you should use the standard drywall since it is easy to work with and affordable. You can choose among the various thicknesses depending on your need.
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