Leveling walls with plasterboard: pros and cons of the material. Plasterboard or plaster: which is better to choose for interior wall decoration? Is it better to decorate the walls with plasterboard or plaster?

This question will arise in your mind when the stage of finishing the walls comes. Traditional plaster screed has been proven for centuries and is a reliable way to prepare walls for painting or wallpapering. But gypsum board cladding provides more opportunities for interior design. Which one is better? Let's figure it out.

Who is this impudent one?

Gypsum board is not new to the construction industry. It was invented at the end of the 19th century. In Russia, plasterboard began to be used instead of plaster from the middle of the last century.

Fast and easy

Its installation takes less time. The construction of sheathing and fastening of plasterboard sheets can be done by a person who does not have special construction skills.

Hides what you shouldn't see

With its help, you will create a perfectly flat surface, even if the builders tried very hard. There is no need to hollow out special grooves (strobe) for electrical wiring and other communications - they can be laid on the wall surface.

No extra dirt

The application of plaster is inevitably accompanied by dirt, dust and high humidity, and drying periods between layers. And the completion of the process is always marked by a grandiose cleaning of the room. All these inconveniences when using gypsum boards are reduced to a minimum. The dirtiest stage is sealing the seams and applying finishing putty– does not take much time.

Keeps your secrets and warms you

Sheathing made of gypsum plasterboard has good sound insulation properties. If you need perfect silence, use instead standard sheets special acoustic plasterboard. The empty space of the sheathing can be filled with thermal insulation material, such as mineral wool.

Makes your wildest fantasies come true

Drywall is easy to saw. Special flexible sheets and frame structures allow interior designers to create interior elements previously unavailable for an ordinary city apartment - wall niches, multi-level ceilings, arched openings, false panels and much more.

Always at your service

A gypsum plasterboard structure can be erected at any time of the year, and plastering requires compliance with certain requirements for the temperature and humidity of the room.

But the old guard is not giving up ground

Despite the fact that only a qualified specialist can properly plaster a wall, this type of screed still has several significant tricks up its sleeve.

Strength

Withstands physical impacts that cause plasterboard to crumble. On a plastered wall, a hole for a dowel for a wall cabinet can be drilled anywhere without fear of its destruction. For gypsum plasterboards, it is necessary to choose the place where the crossbar, stand or special embedded strip passes.

Moisture resistance

Correctly applied plaster becomes waterproof, and plasterboard makes sense to use in one-story private houses or in areas where there is no high air humidity. In addition, it has a porous structure and “breathes” - it removes moisture from the wall, which prevents the formation of mold and unpleasant odors.

ON A NOTE! Use gypsum plasterboard, which has excellent moisture-wicking properties.

No one has canceled insects and rodents

Monolithic plaster is too tough for mice and other small animals. And these uninvited neighbors in the apartment really like to make nests in mineral wool and run in the spaces between the wall and the gypsum board.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION! Before closing the gypsum board wall, scatter broken glass on the floor and frame crossbars.

Centimeters are never too much

To level a wall with plasterboard, it is necessary to equip a frame, which takes away precious centimeters of living space. Depending on the situation, it takes away 5-10 centimeters on each side, and optimal size plaster on flat wall– 2-3 cm.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION! The use of gypsum plasterboard is effective when the walls of the room have severe defects and unevenness.

Count your rubles

To clearly see the feasibility of using drywall, we will calculate the approximate cost of preparing walls for painting for each material.

Let's agree that:

• the room has dimensions 4*4*2.5 meters - 40 sq m;
• We purchase materials from one manufacturer;
• GKL installation is carried out in one layer without insulation;
• The wall does not have a perfectly flat surface.

Plastering costs

The walls are processed in three stages - primer, plaster, starting and finishing putty. Before applying putty, it is necessary to dry the walls for a week.

Costs for plasterboard sheathing

When calculating the cladding, we do not take into account door and window openings, as well as cutting residues.

