If you are building a house or remodeling it or an apartment, the question of the materials used naturally arises. There is foam block, there is aerated concrete, moreover, in the most diverse forms and variations, there is also ordinary brick itself, a universal material at all times. However, few will argue that plasterboard has been the most unique and practical for a long time. What it is and why plasterboard is needed is exactly what it is worth to understand.
How plasterboard appeared
Such a stunning material, irreplaceable in modern construction, appeared under rather strange circumstances. Back in the 19th century, Augustine Sackett simply wanted to invent new ways of using paper, the possibility of a new application of his production resources. As a result, a construction board appeared, in which a layer of plaster was pasted over with many layers of thin paper. As in the case of many other innovations, plasterboard initially did not arouse much interest. It is quite difficult to overcome the resistance of habit and established rules in construction.
Some time later, thanks to Clarence Utsman, the plasterboard standard was created, which is still used today. The composite material made of plaster and cardboard became widespread, and then became indispensable in many areas of construction.
Plasterboard is a solid plasterboard, pasted on both sides with strong and dense cardboard. Gypsum itself is quite fragile, but it keeps its shape and is easy to handle. Cardboard, in addition to hiding smeary and fragile plaster, increases the strength of the material against breakage, protects it from chipping. The resulting material can be easily cut, sawed, even planed, while it is strong enough to erect partition walls and even small buildings, without additional reinforcements.
When considering such materials as plasterboard, it is necessary to understand that it is primarily about sufficient strength. Anyway, if you take a solid sheet with dimensions of 1200x2500x12.5, which is ideal for building partitions, then it can be easily broken by applying a rather small effort to the edges of the sheet. The strength of the wall is given by the frame, whether it is wooden or made of a special metal profile for plasterboard. The distribution of the load on the frame after the plasterboard is securely attached to it occurs evenly.
Technical characteristics of plasterboard
The established standard in relation to plasterboard provides only recommended rules, which should be followed by manufacturers. In fact, only the overall dimensions of the sheets, some requirements for the quality of materials and the type of plasterboard sheets are discussed. There are no clear indications of what plasterboard is made of, and manufacturers have a fairly wide freedom of choice in this regard.
Dimensions of plasterboard
- Width – 625 mm, 1200 mm
- Length – 1200, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000
- Thickness – 6.5, 8.0, 9.5, 12.5, 14.0, 16.0, 18.0, 20.0, 24.0 mm
In fact, the only clearly defined format for plasterboard. Although the nominal ranges for different options of plasterboard are not small, it is quite simple to understand why you need plasterboard of one or another size.
The width of the standard sheet is 1200 mm, this is due to established traditions in construction. The distance between the load-bearing elements of the crate or frame is equal to 600 mm, thus, one sheet is attached to the frame along three lines: the edges and the center. The width makes it easy to place sheets during transportation on trucks and not create problems when climbing to the required floor.
The optimal length of the sheets can be from 2 to 3 meters with a step of 50 cm. This just corresponds to the height of the ceilings in most apartments and houses. Longer versions of 3.5-4 meters are used in rooms with high ceilings, industrial facilities or public buildings.
The thickness of the sheets primarily determines the weight and strength of the material. Thinner sheets of 6.5-9.5 are better suited for covering ceilings and structures that will not be loaded in the future. The weight of the sheets is quite low, so they are easier to install and you can do without a less strong frame. Partitions are usually formed from 12.5 mm plasterboard. Thicker sheets are suitable for walls where a significant load needs to be mounted. Variants of two-layer cladding are used, for example, with sheets of 12.5 mm or in one layer with material from 14 to 24 mm.
Weight of plasterboard
The main advantage of plasterboard is lightness. Its weight is significantly lower than that of other materials, even of the same volume, given its thickness and the method of mounting on a frame base, the weight of a wall or partition is many times lower than that of brickwork. Of course, what can be done from plasterboard is unlikely to be possible from aerated concrete and foam concrete, which still have to be laid in rows.
It is easy to calculate the weight of a plasterboard sheet. The thickness of the sheet is taken in millimeters, and this will be the nominal weight of one square meter in kilograms. This is for ordinary GKL. For GKLV and GKLVO, the coefficient will be from 0.8 to 1.4 for translating millimeters into kilograms. This is due to the presence of additional additives in gypsum and cardboard, which provide them with moisture protection and fire resistance.
Strength of plasterboard
First of all, the strength of the material is developed based on the requirements for which plasterboard is needed. According to the GOST 6266-97 standard, 322 N of longitudinal force and 105 N of transverse force must be applied to a sheet of 12.5 mm thick plasterboard measuring 350 mm in order for it to collapse. The parameters are much lower than those of brick or aerated concrete, from which partitions are often made, but this is more than enough to build strong and reliable walls capable of withstanding additional loads.
It is worth noting that the standards describe the lower limit of permissible loads. In order to pass the test, even low-quality gypsum is enough, which can crumble or easily burst from cutting holes in it or during installation on the frame. The quality of global manufacturers, such as Knauf, many times exceeds the permissible values. So, before choosing plasterboard for repair or redevelopment, you should carefully look at the quality of plaster and the cardboard from which it is made.
How plasterboard is used
The topic devoted to what plasterboard is needed for is quite extensive and it is better to consider it based on specific situations. First of all, it is perfect for erecting partitions, when replanning or repairing apartments in a new building. Thin plasterboard is perfect for forming a suspended ceiling, in which you can later install all the necessary equipment, lay communications, without worrying about its integrity.
Drywall has found wide application in the matter of leveling walls. It can completely replace plaster, making it easier to level walls in old buildings. Cladding of wooden walls in modern ecologically clean houses when forming a layer of insulation both inside and outside the houses. Wherever it is necessary to form a perfectly flat surface, plasterboard can be used, moreover, it can not only be attached to the frame, but also glued with the help of special adhesive compounds, thus reducing the thickness of the cladding.
The widest range of uses for which plasterboard is needed is natural design. It is possible to construct multi-level ceilings, walls with niches and figured shapes, textured and relief surfaces from it. It is enough to choose plasterboard for the necessary operations and to form with its help and frame elements everything that the designer wants.