A Pro’s Guide to Choosing the Best Drywall to Use

For Best Results, Make Sure the Board is Designed to Meet the Performance Needs of the Space

At one time, drywall board might have been drywall board but over the years the number of product options on the market has grown significantly. Now drywall contractors have the opportunity to customize the space to meet the performance needs of the project, but with so many options available, it can be hard to determine the best product for the job at hand. Products specified need to take into consideration the unique demands of the space, and should be selected with regard to how it will impact the functions of the room. This is especially important when choosing the right drywall for the job.

When Choosing a Drywall Board it’s Important to Know Three Things:

1. How the space will be used
2. What boards are available
3. The benefit each board can bring to a project
   Now, let’s take a closer look at some common demands on a space as it relates to drywall and determine what options are available and the benefits of each.

For Areas Prone to Heightened Mold and Moisture Exposure:

• Moisture-and-mold resistant drywall is best used for interior walls, especially in areas like kitchens, bathrooms or basements.
• The best drywall boards for these areas have moisture-resistant cores that prevent water and moisture intrusion from seeping into the board itself.
• Moisture-and-mold resistant drywall should also be coupled with fiberglass mesh finishing tapes, rather than standard tapes. Standard paper tapes may actually erode the value of the drywall by inadvertently housing moisture within the paper.
• A product like CertainTeed’s M2Tech® Moisture & Mold Resistant Drywall is a great all-around choice because it can achieve the highest standards for mold-and-moisture resistance set by ASTM International while protecting against mold, which can be expensive and time-consuming to fix.

For Projects Requiring Fire-Rated Gypsum Boards:

• Fire-rated design is required in many commercial and multi-family
  residential buildings, a result of increasingly stringent safety standards intended to help better protect building occupants when disaster strikes. When undertaking these kinds of builds, it’s critical that products used meet the standards set by ASTM International, to stay up to code while benefiting the occupant.
• Fire-resistant gypsum or drywall boards consist of a specially-formulated, dense core compared to traditional gypsum boards, creating a barrier that’s harder for fire to penetrate.
• While not completely fireproof, fire-rated gypsum boards are designed to delay the spread of fire and extend the time a person has to leave the building. As an added benefit, these boards are typically stronger and resistant to repeated use and abuse.
• Products with a fire-resistant core, like CertainTeed’s Type X fire-resistant drywall consist of a solid-set gypsum core enclosed with a strong liner back paper, able to resist increased heat better than traditional gypsum boards.

For Spaces Where Sound and Privacy are Top Concern:

• For residential builds, like in-home theaters, home offices, or basements, sound-dampening drywall or gypsum boards are ideal for retaining sound and acoustics in a confined space.
• For commercial spaces, like offices, patient waiting rooms or school classrooms, sound-dampening drywall boards are ideal because they provide privacy and improve the occupant’s focus.
• Products like CertainTeed’s SilentFX® QuickCut™ noise-reducing drywall features two specially formulated gypsum cores designed to improve sound attenuation and dampen unwanted noises, all while meeting STC (Sound Transmission Class) standards.

As a drywall professional it is important to take a minute with each job and make sure you are selecting the best board to meet the needs of the project.

Have a Question About These or Any of our Products? Give us a Call.

Plus, horizontal or vertical – what’s the best way to hang drywall? and winter’s not over yet, brush up the modifications you’ll need to make to use drywall products in extreme weather.

Julian Ketchum is Technical Marketing Manager for CertainTeed Gypsum.