Drywall or plaster: which is better to choose for interior wall decoration
GKL and plaster remain the most popular means of rough finishing and leveling walls. The decision in favor of the use of one or another option should be made based on the condition of the object, the working conditions and the properties of the materials themselves. The article describes in detail the features of using each of them, making it easier to determine in each specific situation which is better - drywall or plaster.
Content:
- Comparison table for plaster and wall decoration with drywall
- Speed of construction and readiness for further finishing
- The complexity of finishing work
- Reasonable savings: plaster or drywall - which is cheaper
- What is better to use with a very curved base
- What is more practical in the operation of drywall or plaster
- What is better to use to preserve the indoor space in the room
- What material better hides communications
- Aesthetics of the finished surface
- In which case, use plaster, and in which plasterboard is preferred
Comparison table for plaster and wall decoration with drywall
 |  | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaster | Drywall | |||||||
| Finish speed | A long drying period is required. | Ready to finish immediately after installation. | ||||||
| The complexity of the finishing work | Some work experience is required; the room will be dirty and dusty. | Enough basic skills, allows you to keep the room dry and relatively clean. | ||||||
| Price | With the independent preparation of the stucco mixture and the performance of work, the finish will be cheaper. | May be more expensive than plaster. | ||||||
| At what curvature of the base should be used. | It can be used for differences up to 2 - 2.5 cm. | It can be used for extreme drops reaching 4 cm or more. | ||||||
| Practicality | More practical, strong surface, easy to repair, allows you to hang heavy objects. | Less practical, brittle material, does not allow hanging heavy objects. | ||||||
| Preservation of the interior space | Minimal area loss. | You can lose from 4 cm or more on each wall. | ||||||
| Hiding communications | You can hide only the wiring. | Allows you to hide pipes, installations and other elements. | ||||||
| Aesthetics of the finished surface | With high-quality work - perfectly smooth. | With high-quality work - perfectly smooth. | ||||||
Speed of construction and readiness for further finishing
One of the important differences in working with plaster and gypsum plaster is the time frame for the execution of work. The speed of wall decoration in this case depends both on the features of the preparation of surfaces for applying or mounting the material, and on its properties.
Plastering the walls with plasterboard is carried out in several stages:
- fastening of guide profiles with a puncher, screwdriver and self-tapping screws;
- installation of rack profiles;
- edge processing of drywall sheets for joining;
- alternate installation of gypsum plaster (the sheet is laid on 3 adjacent profiles so that the edge of the sheet falls in the middle of the extreme profile);
- fastening sheets of drywall with self-tapping screws;
- sealing joints (putty mortar - reinforcing tape - putty);
- GKL surface coating with a thin layer of putty.
Preparation of the crate from the profiles for the installation of drywall for a room of 10 m2 together with GCR treatment, it may take a maximum of a day. The installation of sheets and the sealing of joints - about the same. Immediately after leveling the walls, you can start puttying, and then painting, wallpapering, or applying other decorative coatings.
When leveling the walls with cement-sand plaster, the procedure is as follows:
- Removing from the walls the remains of old coatings (paint, wallpaper, decorative plaster), old screws and other metal elements;
- drawing markings on walls under lighthouses (in some cases, plastering is performed without them);
- installation of beacons;
- solution application and leveling;
- drying the coating;
- removal of beacons and grooving;
- application of finishing putty.
One of the longest stages of plastering is the drying period. Putty and decorative coatings can only be applied on a dry surface, otherwise the risk of cracks and delamination of the plaster is extremely high. Drying times depend on humidity and temperature in the room and average about a week or more.
In the case when finishing work needs to be completed as soon as possible, the answer to the question of which is better - drywall or wall plastering - is quite obvious. With other favorable conditions, GCR becomes the best option.
