How much does a drywall sheet weigh?

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

Drywall (its other name is "dry gypsum plaster") is a necessary material for the construction of partitions, cladding and other purposes. Regardless of the manufacturer of sheets, manufacturers try to adhere to 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 sound insulation, and still others give the product fire-fighting properties.

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

The standard sheet width is 120 cm or, if translated into mm, 1200.

Standard sizes allocated by manufacturers:

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

Drywall has several advantages:

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

The main characteristics of drywall:

• Specific gravity in the range from 1200 to 1500 kg / m3.
• Thermal conductivity within 0.21-0.32 W / (m * K).
• Strength with a thickness of up to 10 mm varies about 12-15 kg.

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

In construction it differs:

• GKL. A common type of drywall, 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 top and bottom layers of the cardboard.
• GKLV. Moisture resistant sheet. Used in bathroom or kitchen, on window slopes. The moisture resistant effect is achieved by means of modifiers in the gypsum core. Has a green cardboard color.
• GKLO. Flame retardant material. It is necessary for the device of ventilation or air duct when cladding fireplaces, building facades, in boiler rooms. Provides increased fire protection. Contains fire retardants in the core. Has a red or pinkish color.
• GKLVO. A sheet that combines both moisture and fire resistance. This type is used when decorating baths or saunas. May be yellowish.

When self-repairing, 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 of how to raise it to the desired floor, bring it into the apartment and, in general, move it. This also includes the 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 handle this physical work.

With a large-scale repair or redevelopment, more materials are needed, therefore, transport costs will already be calculated, since the carrying capacity of the transport is limited.

Knowledge of the sheet weight is also necessary to calculate the optimal load on the frame.to which the cladding will be attached or the number of fasteners. For example, if you calculate how much a plasterboard ceiling structure weighs, it becomes clear why the determination 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 it.

Construction is a responsible business, therefore there is a special GOST 6266-97, which determines the weight of each type of gypsum plasterboard. According to GOST, an ordinary sheet should have a specific weight of no more than 1.0 kg per 1 m2 for each millimeter of thickness; for moisture-resistant and fire-resistant products, the range varies from 0.8 to 1.06 kg.

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

The volumetric weight of the gypsum board is calculated by the formula: weight (kg) = sheet thickness (mm) x1.35, where 1.35 is the constant average density of gypsum.

Plasterboard sheets are produced in a rectangular shape in standard sizes. The weight is calculated by multiplying the area of ​​the sheet by the weight per square meter.

When planning large-scale construction work, you need to consider how much material you need. Typically, drywall is sold in packs of 49 to 66 pieces. in each. For more detailed information, check with the store where you plan to purchase the material.

These data allow you to calculate the number of packs that can be loaded into a particular vehicle, depending on its carrying capacity:

• Gazelle l / c 1.5 t - 1 package;
• Kamaz, l / c 10 t - 8 packs;
• Wagon with a lifting capacity of 20 tons - 16 packs.

Gypsum plasterboard - the material is quite fragile, it is easy to break or damage it. For a comfortable repair or construction, you must 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.
• The gypsum plasterboard is moved only vertically and only by two people to avoid vibration.
• When carrying, it is necessary to hold the sheet with one hand from the bottom, with the other to hold it from above or from the side. This method of carrying is very inconvenient, so professionals use special devices - hooks that make carrying comfortable.

• The material must be protected from moisture, direct and diffused sunlight, heating sources during storage and installation, even if it is moisture resistant or fire resistant. This will help maintain the strength of the material and its durability.
• In the open air, sheets can be stored for up to 6 hours, packed in a special material and in the absence of frost.
• With a 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 GKL. Due to its low price, it is he who is used most often. The price for a fire-resistant or moisture-resistant analog is much higher. The most expensive type is flexible arched drywall, it has an additional reinforcing layer.
• When determining the repair estimate, it is necessary to calculate not only the amount of material and its weight, but also the cost of the frame device.

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

Correctly selected materials and a miscalculation of all the subtleties and nuances will allow you to avoid troubles and disappointments and leave only positive memories of the repair.

More details about the weight of partitions made of various building materials, including drywall, are described in the video.