1/2-inch drywall is the most versatile board and the most common thickness for the 16-inch on-center interior walls in most homes. It offers a good balance between strength and weight. 5/8-inch drywall is a heavier product that resists sagging in ceilings and in 24-inch on-center interior walls.
Most drywall measures 1/2-inch thick. It's the most common choice for interior walls because they are easy to carry and hang. If weight is a concern, consider ultra-light half-inch drywall. It's 13 pounds lighter than other varieties for the same size and thickness.
3/8 drywall is used to cover old walls quite frequently. It's also used in curved applications because it will bend to a sharper radius than 1/2``, but it would be installed in two layers. It's also handy for matching up to old plaster walls, if you need to have 3/4 or 7/8 etc thickness.
Drywall sheets are typically 4 feet wide and 8, 10, or 12 feet long. Divide the total square footage of the room by the square footage of a single drywall sheet to determine the number of sheets needed. Round up to the nearest whole number to ensure you have enough drywall for the job.
Rule of Thumb: Estimate approximately 1 sheet of drywall (4 ft x 8 ft) for every 32 to 48 square feet of wall surface. For paint, estimate 1 gallon for every 350 to 400 square feet of wall area.
3/8-inch drywall was common in interior walls at one time but is no longer the standard. Like 1/4-inch panels, it can be used over existing panels for repair and in some curved applications, but it doesn't offer the strength of 1/2-inch panels.
5/8″ is required in some applications. All commercial requires it and residential garages typically have 5/8″ drywall. It is better than 1/2″. Warning, do not use on walls in a residential application as the door jambs will not fit, unless you have specifically purchased larger frame door jambs.
3/8-inch drywall is a good choice for remodeling partitions or creating patches. It's slightly thinner than standard ½-inch drywall but sturdier and more rigid than ¼-inch drywall, making it a good choice when you'll need to add it to an existing wall or surface where the plaster has worn away.
However, during installation, be diligent about keeping that 1/8 inch space between sheets by using a guide. The blade of a drywall square is about 1/8-inch-thick and does the trick. Thin strips of wood can also be used as spacing guides.
For 1/2” drywall installed on the ceiling the same direction as the joists, without adhesive, the max span is 16”. If its installed Perpendicular to the joists, the max span is 24”. In this case adding adhesive will not increase the allowable span.
One key difference between the two is that sheetrock is a brand name of drywall made by the United States Gypsum Corporation. Another difference lies in their production process; sheetrock has a slightly denser core than drywall due to the addition of a small amount of wood fiber to the gypsum core.
You can do a physical measurement with a Tape Measure, Ultrasonic/ Laser gauges are also methods you could use. Another method is calculate internal and external measurements, the difference is the thickness of your wall.
SHEETROCK Brand 3/8-in x 4-ft x 8-ft Drywall Panel in the Drywall Panels department at Lowes.com.
The thickness of drywall that is normally used on interior walls is 1/2-inch drywall. What drywall is used on ceilings? The standard drywall thickness to use on ceilings is 5/8-inch drywall.
Fire-rated drywall is drywall that is thicker than standard sheets and which sometimes comes with extra additives to the gypsum core such as fiberglass. The purpose of fire-rated drywall is to slow the progress of fire to give inhabitants enough time to escape.
The average cost to install drywall includes materials and labor and runs between $1.50 and $3 per square foot.
You can hang drywall vertically (tall and narrow) or horizontally (short and wide). Vertical drywall is easier to install, aligns with studs, requires less cutting, and fits tall ceilings. Drywall has more seams, is more likely to crack, and is weaker against horizontal pressure when hung vertically.
It may, however, be weaker on a square foot basis, which is the anecdotal evidence from installers and contractors. Professionals report that ultralight panels may be more brittle and more prone to edge breakage than standard drywall panels.
Calculate how many drywall sheets you will need by dividing the total square footage of area by 32 (if you're using 4-by-8 sheets) or by 48 (if you're using 4-by-12 sheets).
Contractor. All elements considered, installing drywall as a DIY project costs an average of $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
The drywall estimating rule of thumb suggests that you estimate one drywall sheet (4 ft x 8 ft) for every 32-48 square feet of wall surface.
About $50 per 8' sheet or $65 for a 12'. Maybe less if it was actually hung clean and not too many complications.