Angie's LIST Guide to
Drywall and plaster

For hundreds of years dating back to ancient times, interior walls were constructed from lathes – narrow strips of wood covered with lime-based plaster. These walls took many days or even weeks to construct, as well as many craftsmen with a high level of expertise. The resulting walls were thick, heavy and difficult to repair.

Drywall came onto the construction scene in 1916. Drywall is made from a gypsum-based plaster and paper. It is much lighter and easier to repair than plaster. It is also much easier and faster to install, and is fire-resistant. Drywall is manufactured in sheets, and can be nailed to wooden supports rather than requiring the support of multiple lathes as lime-based plaster does. Walls can be constructed with drywall in days instead of weeks.

In spite of all these advantages, it took almost a quarter-century for drywall to become a popular construction material. By the end of World War II, it had gained in popularity because of its lower cost and greater efficiency. Drywall is now the dominant material used in construction of interior walls.

Taking good care of your interior walls will help them last and keep your home sound for many years to come. One common mistake homeowners make with their interior walls involves hanging pictures or other decorations. Proper hanging technique can keep you from causing unnecessary damage to your drywall.

When you are hanging a picture, it is important to find the stud that supports the drywall. Otherwise, you will simply put the nail or picture hanger directly into the drywall. Drywall is not strong enough to support a heavy picture, so this is likely to cause damage to the wall.

Instead, find the studs in the wall and place the nails there. Studs are typically two-by-fours that are placed in the walls to support the drywall. They are sturdy and strong enough to support pictures or other decorations you might want to hang on your walls. A stud finder is a quick and easy way to find the studs in your walls. Alternately, you can locate the studs by tapping on the wall and listening to the different tone returned by unsupported and supported sections.