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Plywood is a viable alternative to drywall for walls and ceilings. If you are planning on redoing your walls or ceilings, the typical materials you’ll use include Sheetrock or finished plywood. Each has its benefits as a building material and in some cases, finished plywood is the better alternative.
Is it safe to use plywood instead of drywall?
Drywall is much better than plywood when it comes to being fire resistant as it does not burn as fast or catch on fire as easily. Plywood is simply wood, when faced with a house fire, plywood walls go up quickly.
What can be used instead of drywall?
Drywall Alternatives
- Veneer Plaster. Veneer plaster might be the alternative that comes closest to traditional drywall.
- Lath & Plaster.
- Texture Wall Panels.
- Brick & Masonry.
- Cement Board.
- Pegboard.
- Cork Board.
- Wahoo Walls.
What is a cheap alternative to drywall?
While it’s cheap and easier to work with than other materials, drywall installation remains a tough process that involves taping, mudding, and sanding.
- Wood Planks.
- Plastic Panels.
- Plywood.
- Veneer Plaster.
- Pegboard.
- Lath and Plaster.
- Wahoo Walls.
- Textured Wall Panels.
Can I use MDF instead of drywall?
You can. One drawback is weight, MDF is heavy. Also, not nearly as easy to cut as drywall. It doesn’t block fire as well as drywall does.
What is a cheap building material?
8 Inexpensive Building Materials That Don’t Look Cheap
- Build for Less. 1/9.
- Concrete Sheets. 2/9.
- Reclaimed Wood. 3/9.
- Used Brick. 4/9.
- Corrugated Metal. 5/9.
- Stone Veneer. 6/9.
- Shipping Containers. 7/9.
- Bamboo. 8/9.
What do you put on plywood walls?
Either plaster or drywall mud can be applied over plywood. However, bare drywall is extremely dry and absorbent.
Is shiplap cheaper than drywall?
When comparing the cost of shiplap vs sheetrock, you have to consider the materials used. Shiplap will almost always be more expensive than drywall depending on the materials used. In very few cases, these materials may be less expensive than drywall, but this is rather rare.
What can I use instead of drywall on ceiling?
If you are planning on redoing your walls or ceilings, the typical materials you’ll use include Sheetrock or finished plywood. Each has its benefits as a building material and in some cases, finished plywood is the better alternative.
What is the cheapest wall to build?
The cheapest types of retaining walls are wood and concrete blocks, followed by concrete and stones or bricks. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, including strength, longevity, and attractiveness. For those who are planning on building their own retaining wall, it is vital to plan and research.
Are plywood walls a fire hazard?
Fire Safety In California, residential building codes require a one-hour fire rating at walls separating an attached garage from the living space, and at any enclosed living space above the stairs. Check with your local building authority about rules for using plywood as the sole interior wall finish.
What is the cheapest interior wall material?
Drywall is a pretty cheap option as far as interior wall materials go. A sheet of drywall can cost anywhere from $9 to $15, depending on the size and the installation per sq. foot is about $1.50; that is a pretty reasonable price when you are looking at the construction of a house.
How do you make plywood look good?
Making Plywood Walls Look Good The secret to getting it to look the same as the drywall, is to start by taping the plywood, just like you would with drywall. Then, skim coat the entire plywood surface with drywall mud and then sand it smooth. Once textured and painted, it will look just like the rest of the walls.
Is sheetrock the same as drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.
What is the best plywood for interior walls?
If you need plywood for roofing, walls or subfloods, then choose construction plywood or OSB. Oak or birch hardwood is good for cabinets, storage and furniture.
What can I use instead of drywall in my basement?
After insulating your basement walls with closed-cell, injection-molded EPS foam panels from InSoFast, install your drywall, cement board, wood siding or other alternatives over the panels in the same exact way they are installed over traditional wood framing.
Is drywall stronger than plywood?
Resisting damage – Plywood is considerably stronger than drywall. You can easily break a drywall wall, either from simple horseplay or from hitting it with a piece of furniture while moving in. Granted, damage to drywall is easier to repair than damage to plywood, but it’s better to not have the damage to worry about.
Is OSB cheaper than drywall?
what should I cover my walls with? The two competing materials at this point are OSB and Drywall. The biggest reason is cost – 1/2″ drywall sheets are about the same price as 7/16 OSB (with 15/32″ OSB not far either).
What insulates better drywall or plywood?
Drywall offers superior fire resistance compared to plywood, making it the safer wall finish in most applications. This makes it a useful insulating material for flooring, ceilings, roofing, and wall cladding. Insulation offered by plywood can greatly reduce heating and cooling costs.
What’s cheaper drywall or paneling?
Because of the greater attention needed for cutting and trimming wood, paneling may take more time and cost more than installing drywall. Also, paneling doesn’t work as a sound barrier the way drywall does. Thus, in a workshop, installing wood paneling can produce a noisy, even irritating, atmosphere.
How much is a 4×8 sheet of plywood?
A 4×8-foot sheet of construction-grade plywood costs roughly $10 a sheet, while the same size sheet of OSB costs only $6 a sheet. Both cost about the same to install, $70 an hour for a carpenter. Installing either sheathing over a 500 square foot area would cost roughly $160 in material for plywood and $100 for OSB.
What is the R value of 5/8 drywall?
Tables of Building Material R-values
| Material | Thickness | R-value (F° · sq.ft. · hr/Btu) |
|---|---|---|
| Building Board | ||
| Gypsum Wall Board | 1/2″ | 0.45 |
| Gypsum Wall Board | 5/8″ | 0.5625 |
| Plywood | 1/2″ | 0.62 |
