Plasterboard vs. Wet Plaster – Why choose drywall?

Wet plaster has long been a popular construction technique, most often found in more historic, period homes. However, there are many reasons why drywall plasterboard can provide the right finish for your property’s interiors instead of walls constructed using wet plaster.

Firstly, it’s important to understand the difference between plaster and drywall, their materials and how they are installed.

Plaster compounds are either purchased pre-mixed or as a dry compound and then mixed with water. Applying plaster to new walls is by no means an easy process. In fact, some tradesman take many years of practice before being skilled in the art of wet plastering.

Meanwhile, drywall plasterboard comes in boards made of sheetrock, in a range of different thicknesses suited to a number of uses. The sheetrock is cut to size and length and simply nailed or screwed into position.

So, apart from being easier to apply, how else is drywall plasterboard more beneficial than wet plaster methods?

• More cost-effective
  If you’re working to a strict budget and the cost of materials is of paramount importance, drywall plasterboard is the sensible choice. For example, with our pre-manufactured plasterboard profiles, you’ll only use the materials you need, with no need to cut sheets to size on-site; greatly minimising material wastage whilst enhancing interiors.
• Tidier application
  Applying wet plaster to a wall with a trowel is a specialist skill, requiring exceptional wrist action, accuracy and confidence. As we’ve already discussed, wet plastering can take years to master. Drywall plasterboard can be applied with zero mess or fuss, cut to size before its delivery on-site, minimising disruption.
• Faster to assemble
  With pre-cut plasterboard profiles, drywall contractors can very efficiently hang drywall with exceptional speed – another important benefit if time is of the essence. You don’t want to have to give your internal walls or bulkheads too much thought – there’s so many other aspects to consider in an internal project after all – so why not go with the simplest plasterboard option that offers equally impressive aesthetic qualities?
• Greater design flexibility
  Although some may argue that a traditional plaster wall offers a texture and feel to properties that no other wall can match, it’s important to note that drywall offers huge flexibility in terms of wall designs and shapes – perfect for more contemporary environments. For instance, our very own curved drywall is capable of flexing around site framing and contours where other plasterboards can’t, creating a perfectly curved, smooth surface. Meanwhile, our perforated plasterboard solutions now offer impressive sound absorption and improved indoor comfort that plaster has traditionally achieved better than drywall.

Looking to transform your interior architecture? V-Cut drywall plasterboard profiles reduce the need for expensive supporting structures and are pre-cut off-site to ensure faster on-site installation. Get in contact with our expert team today to request a free quote.