As can be seen from the calculation results, gypsum board will cost a little less. The amount of costs can be reduced if you use a wooden frame.

You have witnessed the battle of champions who do not want to give up their positions. Both methods have their advantages, but plasterboard sheathing has one undeniable advantage. Nowadays, you have to try to find a good master plasterer, and even a novice builder can handle the installation of gypsum boards.

Video: Leveling walls: drywall or plaster?

Each of us has encountered crooked and uneven ceilings and walls during renovations. Such “delights” are always found in apartment buildings. Today there are several ways to level walls: with plasterboard or plaster. And the question of which of them is better has not yet been resolved.

It must be said that both materials, drywall and plaster, remain in demand today.

It would seem, what to choose here? Today, everything in the house, including the walls and ceiling, is covered with plasterboard. But that was not the case, because today plaster is also actively used to level walls. Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of these finishing materials.

Still relevant

Plastering

Plaster today, in the presence of such material as drywall, should already be covered with cobwebs. But no, it still hasn't lost its value. Let's take a closer look at what allows it to stay afloat for so long.
Plaster is a special construction mixture. It is usually used to level walls. In addition, it is also used as a material that gives walls a uniform color. The plaster fills well all the unevenness and defects of the walls, leveling their surface. That is why plaster is still one of the most popular building materials.

Today on the construction market you can find the following types of plasters:

Monolithic plaster

• ordinary. They are often universal. Can be used for both external and interior work;
• narrow-profile. Better suited for narrowly focused actions, for example, leveling a wall;
• special. They have protective properties. They can be used for protection against fire, x-rays, etc.;
• decorative. Accordingly, they are better suited for decorating walls. They have different structures and colors.

In addition to this classification, plaster can be divided according to the method of application:

Certain types of mortar can be used for finishing.
IN modern renovation For wall finishing, a cement-sand mixture is often used. But lime or gypsum mixture is also widely used. At the same time, the gypsum mixture is considered more environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is better to choose it if there are small children in the house.
Correct work with putty will allow you to perfectly level the walls and make them visually presentable. This finish will give the walls greater noise and sound absorption capacity. In addition, plaster has a number of other advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plastering the walls

Of course, to find out which material is better, you need to find out the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
The advantages of plaster include:

• high-quality plastering will save you from further need to level the walls;

• you can work with the solution in any room, even in the bathroom;
• price. Compared to other materials, plaster is clearly much cheaper. Therefore, for many it will be much easier to choose between it and expensive options, and the purchase itself will be more profitable. Even drywall will be more expensive;
• After such alignment, the walls will be able to withstand any load without additional devices. Here, without any problems, you can hang a TV, a mirror or a huge picture on the wall;
• high wall strength. It will be extremely difficult to pierce or break them.

And on this wonderful note, all the benefits of plaster come to an end. It's time to discuss its shortcomings.
Disadvantages of the solution:

Dirt after finishing

• leveling the ceiling with its help will, to put it mildly, not be very comfortable;
• The process of plastering a wall is very dirty and wet. After finishing finishing works You still need to wash the premises from all dirt. The use of dry plaster can slightly correct the problem;
• plastering requires good knowledge in the field of construction. Therefore, a beginner in this matter is unlikely to cope with the assigned task with at least a “B” grade. Usually it turns out either not quite smoothly, or very long.

When deciding the question “what is better to choose, drywall or plaster?”, professionals always suggest first assessing the condition of the walls and ceiling. If the walls are very crooked, then when using plaster you will simply waste a lot of material and effort, and the end result may not be very good. Therefore, in this situation it is better to use plasterboard sheets. But if there is a slight curvature, plaster will be an excellent solution.

Versatility is the key to success

Structure of drywall

So we finally got to the drywall. This modern material, which is widely used in interior finishing work. With its help, you can easily install the ceiling, level the walls and create structures of unimaginable complexity. It is great for finishing the ceiling and walls in the bathroom, kitchen, loggia or balcony.

