However, there are some subtle differences between Sheetrock and drywall.įirst and foremost, Sheetrock is a brand name while drywall is the generic term used to describe any type of wallboard paneling product. Sheetrock and drywall are two terms used interchangeably to describe the same product and thus, appear to be the same thing. Whats the difference between Sheetrock and drywall? While drywall is used in the majority of buildings today, if a homeowner is looking to restore an older home, matching ancient technology in the form of lath and plastering can be a good option. Additional walling materials used such as cobwall, adobe, and stone, were often used in older buildings and still used in some regions today. Lath and plaster construction was used extensively in Europe and the United States between the late 1600s to the 1970s and is still used in some regions and buildings today. Common materials involved lath, which was made of wood strips and spaced apart to create a backing upon which the plasterer could layer and spread joint compound, plaster, and sometimes even lime. Historically, old houses often used other materials instead of drywall (also commonly known as wallboard, plasterboard, or Gyprock). What did old houses use instead of drywall? It is estimated that the majority of plaster walls were gone by the early 2000s. In Europe and the UK, it wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the use of plaster walls began to fade away in favor of drywall. In the United States, plaster was popular until the 1980s but saw a rapid decline after the mid-1990s. By the late 20th century, drywall had almost fully replaced the use of plaster walls. The use of plaster walls began to decline in the 1950s as drywall technology spread in popularity. What year did they stop using plaster walls? This type of wall construction remained popular until drywall became available, although it is still used in some heritage homes today. Sometimes, the lath and plaster were applied over a base layer of brick or stone for added strength.

This was left to dry and harden, creating a durable and attractive wall finish. Lath were thin strips of wood nailed across the wall studs to create a flat surface, and the gaps between the lath were then filled with a mixture of lime, sand, and water called plaster. This method of wall construction dates back to the mid-19th century and was popular until the widespread use of drywall in the 1950s. What did they use for walls before drywall?īefore drywall was commonly used, people used plaster and lath to construct walls. Over time, it replaced plaster and has become the standard material for walls and ceilings. This was a major factor in its increased popularity, along with its ability to be quickly and easily installed and painted.ĭrywall also had the additional advantage of being more fire retardant, stability and easier to repair than plaster. Plaster was the primary wall finishing material, and it provided a smooth, finished look that was preferred over drywall, which was seen as not as aesthetically pleasing.ĭrywall became popular in the 1950s, when the process began to automate and mass production started making it easier and cheaper to use than plaster. Before that, most homes were constructed with plaster walls and ceilings.

Plaster and lath walls old house