What you need to know about drywalls

Whether you are planning a home renovation or simply want to understand the bones of your house, this guide covers the essentials of what drywall is, its types, and how it impacts modern living.

What is Drywall?

Drywall, also known as plasterboard, gypsum board, or sheetrock, is a construction material used to create walls and ceilings. It consists of a core of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of backing paper.

Before drywall became the industry standard in the mid-20th century, interior walls were made of lath and plaster, a labor-intensive process that required multiple layers of wet plaster to dry over wooden strips. Drywall revolutionized the industry by allowing fast, "dry" installation.

Common Types of Drywall

Not all drywall is created equal. Different areas of a building require different properties to withstand moisture, fire, or impact.

• Regular/White Board: The standard drywall used for most walls and ceilings in residential properties. It typically comes in thicknesses ranging from 6.4mm to 12.5mm.

  
  

• Green Board (Moisture-Resistant): Features a water-resistant paper coating. It is ideal for high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens, though it is not completely waterproof and should not be used in direct shower stalls.

  
  

• Type X (Fire-Rated): Contains special glass fibers and additives to increase its fire resistance. It is thicker (usually 15.9mm).

  
  

• Blue Board (Plaster Base): Used specifically for veneer plastering. The surface paper has high absorption qualities, allowing a thin coat of plaster to adhere perfectly to it.

  
  

• Soundproof Drywall: A laminated drywall made with a mix of gypsum, visco-elastic polymers, and ceramic that dampens sound transmission between rooms.

  
  

Drywall and Your Wi-Fi Reception

When positioning your home router, the materials inside your walls matter. Drywall affects wireless signals far differently than older building materials or heavy masonry:

• The Good News: Standard, dry drywall is relatively hospitable to Wi-Fi signals. A single layer of standard 12.5mm drywall typically causes only a minor signal attenuation of about 1 to 3 dB.

  
  

• The Hidden Obstacles: The gypsum core itself contains chemically bound water. While this makes drywall naturally fire-retardant, high moisture levels (such as in green board or damp walls) will absorb more radio frequency (RF) energy, weakening your signal.

  
  

• The Worst Offenders: Specialized soundproof drywall (which contains dense polymer layers) and foil-backed drywall (used for vapor barriers) act as highly effective shields against Wi-Fi, severely degrading signal strength. Additionally, if your drywall is mounted on metal studs rather than wooden ones, the metal framing will reflect and scatter the wireless signal, creating connectivity dead zones.

The Installation Process

Installing drywall is a straightforward but precise multi-step process:

1. Hanging: The large drywall sheets are cut to size and fastened to timber or metal wall studs using drywall screws.

2. Taping: A paper or mesh tape is applied over the joints (seams) between the sheets to link them together.

3. Skimming: Layers of joint compound (Cretestone) are smoothed over the tape and screw heads to create a seamless surface.

4. Sanding: Once the Skimming dries, it is sanded down to a perfectly flat, smooth finish.

5. Priming and Painting: A primer coat is essential to seal the porous paper and skim coat before the final paint color is applied.

Pros and Cons of Drywall

Advantages	Disadvantages
Cost-Effective: Significantly cheaper to manufacture and install than traditional plaster.	Water Damage Vulnerability: Standard drywall absorbs water easily, leading to swelling, softening, and mold growth if exposed to leaks.
Fast Installation: A skilled crew can board an entire house in a matter of days.	Fragility: It can be easily dented, cracked, or punctured by accidental impacts.
Fire Retardant: The gypsum core naturally contains crystalline water, which helps slow the spread of fire.	Difficult to Recycle: Once demolished, old drywall often ends up in landfills, where it can release hydrogen sulfide gas if wet.

Key Maintenance Tips

• Fix holes early: Small dents can be filled with spackle, while larger holes require a mesh patch or a new piece of drywall backing.

• Control indoor humidity: In poorly ventilated areas, moisture can degrade drywall over time and increase Wi-Fi signal interference. Ensure extractor fans are used in bathrooms.

• Use the right anchors: Drywall alone cannot support heavy objects. Always use toggle bolts or heavy-duty anchors if you cannot screw directly into a wall stud (or a stud finder to locate the wood/metal behind it).