What is the Difference Between Sheetrock and Drywall?

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Sheetrock vs. Drywall

Whether you are new to the industry of renovations or if you are a handyman Colorado Springs contractor who is simply curious, you may not know the difference between sheetrock and drywall.  When comparing these two materials, it is similar to comparing Kleenex and generic facial tissues.  Essentially, one is a name brand and the other is a generic brand.  With that being said, here's a more thorough explanation.

What is Drywall?

Drywall is one of the most commonly known materials used in the construction of homes to produce flat walls and other important surfaces.  One sheet of drywall includes gypsum, which is essentially a type of rock that was turned into a powder and put in between two pieces of incredibly thick paper.  When you are ready to install the drywall you will need to use screws or nails to attach it to the studs of the room and then fill the seams between the pieces of drywall with joint compound.  In comparison to traditional methods such as plaster, drywall is far easier to install and to perform drywall repair.

What is Sheetrock?

Sheetrock is a brand name for drywall (like Kleenex) and this brand includes a variety of different pieces of drywall that come in different thicknesses.  The line of Sheetrock products also includes specialty products such as fire-resistant walls or panels that help to prevent the build-up of moisture.  With that being said, Sheetrock essentially deals with drywall but provides customers with the opportunity to purchase specialized panels depending on their personal needs.  Contractors and home owners can also purchase drywall tools that are branded under the Sheetrock name.

The Differences

As previously mentioned, there are limited differences between drywall and Sheetrock.  Sheetrock is simply a company that provides customers with the opportunity to purchase drywall and drywall products but their products are the same as generic “dry wall”.  To refer back to the Kleenex versus generic brand analogy, Sheetrock is a name brand much like Kleenex, and drywall is the same product, just without a brand name.

Many contractors find it advantageous to purchase products from Sheetrock whereas others find it advantageous to just use generic brand drywall.  Consumers often get the two terms mixed up. Practically speaking, they're the same thing. If you call us and say that you need a quote on Sheetrock repair or installation, we'll know what you're talking about :)

Here's another resource if you want more information on drywall.

Sheetrock is not the only term that is often confused with drywall - "stucco" is another one. Stucco is an exterior siding product, so it's not even close to being the same thing. Are you ready to see what Homefix can do for you?

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