Note! Depending on the microclimate of the room, there are several options for plasterboard sheets, each of which is suitable for a specific feature of the room - for the bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom and sauna.

Drywall has gained such popularity due to its properties and structure.
The material consists of:

• two layers of cardboard;
• gypsum core.

Note! Depending on the core additives, the sheets can be moisture-resistant or fire-resistant. You can choose a type that will combine both properties.

Drywall can be used for the following purposes:

Plasterboard table

• alignment of walls and ceilings;
• renovation work in any room, even in the bathroom and kitchen;
• apartment redevelopment;
• creation of decorative or functional partitions;
• installation on the ceiling of complex multi-level structures;
• hiding defects and unevenness of the ceiling and walls;
• assembling furniture that perfectly suits your needs.

As you can see, the scope of application of drywall covers a much wider range than plaster. But in order to understand the issue completely, it is now necessary to find out the strengths and weak sides drywall.

Advantages and secrets

The obvious advantages of drywall include the following:

• the ability to cover walls in the bathroom, kitchen, loggia or any other room;
• You can level a wall of any curvature.

Note! It will cost much less than buying plaster. In addition, it is much cheaper to renovate the entire apartment using plasterboard, especially if the walls are too crooked. At the same time, they will look simply gorgeous;

• easy installation, which can be easily carried out by one person. It will be cheaper to do all the work yourself than to hire a construction team. However, when working on the ceiling, you will still need an assistant;

Installation of sheets

• by installing just a couple of sheets, you will completely cover the walls, for example, in a bathroom or toilet;
• drywall has a certain degree of sound and heat insulation. With it, your walls, especially with additional insulation, will become much warmer;
• the ability to create complex figured structures on the ceiling;
• you can hide all pipes and communications in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen;
• you will spend very little time on a small amount of work;
• All work with drywall is accessible even to a beginner in the construction business.

We will focus on the advantages, since we can talk about them for hours, but the main thing has already been written.

Reducing space

As for the shortcomings, sadly, even drywall has them. These include:

• slight reduction in space in the room. This can be especially noticeable in the bathroom and toilet;
• additional processing of seams and places where screws are screwed in is necessary (here, by the way, you will need the same plaster);
• the cost of the material is higher than plaster;
• you need to use special devices to hang a heavy chandelier, picture or TV on drywall, as the material can be deformed.

However, if desired, all disadvantages can be minimized. The main thing is to know how!

What to choose?

Even after such a detailed consideration of the question, it is still quite difficult to answer. In each individual situation, the advantages of one material prevail over its disadvantages. Sometimes plaster will be more economical and practical, and sometimes drywall will be more economical and practical.
Therefore, when choosing a material, rely on the needs that exist specifically in your situation, and you will not go wrong!

Everyone knows that the key to a quality renovation will be a perfectly smooth and beautiful ceiling surface, because this is the object that catches your eye first when entering a room. The entire appearance rooms, since an uneven surface will distort the lighting, create the effect of poor-quality repairs, and also make the room uncomfortable. It's no secret that drywall is a material that not only perfectly levels, but also insulates and soundproofs a room, but plaster is still relevant and popular. What is this connected with? This will be discussed in this article, where the advantages and disadvantages of each of the finishing materials will be described in detail, as well as in what cases would be better suited one option or another. So which is better, plaster or drywall?

What is this article about?

What is plaster, and what types does it come in?

Plaster is a material that is widely used in construction and repair activities to create perfectly flat and smooth surfaces of walls and ceilings, as well as to prepare them for subsequent decorative finishing. It contains gypsum or cement, lime, as well as various special additional substances that enrich the material, making it resistant to moisture, mold, fungi and other adverse environmental influences.

