A house may have numerous drywalls, each of which has specific measurements and purposes. Have you ever wondered how thick is drywall that suitable for your beloved home?
There are a handful of factors influencing the answer. I will inform you of four different thicknesses and solutions to some frequently asked questions. Then you will be able to figure out the final number yourself.
I will not keep you waiting for longer, let’s start right now!
Common Thicknesses Of Drywalls
1/4 Inch
¼-inch-thick drywall tends to be the cheapest. Nonetheless, they are relatively uncommon compared to the three other thicknesses. This is understandable because the ¼ inch sheets are too thin for most purposes.
Typically, you can place quarter inch panels on an existing surface as a double-wall material. For example, what will you do if you want to renew your textured ceiling? Do you have to remove the texture? In this case, a ¼ inch sheetrock may come in handy.
It doesn’t stop there!
The second use of quarter-inch sheets is in curved applications. These sheets are designed to wrap around curves easily without wetting. With the help of ¼ inch drywall, the curved surfaces bring about a soft, innovative and aesthetic look.
3/8 Inch
This number used to be the standard thickness of drywall a couple of decades ago until it was taken over by ½ inch. Nowadays, 3/8-inch-thick is commonly in use for repair purposes.
Although some people insist on using drywall with 3/8 inch thickness, this is not recommended in most situations, especially with walls and ceilings. However, you can use them to place over existing walls as supporting forces.
½ Inch
Half inch sheets are the most commonly used measurement in interior walls as well as ceilings nowadays. It is considered the gold standard of modern construction.
Why so?
There are some reasons for the popularity of half-inch sheetrocks. First, these panels are easy to maneuver. A person can effortlessly carry and hang half inch panels on his own. If you want extra convenience, go for an ultralight panel. Second, drywall with this thickness can withstand light impacts.
5/8 Inch
The thickest among four measurements, 5/8 inch is the standard for constructing ceilings. In case you make use of ½ inch or 3/8 inch panels on roofs, be careful that these panels will sag downwards over time. Meanwhile, the 5/8 inch drywall is designed to be resistant to sagging.
Notice! Drywalls with 5/8 inch thickness may be heavier than you expect. You should ask someone to help if you are working with more than half of a standard sheet.
On top of that, 5/8-inch-thick panels are applicable for walls requiring a fire-resistant rating as well. You can find these walls in garages or furnace rooms.
You have gone through the basic knowledge of four common thicknesses of drywall. Now let’s come to the best part.
Frequently Asked Questions With Thicknesses Of Drywall
Q: Can I use ½-inch-thick drywall in a furnace room?
A: It depends – Fire-resistant drywall in both ½ inch and 5/8 inch. The difference lies in the fire resistance rating. While the rating of 5/8 inch panels is 60 minutes, the grade of half-inch ones is 30 minutes. You should refer to the local building codes before deciding on suitable materials.
Q: What should I use in a wet room?
A: In this case, go for a water resistant drywall. Usually, it is recommended to use ½ inch for the walls and 5/8 inch for the ceilings. Otherwise, you would have to replace standard sheets quite often.
Q: How can I replace a damaged panel?
A: You need to know the thickness of the drywall first. If there is already a hole on the panel, just grab a rule to measure the depth of it. If not, knocking a small chunk out of the damaged area would be fine.
All In All
Drywalls have numerous applications in the house, from constructing walls, ceilings to garages. To achieve the best results with your projects, you should be aware of the suitable measurements of drywall, especially thickness.
This article solved the question of how thick is drywall that suitable for your house. After reading this post, I hope you can decide on the exact thickness of your next drywall.
If you find this article useful, please like and share to your relatives or your friends. If you have any questions related to the drywall topic, feel free to leave it in the comment section. I will reach out to you as soon as possible. See you in my next posts!
