10 Drywall Alternatives That Will Replace Its Lean Look

by Alexey | Decor Tips Workshop Interior | Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Drywall, mostly composed of paper and gypsum, is cheap to make and buy, so you can cover large areas for little money. Since drywall is dense, it perfectly absorbs sound. But drywall is not the only material for wall finishing. Despite the many benefits of drywall, there are reasons why you might want a different type of wall covering.

Disadvantages of drywall

Drywall comes in flat sheets with straight edges, but ultimately requires wet work in the form of putty. So while drywall was originally an easier material to work with than plaster, it does require a deft hand to get the job done right, especially during the finishing stages. Drywall has several more disadvantages:

• Sanding is tedious and messy due to the clouds of fine dust it creates.
• Drywall is susceptible to moisture , which makes it fertile ground for the growth of mold and mildew.
• Drywall has no texture.
• Low material strength.

There are more durable alternatives to drywall. Some of these alternatives are designed for high-moisture areas such as basements, while other options provide the visual interest that drywall lacks.

Some materials can be installed over drywall , meaning you don't have to remove the old material, even if it's unsightly.

Read on to discover alternative ideas that are not only durable, but also visually interesting.

Plywood

Drywall is often used simply because it can be neatly bent to create, for example, a door arch. It is noteworthy that sheets of plywood bend even better than sheets of drywall. In addition, plywood is more:

• moisture resistant;
• wear-resistant;
• practical.

The advantages of plywood also include its more attractive appearance. As a result, plywood can replace drywall in a number of cases, from leveling the surface of walls and ceilings, to creating various interior arches, podiums, niches, and so on.

Used boards

If there is any wall building material that has stood the test of time, it is wood planks. They have been used for centuries and are still popular in construction today.

They are most loved for their elegant and rustic look. The boards also require minimal maintenance compared to traditional drywall.

Once you have them on your walls, you won't have to modify or maintain the wood planks. All you need to do after installation is to enjoy the beauty of your interior. They are also a great alternative to drywall due to their cost-effectiveness.

GVL

Gypsum fiber sheet is very similar to plasterboard sheet both in its appearance and the raw materials from which it is produced. At the same time, GVL has a couple of advantages, namely higher ones:

• thermal insulation performance;
• soundproofing properties.

GVL plasterboard is also inferior in its fire resistance characteristics. However, GVL are not flexible enough to make the same interior arches from them.

Fake diamond

More economical, lighter and easier to handle than natural stone, artificial stone is a synthetic material that is a replica of real stone. It is less durable than natural, but requires little maintenance and is sold in a variety of styles and colors.

Faux stone is ideal for rustic interiors and is popular around fireplaces or as a kitchen backsplash.

Cork wall

Cork board has always been a popular product for many reasons. Most people associate cork board organization. This type of organization is usually located in an office or perhaps a school where messages can be attached and monitored. Well, now you too can ditch the boring drywall and use cork board instead.

There is a large selection of styles, shades, thicknesses and much more. Cork board can be used in any room to create a beautiful texture. Which will look stylish and also help warm up the room and make it really stand out.

3D panels

Made from PVC, foam or gypsum, 3D wall panels are available in a variety of shapes and can be painted to match your decor . Often used for accent walls, this material is durable, lightweight, inexpensive and water-resistant.

Foam panels are an excellent solution for home studios as they absorb sound well.

Technology earthbreaker

Rammed earth construction uses natural raw materials such as compacted soil and gravel to create walls, floors, and foundations.

This technique, which originated in ancient times, has been modernized through the use of prefabricated panels. These walls are naturally insulating, durable and attractive, especially for green buildings. However, this technology is rare and expensive to implement.

Cork

Balsa wood isn't strong enough for all the walls in your home, but it can make a fun accent piece in a home office or children's room. The environmentally friendly material provides warmth and sound insulation , and is also an excellent surface for hanging lightweight artwork, pictures and cards.

Balsa wood is a natural fire-resistant and moisture-resistant material.

In what situations may it be necessary to replace the material?

It would seem that drywall can rightfully be called the real “king of finishing works.” However, sometimes it needs to be replaced. First of all, the disadvantage is the inability to use sheets for fastening heavy elements without special anchor structures. The second factor is the reduction in the area of ​​the room when finishing it with gypsum board. And finally, we often don’t want to spend a lot of resources on finishing, and these sheets require further finishing in almost all cases. Of course, not all of the options described below solve these problems, but we will mention them anyway.

Cement board

Cement board is resistant to mold and rot where excess moisture is a problem. It's easy to install, and since the board is factory dried, there's much less mess than drywall.

However, cement board can be bulky and heavy, so installation is usually a two-person job . Most often, cement board is used as a base for tiling, but it can also be used in its raw form to create a minimalist, industrial look.

Plank and plaster

Lath and plaster used to be a more labor-intensive surface to install. However, over time the system has evolved and is now a faster and easier form of installation and also makes a good alternative to drywall.

To begin with, the installation of wooden blocks is necessary; in a horizontal position, this forms the area, the lattice, and it forms the basis of the texture. The contractor then uses gypsum plaster, which is applied over the entire lath, pushing it through all the cracks and crevices. The patch is a binding substance called a key.

OSB sheets

OSB is formed by pressing various wood fibers together using an adhesive. It is mainly used as cladding for external walls or as a floor screed. OSB often has a waxy surface that makes it difficult for paint to adhere, but after priming and painting, the grain of the wood can still show through.

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Characteristics of chipboard

Chipboard
Chipboard as a finishing material has been known for a long time. Before the advent of drywall, it was widely used in interior decoration, but faded into the background. Most often this material is remembered when you need to assemble an internal partition in a house.

The installation method of such slabs is similar to plasterboard sheets. A metal or wooden frame is also used here. In this case, it is possible to soundproof the partitions using polystyrene foam or mineral wool. Advantages of chipboard:

• low cost;
• simple installation;
• strength.

Note! Chipboard, if necessary, can be easily replaced with OSB board, which has a similar structure and characteristics.

OSB board

The main advantage of OSB board is its high strength and longer service life. Essentially, this is a higher quality chipboard. The main disadvantage of this material is the need for careful surface preparation for final decorative finishing. The disadvantages of OSB also include low water resistance. Therefore, in the bathroom, loggia and balcony this option is excluded.