Types of plaster:

1. Ordinary plaster - this type is designed specifically for finishing internal or external surfaces. It has an affordable price and is not fussy to use. It is preferred to be used by both professionals and beginners in the repair business. Ordinary plaster is universal and most popular because it has excellent soundproofing and drainage properties.
2. Decorative plaster is a newer and more advanced version of conventional plaster. In addition to standard components, its composition contains such elements as coloring pigments, nylon fibers, acrylic resins and others, she is very beautiful and practical. At the same time, such plaster is universal and environmentally friendly, creating the correct microclimate in the room. It is worth noting that high-quality decorative material Can last for decades with regular cleaning and maintenance. It does not fade over time and does not collect dust, and in the event of a fire it does not burn.
3. Water-based and non-aqueous plaster - the second option is a material that contains polyurethanes and epoxy resins, which are used as finishing components for interior work to make the surface more textured.

Advantages and disadvantages of plaster

The advantages include the following:

• after quality plastering, the surfaces of walls and ceilings are able to maintain their presentable appearance for a long time; they can last 30 years or more without additional repairs;
• the price of the material is very affordable, if someone is wondering what is cheaper than plasterboard or plaster, then we can easily say that plaster costs about half as much as finishing analogues, while, as for finishing work, they will also cost less, as at least 20% more than installing gypsum boards, especially if the work is carried out independently;
• plaster allows you not only to level the walls well, but also to make them stronger and more reliable, and, if you try especially hard, they will turn out impact-resistant;
• surface after plastering great for creating additional decor, for example, for installing heavy and bulky elements such as furniture or appliances, drywall, in this case, loses greatly because it is not able to withstand strong physical loads, for this it will have to be additionally strengthened, this means spend additional money and time.

With all the advantages, the material has its disadvantages:

• the use of plaster is not complete without “wet” work, while the installation of plasterboard boards is quite dry, so beginners, wondering what is better, plaster or plasterboard, prefer plasterboard, for fear of not being able to cope, since improperly diluted material can ruin the entire surface repair;
• working with plaster takes quite a lot of time, especially if a beginner takes on the work and the working surface is not of sufficient quality. Drywall, unlike plaster, is less demanding to install, therefore, in some cases, experts advise using it, especially if the repair needs to be completed as quickly as possible, without special skills and knowledge in the field of installation and repair;
• The unevenness of the walls greatly affects the plaster, since very rough surfaces will require much more starting material, which will greatly increase the cost of the entire repair. Drywall in this case is more advantageous, since the difficulty of working with it does not depend on the quality of the surface;
• Without professional qualifications and titles, it will be much more difficult to determine whether any technological aspects of the use of plaster have been violated.

This video describes in detail the process of leveling walls with plaster:

What is drywall, and what types does it come in?

Drywall is a material that is the main analogue of plaster; it is made of gypsum, which is finished on both sides with cardboard. With its help, you can finish both the walls and the ceiling, they become perfectly even and smooth, prepared for further decorative finishing.

Ordinary drywall is well suited for rooms with normal humidity levels, without strong temperature changes. But, if the humidity in the room is high, for example, in the bathroom, kitchen or bathhouse, then this is not a reason to refuse plasterboard finishing, because now there is a moisture-resistant analogue of ordinary plasterboard sheets. It will look very beautiful and noble, but will not deteriorate from exposure to moisture, and will not become covered with mold and fungi, which will allow it to last quite a long time.

Advantages and disadvantages of drywall

Drywall sheets are very widespread during installation not only in Russia, but also in countries North America and Europe because:

• Nowadays, plasterboard is used more often instead of plaster due to the fact that it involves exclusively “dry” work, which greatly facilitates the entire installation process;
• many people wonder what is better than plasterboard or plaster when it comes to noise insulation or thermal insulation of a room, here the answer is simple - plasterboard definitely wins;
• plasterboard sheets have the property of “breathing” - this is due to the fact that the material constantly absorbs excess moisture and later releases it, this property allows plasterboard to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room;
• the material is quite flexible and elastic, so it is suitable not only for cladding, but also for creating decorated structures of various shapes, from smooth lines to any geometric shapes;
• working with drywall takes much less time and also requires less effort, skills and knowledge;
• plasterboard structures require additional insulation of the room (if necessary), this is very popular in cold climate zones.

