Drywall/Cement Board
This wallboard is commonly used for walls and ceilings that will be painted, texturized, or wall-papered.
For the homeowner wanting to try a DIY project, let us help you pick the right type of drywall for your project. We will make sure you have the correct fasteners, drywall tape, and drywall mud and deliver all the goods to your jobsite! You can rent a Gyp-C-Jack and/or Texture Sprayer from us to help with your project. Once you have created walls with your new drywall, we can supply primer and a nice selection of paint to complete the project!
Don’t get confused by the names, drywall is also known as Sheetrock (U.S. Gypsum Corporation product), gyp board, gypsum board, plasterboard, and wallboard.
No matter what name you are familiar with, there are several types to choose from depending on what the purpose of the room is where it will be installed. Tapered edges on the long edges of drywall sheets allow for a shallow recess, that once joined together, will be filled with drywall tape and joint compound to create invisible finished joints.
Drywall/Cement Board Types
Regular Drywall or White Board
Regular drywall is normally white on one side and brown on the reverse side. It is usually the most inexpensive type and comes in sizes ranging in thickness from 3/8 of an inch to 1 inch. This is the most common type used and is normally available in 4 foot x 8 foot panels.
Green Board Drywall or Moisture-Resistant Drywall
It has a green covering that makes it more resistant to moisture than regular drywall. It is used in areas where there can be water or moisture present, such as the bathroom, basement, kitchen, laundry, and utility rooms. It is also used as a tile backer in some limited wet applications. Green Board is not waterproof, so it is not the correct material if it’s going to be in contact with water.
Blue Board Drywall or Plaster Baseboard
Blue Board’s surface paper has special absorption qualities and is used for veneer plastering. This process has fewer steps involved, so blue board drywall is not made for mud, tape, or paint.
It has a high water and mold resistance, so it works very well in bathrooms or places with a lot of moisture.
It can also help with noise reduction.
Paperless Drywall
This type of drywall was developed because the paper on regular drywall can develop mold if it gets wet which can cause health problems. This gypsum product is wrapped in fiberglass instead of paper, which protects it from rot and offers even greater resistance to mold and mildew.
Paperless drywall is a little tougher than regular drywall, but some people think it is easier to cut.
The fiberglass wrap does have some slight texture, so if a smooth finish is desired, it will require applying joint compound to achieve this look.
Purple Drywall
Choose this product if you are drywalling an area that is going to be in contact with water. Purple drywall has superior moisture- and mold-resistant characteristics.
It can be used for all walls and ceilings, but is specifically made to be used in areas where enhanced moisture and mold resistance is desired, such as a bathroom.
Fire-Resistant Drywall
Type X drywall is made with special noncombustible fibers. It often comes in 5/8 inch thickness which can also help with soundproofing. It is normally used in garages, rooms, and apartment buildings, as it is required by several building codes.
To be classified with the “Type X” designation, a 5/8 inch board must achieve at least a one-hour fire resistance rating for 1/2 inch board, a ¾ hour rating for a single layer, nailed on each face of a load baring wood frame wall.
This product can be installed in layers to achieve a higher fire rating. It is harder to cut and work than regular drywall.
Soundproof Drywall
Soundproof drywall is a laminated drywall composed of a mix of wood fibers, gypsum, and polymers that increase the STC (sound transmission class).
It is denser, and therefore a little harder to cut than regular drywall. But the tradeoff is better insulation of sound. Use in areas where noise is a problem or when silence is required in a room, such as a family room or a musician’s studio.
Certainteed Abuse Resistant Drywall
Composed of a dense gypsum core, reinforced by glass fiber, bound in 100% recycled paper, this product is specially designed to provide impact and/or indentation resistance in wall and ceiling applications. It also helps more with sound transmission in high traffic areas than regular gypsum board would.
Certainteed Extreme Impact Resistant Drywall
This product is more impact resistant than regular drywall. It can also help with sound-proofing and has greater moisture and mold resistance. Extreme Impact contains fiberglass mesh reinforcement within a specially formulated, dense, fire resistive, noncombustible, moisture resistant core enclosed in a 100% recycled moisture and mold resistant face and back paper. It’s good for high traffic areas and can be used on both walls and ceilings.
Cement (Backer) Board
This wallboard is commonly used for walls and ceilings that will be tiled or covered in stone.
If you have a tiling job in mind, let us show you the many beautiful styles available! Then we can supply you with the substrate, fasteners, mesh tape, thin-set and grout. We even have specialty trims and Schlueter products to make your job more attractive and easier!
Cement Board is a very hard panel made with a cement slurry and reinforced fiberglass mesh that provides a strong base on which to install tile and stone. Because it resists direct moisture, it is a great choice for installation in areas of high humidity. It is also suitable as an underlayment on countertops, walls and floors.
