Plasterboard & Accessories

Blacktown Building Supplies – Plasterboard (Drywall or Gypsum Panels) & Accessories

Plasterboard — also known as drywall, wallboard, gypsum board or panel, sheetrock, buster board, or custard board — is a manufactured panel made using gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate). It may or may not include additives to make it more suitable for specific applications and is used in the construction of ceilings and interior walls.

Plasterboard comes in a variety of thicknesses, sizes, and formulations that make choosing the right drywall for your project something of a science.

Plasterboard generally comes in four standard thicknesses: ¼ inch (6.35 mm), 3/8 inch (9.52 mm), ½ inch (12.7 mm), and 5/8 inch (15.9 mm).

The ¼ inch is the most economical option and is an ideal choice if creating a new surface over plaster or constructing a curved wall. These panels typically weigh around 17 kg and are incredibly thin — they have to be handled with care to avoid breaking or bending them by accident.

The 3/8 inch variety is the best choice for remodelling partitions and can also be used when drywall needs to be patched. It is also used where patches of plaster have worn off over time or been removed for any reason.

The ½ inch variety is the most common one found in most residential spaces and is available in a variety of panel lengths due to its popularity. Used for both walls and ceilings, they can be fitted on either steel or wood frames.

Also referred to as a firewall drywall, the 5/8 inch is the thickest option available and is the ideal choice for use in commercial construction, especially when it comes to soundproofing noisy buildings. It will not sag when used for ceilings, but because of its weight, thickness, and price, it is not typically used in residential construction.