With a large number of advantages, plasterboard sheets also have disadvantages:

• it is not recommended to use it if the room has low ceilings, because gypsum board tends to “eat up” space due to its volume and frame method of fastening;
• During installation, the material cannot be left without finishing, which will require additional materials and time costs;
• ordinary plasterboard sheets will not survive a flood or other serious wetness, it will bend greatly and even after drying will not return to its previous shape, and it will not withstand strong objects and decorations; for this it will have to be strengthened in advance, which will take quite a lot of time.

What is better: plaster or drywall?

To answer the question posed, it is necessary to understand for what situations and what material will be most effective. Drywall is usually used if installation work must be completed as quickly as possible, this is due to the fact that it does not need to be applied in several layers, like plaster and wait for it to dry completely, which can take a whole day. After installation, plasterboard boards can be immediately finished and decorated, while they perfectly hide all communications, such as ventilation, telephone wires and so on, without implying a replacement of the intended design solution.

There are cases when, due to unfavorable climatic conditions or improper finishing of the walls, they become of poor quality and poorly prepared for the next stage of finishing. In such a situation, it is better to use drywall, because it is not picky about the quality of the walls; plaster clearly loses here. It is also worth noting that this is the only option that is compatible with additional sound insulation and thermal insulation, because the design is very well adapted to this.

Drywall is very practical if the design of the room requires painting the walls or ceiling, because it turns out perfectly smooth without microcracks and scratches (unlike plaster), which the paint will immediately emphasize and make more obvious.

As for the cases when the use of plaster would be a better option, these include cases when the finished room is exposed to serious temperature changes, for example, it is not heated for a long time in the cold season.

Plaster is also indispensable when it comes to finishing small rooms with low ceiling, it not only does not “steal” extra centimeters, but is also universal finishing material, it simultaneously levels the surface and decorates it, this is very important if the country or Provence style is chosen. Plaster will work well if the room is intended to contain fairly large decorative items on the walls. From all of the above, the conclusion follows that when asked what is better: plaster or drywall, the answer cannot be obvious; it all depends on specific conditions, be it the quality of the walls, the qualifications of the craftsman, or the area of ​​the room.

Anton Tsugunov

Reading time: 5 minutes

Which building material is more preferable when leveling walls – plaster or drywall? This is one of the most pressing repair issues that must be resolved in advance so as not to encounter many problems that are inevitable with the wrong approach. Both materials show excellent results when leveling walls and ceilings and look great after finishing work is completed, but both of them have disadvantages, and working with each of them has its own nuances.

To answer the question of which is better - drywall or plaster, it is worth comparing their characteristics and considering the pros and cons.

Types of drywall

On the modern construction market there are many types of drywall from Western and Russian manufacturers, intended for different purposes, differing in size, sheet thickness and performance characteristics:

• Standard gypsum board gray with blue markings for finishing walls and ceilings in rooms with low and normal levels of air humidity.
• Waterproof plasterboard GKLV with silicone granules, which contains antifungal components, intended for rooms with increased level humidity and unstable air temperature. GKLV color is green, markings are blue.
• Fire-resistant plasterboard GKLO pink or gray with red markings is used to protect the premises from fires. In an apartment, such material is sometimes chosen for a nursery.
• Waterproof and fire-resistant material GKLVO green with red markings for production premises with high humidity levels and increased fire safety requirements.

Based on thickness, plasterboard is divided into wall (from 12.5 mm), ceiling (8–9.5 mm) and arched (6 mm).