Durock® Brand Cement Board with EdgeGuard
- Enhanced patented edge performance prevents spinout and crumbling
- Easy to cut and fasten
- Water durable and mold resistant
- Warranted for interior and exterior applications
- Exceptional tile bond
- Noncombustible
DensShield Tile Backer Board by Georgia Pacific
- The first backer board with a built-in moisture barrier
- Absorbs less water than the leading fiber cement1
- Easier to handle than cement board – cuts and installs like drywall without special tools or fasteners
- Available in convenient sizes, including 5/8″ Type X board (per ASTM C1178) for use in appropriate fire-rated assemblies
- A trusted interior product within the Dens® Solutions family
DensGlass Sheathing Georgia Pacific
Widely recognized by the GOLD color, DensGlass® fiberglass mat gypsum sheathing has an exemplary track record that spans more than 30 years. It is a preferred substrate under brick, stone, stucco, siding and EIFS due to its ability to protect a structure against incidental moisture during and after construction
- DensGlass® Sheathing is the #1 architecturally specified fiberglass mat gypsum sheathing1
- Track record that spans more than 30 years
- Helps add performance and durability to a wide range of fire-rated and non-fire-rated building assemblies
- Fiberglass mat-faced gypsum sheathing for superior mold and moisture resistance compared to paper-faced sheathings
- Provides a rigid substrate for a wide variety of air or water-resistive barrier systems
Our Vendors
Insulation
An easy way to make your home more energy efficient is to add insulation. Let us help you choose the right product for your project that will start saving you money right away! We can help measure to find out how much you need, and of course we can deliver it. If you need help with a contractor, let us know and we can help with that as well!
For Blow-In insulation, we can rent you the Insulation Blower to do this job!
The first thing to think about when it comes to insulation is the R-Value, which tells you the level it Resists heat transfer. The higher the R-Value number, the better.
The Department of Energy calls our part of the country a Climate Zone 5 and it recommends the following R-Values for these areas:
- Attic R38 to R60
- 2×4 walls R13 to R15
- 2×6 walls R19 to R21
- Floors R25 to R30
- Crawl Spaces R25 to R30
Insulation Types
Blanket Batts and Rolls
Typically fiberglass, but other versions are available. Installing this type can be an easy DIY project and fairly inexpensive as well. The materials are made to fit into the standard width between studs, rafters, and joists. It’s best for unfinished walls, floors and ceilings. Standard fiberglass blankets and batts have R-values between R-2.9 and R-3.8 per inch of thickness. Higher density fiberglass blankets and batts have R-values between R-3.7 and R-4.3 per inch of thickness.
Spray Foam Insulation
This liquid polyurethane product is best installed by a professional. It is best for adding insulation to existing finished areas, as well as irregularly shaped or hard-to-reach spaces. It seals leaks and gaps inside existing walls. The liquid is sprayed into the wall cavity, where it then expands and hardens into a solid foam. Spray foam comes in two constructions: open-cell foam or denser closed-cell foam. Closed cell foam has the highest R-value of any insulation, around R-6.2 per inch, but can be expensive; open-cell foam insulation values are around R-3.7 per inch of thickness.
Blown-In Insulation
Often made of reclaimed cellulose or fiberglass, this insulation is installed with a machine that blows it into the space to be insulated. It’s good for adding insulation to existing finished areas, as well as irregularly shaped or hard-to-reach spaces. R-values range from R-2.2 for fiberglass up to R-3.8 per inch for dense cellulose.
Foam Board or Rigid Foam Panels
Made of polyurethane, polystyrene, or polyisocyanurate, foam board can be used for interior and exterior wall sheathing. It’s best used in unfinished walls (foundation or basement), floors and ceilings. R-values typically vary between R-4 and R-6.5 per inch of thickness, which means that foam boards and rigid foam panels are among the best R-values of insulation on the market.
Reflective or Radiant Barrier
Best for: Attics, unfinished walls, ceilings, and floors—especially in hot climates
Reflective or radiant barriers work differently than most types of insulation, and so its effectiveness is not measured by R-values. While standard insulation reduces heat flow in a home, reflective insulation instead reflects the heat away from the home to prevent heat gain and radiant heat transfer to cooler surfaces indoors. The insulation is constructed using a reflective barrier (like aluminum foil) placed over a substrate material (like kraft paper or polyethylene bubbles). Homeowners in warmer climates typically place reflective or radiant barriers in the attic between joists, rafters, and beams, since the attic is where most heat enters a home. Installation here, too, can be done without a professional.
Please let us know which type of insulation you need, and we will be pleased to deliver it so that you can begin your project, or connect you with a reliable contractor to get the job done for you!
Please call or visit us today so that we can fulfill your unique requests. Or please complete the information request form, and we will get back to you promptly.
