Plasterboard is a material widely used in the world of construction, but do you know about its history and different applications?
This incredibly versatile material started being manufactured 100 years ago and revolutionized the world of construction, especially prefabricated materials. In Europe it’s more commonly known as “pladur”, which means asbestos plate, and it comes from the first commercial name this product was given. In the Caribbean it’s more commonly known as drywall.
Today we’re going to be talking about some uses for plasterboard or drywall as well as technical aspects and particularities that should be kept in mind.
Plasterboard in North America
The pioneers in the use of this material began their activity in the United States, mainly because there has always been a historical tendency to opt for prefabricated solutions. They have been using this technique for several years and it’s been evolving with an increasingly wide range of products.
The American system consists of the installation of galvanized metal profiles as a structure, with which it’s possible to create a solid structure that is fixed to the framings, ceilings and floors, for the construction of dropped ceilings and fake walls. This profile is held by specific nails and supports a plaster sheet (indoors) or cement sheet (outdoors).
Benefits and applications
This system has significant advantages compared to the traditional block or brick one:
- Cost is much lower per square meter.
- Installation is quick and clean.
Once the sheets that we mentioned are installed, there is a joint treatment, with paper tape or fiber mesh, which maintains a homogeneity in the joints to absorb the natural movements of dilation and contraction. This completes the first stage of the installation.
If you want to know more about installing plasterboard and discover the steps of the second stage of installation, don’t miss out on Banema’s next blog post. Stay tuned!