Advantages of drywall over plaster

Drywall has the following advantages:

• High noise-absorbing properties. Plaster also has soundproofing characteristics, but not to the same extent.
• Convenient arrangement of heat and sound insulation. Materials are laid between the frame and the wall or ceiling.
• Sheathing a surface with plasterboard is easier and faster than leveling it with plaster, especially in the case of a ceiling that is particularly difficult to plaster.
• Drywall is indispensable when creating complex structures - arches, figures, interior and zone partitions, multi-level ceilings.
• Suitable for walls of any curvature.
• Plasterboarding is a relatively clean way to level surfaces, leaving only dry debris behind.

Disadvantages of drywall

Among the disadvantages of gypsum boards:

• fragility of the erected structure;
• reduction of room area;
• the need to completely replace drywall in cases of flooding from the upper floors;
• difficulties with placing heavy objects on the walls, special fasteners are required, and in order to do so, you will have to think through ways to strengthen it.

• Cement-lime plaster has antibacterial properties, protecting the room from the appearance of mold and microorganisms.
• Gypsum is a dry mixture consisting of gypsum powder with plasticizers. Gypsum plaster it is plastic, vapor-permeable, environmentally friendly, lightweight compared to cement, compatible with concrete and brick surfaces, and does not require putty before painting or wallpapering.
• – can be silicone, mineral, silicate, used for finishing, allowing you to create unusual and unique surfaces. Such exclusive types of this material as travertino, Venetian, Moroccan plaster, it makes no sense to compare with drywall, since their cost significantly exceeds the most expensive types of gypsum plasterboard along with finishing.

Advantages of plaster over drywall

Plaster is one of the most ancient building materials, the composition and properties of which have changed over the centuries. Modern mixtures with various additives are successfully used for both interior and facade work, maintaining the excellent appearance of the cladding for decades. Among its main advantages:

• High strength and reliability.
• Long-term operation.
• Space saving.
• Low material cost
• No problems with placing wall cabinets and any other items.

Disadvantages of plaster

Plaster also has significant disadvantages:

• Plastering is a labor-intensive and messy process.
• The need to use beacons to create a uniform layer.
• Risk of cracking when applying thick layers.
• Long drying time. When plastering in several layers, repairs may take several weeks.
• Plastering walls will be difficult for a beginner without special skills.

Which material to choose

Before you begin a renovation, there are several important factors to consider to decide which of these materials is right for your particular application.

• If the speed of work is important and the repair must be completed quickly, you should give preference to drywall.
• It is better to level walls in rooms with high levels of humidity with cement or cement-lime plaster, which is an excellent base for all types of tiles and heavy wall structures - shelves, mirrors, water heaters. Plastered surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet will last for several decades.

• It is much more profitable to level surfaces with large differences with plasterboard rather than plaster. When using gypsum plasterboard, the curvature of the walls does not matter; when using a plaster mixture, you will have to use up a lot of material.

What is cheaper – plaster or drywall? The cost of the plaster mixture is lower than the cost of plasterboard, plastering work will also require lower costs, but if the plastering is really good experienced master, his work will be paid higher. In this case, the price of work with these materials will be approximately the same.

• If the ceiling or walls need to be insulated, it is better to choose plasterboard.

HELPFUL INFORMATION: How to plaster a brick wall

From this article you will learn:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of drywall and plaster?
• What are the differences in the cost of drywall and plaster?
• What is better for walls: plaster or drywall

Where does the repair begin? From planning, design choice, color range and materials that will be required in the process, as well as analysis of the surface of the walls and ceiling. You don’t always have perfect walls, and you can’t hide all the unevenness with wallpaper, and the tiles won’t stick to bumpy surfaces. Therefore, to treat walls, craftsmen offer two completely opposite, but identical in effect, finishing methods: plastering and plasterboard covering. So, drywall or plaster: which is better? This is discussed in our article.

Advantages and disadvantages of drywall and plaster

Let's figure out together what is better to level the walls: with plasterboard or plaster.

