Sheetrock vs. Plaster

Plaster

• Plaster covers many residential interior wall surfaces, in some form or another. Plaster boards comes in many varieties, including lime, cement and soundproof versions, but it all serves roughly the same purpose. Plaster can be sold in easy-to-install panels, such as Sheetrock, but it can also be sold as a raw material that you would mix with water in a trowel and apply directly to a wall surface, much like a thick paint or finish.

Sheetrock

• Sheetrock is a form of gypsum wall paneling, meaning that each panel consists of gypsum plaster. Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral that contains 79.1 percent calcium sulphate and 20.9 percent water. For manufacturing purposes, gypsum powder is heated at high temperatures and mixed with water to form hard plaster, such as Sheetrock. Sheetrock differs from other gypsum plaster panels only by name, but it differs from raw plaster in the fact that it comes sold in panels.

The Sheetrock Brand

• Sheetrock is a trademarked name of gypsum plaster board. Because of its widespread use, the term "Sheetrock" has become synonymous with drywall paneling, much in the same way that the term "Band-Aid" has become synonymous with bandages. Sheetrock is a product of the USG Corp. and refers specifically to the company's brand of gypsum paneling. Besides its traditional Sheetrock panels, the company sells specialized Sheetrock products such as Sheetrock Brand Firecode panels for added fire resistance and Sheetrock Brand Mold Tough panels for added moisture resistance.

Choosing a Plaster

• When choosing a plaster wall covering, whether Sheetrock, another brand of paneling or raw plaster, always consider the key variables, including price, thickness, fire resistance, moisture resistance, energy efficiency and warranty availability. Raw plaster installation is more labor-intensive and requires a pre-existing wall surface, while plaster boards such as Sheetrock can be installed directly over the framework of a home.