We have looked at the various types of drywall there is to select from when making your purchase. Now let’s look at the different sizes of drywall and the pros and cons of the many types of drywall sizes and whether they matter to your project or not.
Drywall thickness
There are several reasons you will want to examine several different drywall thickness when purchasing drywall sheets. The thicker the drywall sheet the more physically demanding the work will be. Depending on what the work is there is a size of drywall thickness made for your job.
¼ - inch thick drywall
One quarter inch thick drywall is the thinnest sheet of drywall available. This is the ideal thickness needed for curved walls since it is so thin and can be easily manipulated. This is also the ideal drywall thickness for covering plaster and old drywall without demolition. ¼ – inch thick drywall can be delicate and require careful handling to avoid bending and breaking.
⅜ - inch thick drywall
Drywall that is ⅜ – inch thick drywall was once considered the standard drywall thickness however, it is now useful for remodeling partitions. This is also a good thickness to fix drywall where the plaster has been completely removed or worn off.
½ - inch thick drywall
Half-inch drywall thickness is the standard for interior walls and ceilings for residential homes. While not as light as ¼ or ⅜ – inch drywall sheets, ½ – inch drywall sheets are light enough to carry and install. ½ – inch drywall panels can be installed on both metal and wooden frames.
⅝ - inch thick drywall
⅝ – inch thick drywall is perfect for ceiling panels that require a certain fire-resistant rating. ⅝ – inch are more reliable for ceilings as they do not sag as much between the joints than a ½ – inch drywall panel. ⅝ – inch drywall panels are also great for holding textures since it does not sag compared to lighter drywall panels.
In commercial projects, ⅝ – inch drywall is the most common size. Alternatively, you will be hard pressed to find ⅝ – inch drywall panels in residential constructions since it is heavier and more expensive than half – inch drywall panels.
¾ - inch thick drywall
¾ – inch thick drywall is not used particularly often since it is only slightly more thicker than ⅝ – inch drywall. Three quarter inch drywall thickness is generally used for only unique circumstances where an engineer or architect will specifically ask for it.
One inch thick drywall
Much like ¾ – inch thick drywall, one inch thick drywall used to be more available in the past. The reason why it is no longer readily available and is considered a specialty item is because of the weight of the drywall panel. It was considered too heavy to carry. Another reason why one inch drywall isn’t as popular is because of the advancements in fire rated drywall and soundproofing drywall reducing the thickness while improving the properties of these specialty drywall panels.