The complexity of finishing work
Aligning the walls with drywall requires not only certain materials and fasteners (GKL of a certain type, profile, self-tapping screws), but also high-quality tools, including a level (bubble or laser), a puncher, a screwdriver, a gypsum hacksaw, metal scissors for trimming profile, knife, hammer and pliers. Measurement and leveling, fixing the crate and sheets of drywall - this requires thoroughness and basic skills and knowledge that are often even owned by lay people in the field of decoration. Those who want to prepare the walls on their own without the help of specialists tend to choose GCR.
On a note! With slight deviations of the wall from the level, some masters allow the installation of drywall sheets without a crate. This method of decoration is possible only on a solid foundation in rooms where it is warm and dry all year round.
Working with plaster involves more materials. In addition to cement-sand mortar, or ready-mixed plaster mixes, compositions for primers and finishing putties are also required. The list of tools is also wide - from lighthouses and punchers, to trowels and rules. At the same time, it is extremely important to have certain skills in working with building mixtures and to feel the material well - only in this case you can achieve a perfectly smooth surface, optimal for any decorative coating.
Equally important is the comfort when working with materials. Drywall covering refers to the so-called “dry method” - its use allows you to keep the room dry and clean.
When using plaster, dust and dirt can cause inconvenience already at the stage of preparation of the solution, and therefore, when choosing this option, it is recommended to protect surrounding objects and flooring.
Determining which is better - to plaster the walls or sheathe with drywall - amateurs and those who want to make repairs themselves in most cases prefer drywall, since working with gypsum plasterboard is much easier. Finishing specialists approach the issue more rationally and take into account other factors, which we will discuss later.
Reasonable savings: plaster or drywall - which is cheaper
The average cost of one sheet of drywall today is about 350 rubles. However, in addition to the GCR itself, the costs will include the cost of the steel profile, screws, dowels, suspensions, and ultimately a simple and quick wall decoration with drywall will cost a considerable amount.
Purchasing materials for plastering also includes the cost of the building mixture itself, primer, finishing putty, lighthouses. But in the case of plaster, there is a way to save, if you do not buy cement-lime plaster mix in bags, but do it yourself.
For the manufacture of a stucco mixture you will need:
Quicklime construction lime.
Portland cement.
Fine sand for mortar.
True, in this case, it is necessary to provide a place where all these components are mixed and take into account that this will require additional labor costs.
With even walls, the use of plaster is about 1.5 to 2 times cheaper than gypsum plaster, but if the curvature of the walls is significant, the cost of plastering can seriously increase. And if, moreover, you use the services of specialists, then the difference in the cost of using GCR and the construction mixture will be almost completely smoothed out.
What is better to use with a very curved base
Regardless of the material from which the walls are made - brick, slabs or foam concrete - they do not always differ in an ideally even surface. That is why before choosing the methods of decoration it is extremely important to study the walls for the presence of local irregularities and the general curvature as a whole.
If the base deviates up to 2 - 2.5 centimeters, wall alignment with plaster is allowed - this layer allows you to hide differences without unnecessary time and material. It is necessary to understand one point regarding the thickness of the plaster. There is a misconception that the plaster layer should have a thickness of 2 cm.
In fact, this is the average thickness of the plaster layer. In those places of the wall where there are bulges, the thickness of the plaster is less. In these areas, it can even reach 3-5 mm. Moreover, if there is a cavity on the wall, then in this place the thickness can reach 3 cm. That is why if there is a deviation of 2 cm, you do not have to apply a layer of 4 cm to even the wall. If there is a strong bulge on the wall that cannot be hidden by a layer of plaster, it can be chipped.
The average thickness of the plaster.
However, if the deviation exceeds a value of 4 centimeters, or if the number of local irregularities is too large, it is much more rational to make a choice in favor of drywall. In this case, to get rid of the curvature, it is enough to correctly set the frame, and the cost of the material, in this case, will be about the same.
What is more practical in the operation of drywall or plaster
With proper work with plaster and exact adherence to the application technology, the practicality of the material can be much higher. The plaster withstands any changes in temperature and humidity, has high strength and allows the fastening of any wall decor, shelves and other suspended structures.
