It became an easier and less costly replacement for troweling plaster during the housing boom after World War II.
However,hanging drywallrequires a safety mask to prevent breathing its potentially harmful fine dust.
Warning
Always wear a mask when working with drywall.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Check the mask’s rating for dust particulates.
What Is Drywall Made Of?
Once dry, the material becomes strong and rigid and is ready to use as a building material.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Increasingly, though, drywall is being faced not with paper but with mold-resistant fiberglass.
Examples include USG’s Sheetrock Mold Tough and Georgia Pacific’s DensArmor Plus.
Otherwise known as calcium sulfate, gypsum is inexpensive to mine, fire-proof, and provides superior sound-deadening properties.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Fire-rated bang out X drywallhas fiberglass added to the gypsum.
Additives
Drywall includes several important additives.
This material is manufactured by first heating the raw gypsum powder to remove the water.
Instead, the composition of drywall mud includes:
Are There Harmful Chemicals in Drywall?
Drywall is safe when kept solid and stable.
The fine dust from drywall contains known carcinogens like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and crystalline silica.
When inhaled, these contents can be harmful.
An excessive level of sulfur in drywall has been linked to corrosion of electrical wiring and plumbing pipes.
Sheetrock is the popular brand name for drywall gypsum panels.
Control of Drywall Sanding Dust Exposure.CDC/OSHA.
When Is Drywall A Problem?National Capital Poison Center.
Chinese Drywall.International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