Drywall

Currently, plasterboard sheathing has become firmly in fashion. Many people decorate walls and ceilings with gypsum sheets. And it's convenient. Thanks to this material, craftsmen work simply miracles, transforming the interior and embodying any whim of the owners. Which, it should be noted, cannot be achieved with plaster in principle.

Note advantages drywall:

• fast and convenient finishing;
• embodiment of any design solutions;
• if desired, you can lay a thermal insulation layer, which is especially in demand in private homes;
• finishing using this method is considered clean, since it does not require diluting the mixtures with water;
• has good sound insulation;
• drywall is considered a breathable material because it absorbs moisture well and is able to release it;
• perfectly camouflages engineering Communication, wiring and distortions on surfaces and the like;
• As a result of plasterboard covering, walls have an ideal surface suitable for further processing: painting or wallpapering.

There are three types of drywall. Externally, they are not much different, but they are used depending on their properties.

1. GKL. It is used in rooms with low humidity, which reduces the scope of its application. The fear of water limits its use in bathrooms.
2. GKLV– moisture-resistant plasterboard. Has a greenish tint. The special composition makes the sheets resistant to use in conditions of high humidity. But still, after 5–7 years they lose their functionality and require replacement.
3. GKLO– fireproof plasterboard of a reddish tint. Its special composition - reinforcing elements made of fiberglass - allows it to withstand direct exposure to fire for up to 20 minutes. Used for covering kitchen walls.

But with very tangible advantages, drywall has its own shortcomings:

But at the same time, the versatility of drywall is really great.

However, before you decide whether drywall or plaster is better, let’s consider another material.

Plaster

For a long time this material was practically irreplaceable. But in Moscow, the demand for it subsided with the advent of drywall. Nevertheless, plaster has not lost its relevance and is still in demand when leveling walls as a cheap and environmentally friendly material. Previously, mortar for plaster had to be made manually, mixing gypsum, cement, lime, measuring the components, as they say, by eye. Hence the result - it will crumble somewhere, crack somewhere.

Now the market offers a wide selection of ready-made, proportionally seasoned mixtures for any interior and exterior finishing work, for conditions with high humidity, and even fire-resistant compositions.

For these purposes there are different types plaster:

1. cement mixture (with the addition of sand, clay or lime) provides a reliable coating, has heat and sound insulation and fire protection characteristics; cement-lime plaster has antibacterial properties and reliably protects against the appearance and proliferation of harmful bacteria; heat and moisture resistant;
2. clay mixtures - from pure clay or with the addition of lime or gypsum;
3. gypsum - a dry mixture of gypsum or with the addition of lime, light, plastic, moisture-absorbing, environmentally friendly, compatible with all surfaces, applied before painting or wallpapering;
4. limestone;
5. decorative plaster used for final finishing, allows you to create rare designer surfaces, for example, stone or wood.

Let's consider pros plaster:

• saves room space, processing takes up a minimum amount of usable area of ​​the room;
• holds any weight freely, you can attach paintings, lamps, cabinets, hanging structures, and so on;
• has a service life of more than 30 years, of course, subject to compliance with the technology of its application;
• easy to restore;
• It is heat and moisture resistant and can withstand sudden temperature changes. In this regard, there are practically no restrictions on application;
• does not contain components harmful to human health. It contains cement, gypsum, clay, limestone;
• is a universal base for any type of finishing work - wallpaper, painting, tiles;
• used for finishing building facades and walls in cold rooms.

Like any material, plaster has its own flaws:

• the work is considered dirty because it requires the use of water;
• plastering takes a lot of time: mix the solution, apply, level, let dry. The entire treatment of the room may take about a month;
• The experience and skill of a repairman are necessary; amateurs cannot do this work. So you shouldn’t take on plastering yourself if you don’t have experience - it will be more expensive to fix;
• using plaster, it makes sense to level out surface differences of no more than 2-3 cm. In the presence of larger unevenness, it is applied in layers of up to 2.5 cm with intermediate drying, in this case it will be necessary to use reinforcing material (fiber), which significantly increases costs;
• after plastering, a finishing layer of putty is almost always required;
• To lay the cable, you need to cut grooves in the wall surfaces, which is a very labor-intensive process.