From this point of view, GCR demonstrates slightly less reliability and greater fragility. Mounting heavy home furnishings on drywall is highly discouraged. In addition, the material is sensitive to high humidity, cold and a sharp change in temperature, so its use for wall decoration in country houses where they do not live permanently is strictly not allowed.
There is one more unpleasant moment which can "emerge" in the process of using drywall. Between the sheet of drywall and the supporting wall there is always a space that can attract all kinds of insects and rodents.
For this indicator, plaster is far ahead. It is strong, does not break, and is easily repaired if necessary.
What is better to use to preserve the indoor space in the room
Depending on the quality of the surface, the thickness of the plaster layer, as a rule, does not exceed a few centimeters. Even if all the walls in the room are finished with plaster, the loss in area will be minimal.
With drywall, everything is somewhat more complicated. Drywall sheet thickness for walls 10 - 12.5 mm. If we add here the thickness of the lathing, it turns out that the entire structure with GCR conceals at least 4 centimeters along one wall.
If it is assumed that the surface is tiled, that is, there is a risk of losing about 5 - 5.5 centimeters - as a result, the room will be about 10 centimeters narrower and also shorter. That is why the use of drywall sheets in small rooms, where every square centimeter is priceless, is only in the absence of other finishes. First of all, this concerns the bathrooms, which in many apartments are already not large.
What material better hides communications
It is possible to hide the wiring in the plastered walls.Especially for this, in the right places, shtrobes are executed, where the wiring is laid. In this case, the plaster allows you to hide everything unnecessary and achieve a smooth surface.
However, when it comes to plumbing, it becomes obvious that not a single building mixture is able to hide the risers and pipes brought out. In this case, GKL will come to the rescue, which suggest various options for masking communications - erecting a fragment of a false wall, integrally covering the corner or constructing a decorative box with an inspection hatch.
Attention: For bathrooms, as well as for other rooms with high humidity, it is recommended to use only moisture-proof drywall with masking GKLV!
Aesthetics of the finished surface
Whether to give preference to modern finishing mixes or to use drywall instead of plaster - the pros and cons of each decision should be carefully weighed. At the same time, the final result of the finish is far from the minimum value.
With proper installation of GKL, you can get a flat surface with minimal effort. After mounting the sheets, a thin layer of putty is applied to the drywall, which makes the surface perfectly smooth. Working with plaster requires more thoroughness - however, with exact adherence to technology and a certain level of craftsmanship, the surface turns out to be perfectly smooth and uniform.
Thus, both materials allow you to achieve the desired result. However, drywall may require a little refinement, and plaster - some effort at the stage of finishing. The choice depends on the condition of the premises and the preferences of the owners of the house.
In which case, use plaster, and in which plasterboard is preferred
As is the case with any building materials, it cannot be said unequivocally whether it is better to level the walls - with plasterboard or plaster. It all depends on a number of external factors - including the condition of the facility, climatic and temperature conditions, the curvature of the walls, the planned decorative finishes and personal preferences of the owners of the facility and specialists.
So, it is worth giving preference to plaster if:
#1.
It requires decoration with an unstable microclimate.
#2.
It is necessary to save as much space as possible in the room.
#3.
The curvature of the walls does not exceed 2 - 2.5 centimeters, and the presence of dirt and dust during the finishing process is not critical.
#4.
Cost savings are necessary - with independent work and preparation of the mixture.
#5.
The room is supposed to mount heavy wall structures.
#6.
It was decided to attract specialists to the decoration.
There are also many reasons to use drywall for wall decoration, including:
#1.
Large swings in the curvature of the walls.
#2.
Masking of communications is needed.
#3.
The need for completion of work as soon as possible.
#4.
The need for cleanliness and to prevent a large amount of dust and dirt during decoration.
#5.
The desire to align the walls on their own, without the involvement of specialists.
#6.
The need for wall cladding in wooden or frame houses.
Masters insist that it is far from always worth being categorical when choosing between gypsum plaster and stucco. Both materials are environmentally friendly, comfortable enough to use, affordable - and therefore a reasonable solution for high-quality finish will be a balanced and thoughtful use of both materials.
