How much does a drywall sheet weigh?

Drywall today is very popular as a building and finishing material. It is easy to use, durable, practical, easy to install. Our article is devoted to the features and characteristics of this material, and, in particular, its weight.

Gypsum plasterboard (another name for it is “dry gypsum plaster”) is a necessary material for the construction of partitions, sheeting and other purposes. Regardless of the manufacture of sheets, manufacturers are trying to maintain the general principles of production. One sheet consists of two sheets of construction paper (cardboard) and a core consisting of gypsum with various fillers. Fillers allow you to change the properties of drywall: some allow you to be resistant to moisture, others enhance noise insulation, and others give the product fire-fighting properties.

Initially, drywall was used only for leveling walls - this was its intended purpose, now it is increasingly being used as a structural material.

The standard width of the sheet is 120 cm or, if translated, in mm, 1200.

Standard sizes allocated by manufacturers:

• 3000х1200 mm;
• 2500х1200 mm;
• 2000x1200 mm.

Drywall has several advantages:

• Eco-friendly material - does not contain harmful impurities.
• High fire resistance (even in ordinary drywall).
• Ease of installation - no need to hire a special team.

The main characteristics of drywall:

• Specific weight in the range from 1200 to 1500 kg / m3.
• Heat conductivity within 0.21-0.32 W / (m * K).
• Durability at a thickness up to 10 mm varies about 12-15 kg.

For quality repairs, it is preferable to have an idea not only about the options for applying drywall, but also about its characteristics.

In construction varies:

• GCR. The usual type of drywall is used to create interior walls, suspended ceilings and structures of different levels, partitions, design elements and niches. A distinctive feature is the gray color of the upper and lower layers of cardboard.
• GKLV. Moisture resistant sheet. Used in the bathroom or kitchen, on the window slopes. Moisture resistant effect is achieved through modifiers in the gypsum core. It has a green color of cardboard.
• GKLO. Fire resistant material. It is necessary for the device of ventilation or an air duct at a covering of fireplaces, facades of buildings, in boiler rooms. Provides enhanced fire protection. Contains flame retardants in the core. It has a red or pinkish color.
• GKLVO. Sheet that combines both moisture and fire resistance. This type is used when finishing baths or saunas. May have a yellowish color.

With self-repair, few people think about the weight of building materials. The drywall sheet is solid, has a certain size, and if there is no freight elevator in the building, the question arises how to raise it to the required floor, bring it to the apartment and, in general, move it. This also includes a method of transporting materials: whether the trunk of your car can accommodate the required number of sheets, and whether the car can withstand the weight declared by the carrying capacity. The next question will be determining the number of people who can cope with this physical work.

When a large-scale repair or redevelopment requires a greater amount of materials, therefore, transportation costs will already be calculated, since the carrying capacity of the transport is limited.

Knowledge of the weight of the sheet is also necessary to calculate the optimal load on the frameto which the cladding or the number of fasteners will be attached. For example, if you count how much the ceiling construction of plasterboard weighs, it becomes clear why the definition of weight cannot be neglected. Also, weight indicates the possibility or impossibility of bending the sheet to make arches and other decorative elements - the smaller the mass, the easier it is to bend.

Construction is a responsible business, so there is a special GOST 6266-97, which determines the weight of each type of gypsum board. According to GOST, an ordinary sheet should have a specific weight of not more than 1.0 kg per 1 m2 for each millimeter of thickness; moisture resistant and fire resistant products range from 0.8 to 1.06 kg.

The weight of drywall is directly proportional to its type: it is customary to distinguish wall, ceiling and arched sheets, their thickness will be equal to 6.5 mm, 9.5 mm, 12.5 mm, respectively.

The volumetric weight of HL is calculated by the formula: weight (kg) = sheet thickness (mm) x 1.35, where 1.35 is a constant average density of gypsum.

Sheets of drywall produce a rectangular shape of standard sizes. Weight is calculated by multiplying the sheet area by the weight of a square meter.

When planning large-scale construction work, you need to consider how much material you need. Usually drywall is sold in packs in quantities from 49 to 66 pcs. in each. For more accurate information, check with the store where you plan to purchase material.

This data allows you to calculate the number of packs that can be loaded into a car, depending on its carrying capacity:

• Gazelle g / n 1.5 t - 1 package;
• Kamaz g / n 10 tons - 8 packs;
• Wagon g / p 20 tons - 16 packs.

Gypsum plasterboard - the material is quite fragile, it is easy to break or damage. For a comfortable repair or construction you need to follow a few tips:

• It is necessary to transport and store sheets only in a horizontal position, on a perfectly flat surface. Any debris, stone or bolt can damage the material.
• Moving a drywall sheet is performed only vertically and only two people together to avoid vibration.
• When carrying it is necessary to hold the sheet with one hand on the bottom, the other to hold the top or side. This method of carrying is very inconvenient, so professionals use special tools - hooks that make carrying comfortable.

• The material must be protected from moisture, direct and diffused sunlight, heat sources during storage and installation, even if it is moisture-resistant or fire-resistant. This will help preserve the strength of the material and its durability.
• In the open air sheets can be stored up to 6 hours, packed in special material and in the absence of frost.
• With low cost and high strength drywall is a very affordable material.The price for one sheet depends on the type of sheet: the cheapest of all types is GCR. Because of its low price, it is he who is most often used. The price for fire-resistant or moisture-proof analog is much higher. The most expensive type is flexible arched drywall, it has an additional reinforcing layer.
• In determining the estimate of the repair, it is necessary to calculate not only the amount of material and its weight, but also the cost of the skeleton device.

• When buying, be sure to check the integrity of the sheet, its edge, the quality of the upper and lower layers of cardboard, the evenness of the cut. Buy drywall only in trusted stores, if possible, use the services of professional movers. When loading the material, check each sheet separately: being in a bundle or stack, the sheets may be damaged due to their own weight or improper storage.

Properly selected materials and miscalculation of all the subtleties and nuances will allow you to avoid trouble and disappointment and leave only positive memories of the repair.

In more detail about the weight of partitions from various construction materials, including from gypsum cardboard, it is told in video.