Differences in the cost of drywall and plaster

If plasterboard is used to level the walls and ceiling, then installation will cost about $5 per square meter. Additionally, you will have to spend money on drywall putty. But even taking into account all the costs, gypsum board cladding is cheaper than plastering work.

So which is better: plaster or drywall on the walls?

If we summarize all of the above, it turns out that the answer to the question: what is better - plaster or drywall on the walls - depends on many factors and cannot be universal and unambiguous.

Plaster is cheaper, but how long it will take is unknown, and if the wall is very uneven, then plastering it will definitely be more expensive than covering it with plasterboard. It is also important to take into account the duration of the work; plastering takes much longer.

There is no universal scheme for choosing finishes. Focus on the size of the room and what you want as a result.

• Thanks to plasterboard, you can create all kinds of structures: shelves, arches, camouflage cabinets for wiring, even interior partitions. In addition, it easily levels curved walls, the bumpiness of which is over 5 centimeters, which is often found in private homes. Plaster cannot do this. GCR is an indispensable material if you need to hide communications.

But leveling the walls with drywall greatly reduces the size of the room. And if the surfaces only need adjustment, then plaster is definitely preferred. This is cheaper, more practical, more reliable, and does not take up space.

• Hanging heavy objects on plasterboard walls requires special fastening. In addition, it will not be possible to cover such a wall with heavy material, for example, stone tiles; gypsum board is too fragile for this. While plaster can withstand any weight. Here the vote is for plaster.
• Drywall is superior to plaster in terms of speed of work completion. If you are faced with the task of making repairs quickly and cheaply, then you need to use drywall. Its installation can be carried out at a temperature of +5 degrees. Plastering work requires higher temperatures.
• Drywall or plaster: which is better in the bathroom? Answering this question, we note that plaster is preferable. During operation, it absorbs moisture well, does not collapse, dries quickly and lasts a long time.

If you use drywall, you need to take special sheets suitable for wet rooms, but even after 5–7 years they will need to be replaced.

• Drywall or plaster: which is better in a private home? Here you need to proceed from the condition of your walls. For very lumpy surfaces, drywall is more suitable. It can easily cope with unevenness, hide flaws and give the premises a modern look. In addition, such cladding will hide the insulating material, which is often laid in a private house.
• Drywall or plaster: which is better in a wooden house? Using drywall in the country or in garden house undesirable. It is afraid of temperature changes and is destroyed at sub-zero temperatures. Irregular heating will significantly reduce its service life. But if wooden house If it is heated in winter, then it is preferable to clad the walls with gypsum plasterboard.

• Plaster or drywall: which is better for aerated concrete? Here it is also worth considering the purpose of the building. If these are warehouses, then definitely plaster. Well, if the building is residential, then it will be easier to close the seams and joints inside in aerated concrete, foam concrete and others similar materials plasterboard.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each of these materials, you can easily make a choice in favor of any of them. Do not underestimate or overestimate the material. In the future this may not have much good consequences and even require rework. Which, you see, is not entirely pleasant and economically irrational.

Before deciding whether it is better to level the walls with plasterboard or plaster, weigh the pros and cons and then you will understand all the benefits of the chosen material. Analyze the size of the room, its purpose, think about the layout, design and what you should end up with. Calculate all the costs - and the decision about what is better in the apartment: drywall or plaster will come by itself.

Cooperating with the “My Repair” Company is reliable and prestigious. The specialists working here are professionals the highest level. The company "My Repair" operates throughout Moscow and the Moscow region.