Drywall Company Boynton Beach
The History of Drywall
Undoubtedly, drywall for most construction workers, building developers and homeowners alike seem to be the standard. The drywall that most Americans are familiar with today, is now over a century old, thanks to a man named Augustine Sackett. Although, the primary components that make up drywall, gypsum has been used for centuries, famously by the Ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Egyptians used gypsum, or as they called it “gypsos” to build the pyramids that are still standing strong today.
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Now, the drywall that you see all around America and in Boynton Beach, from homes to schools to stores, is thanks to Augustine Sackett and Fred Kane. This drywall dynamic duo created the idea of using wallboard made from straw, tar, and paper. Later, they designed a machine in the late 1880s to manufacture their revolutionary idea. It wasn’t until 1888 that Sackett modified this idea and incorporated the “plaster of Paris” technique, which would be sandwiched between two layers of felt paper.
Augustine then patented the “Sackett Board” in 1894. This patent revolutionized the manufacturing and building industry. Since, the Sackett board has continued to evolve, to the product that we see today. In 1910, the outer layer was amended from felt to paper. Moreover, in 1910 the United States Gypsum Corporation purchased the Sackett Plaster Board Company. Then, in 1917 they had removed the creator’s name, and changed it from the “Sacket Board” to “Sheetrock.”
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Drywall Repair Boynton Beach
The term gypsos, which is Greek for plaster, seem to be adopted by the ancient Greeks. Similar to the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks also preferred to use the fundamental component of drywall for architectural and sculpting. The most famous building, or should we say palace, which was built using gypsum was one of King Minos’ palaces. Then, jumping on from ancient times, the French chemist, Antoine Lavoisier began to analyze the chemical structure of gypsum in the 1700s.
Notably, his analysis and research of gypsum seemed to revolutionize the architecture in Paris. It is said that Lavoisier’s work led to the widespread manufacturing and wholesale, which initiated the “Plaster of Paris” era. The buildings that were constructed during “Plaster of Paris,” were built using chemical altered raw gypsum. This form of gypsum remains to be a viable product and is still used by some companies today.
Thus, it’s evident to see why drywall is a preferred building material, just by looking at the great pyramids. However, the question is when did drywall installation become the industry standard?
Quick Evolution of Drywall
The evolution of drywall happened very quickly, especially after World War II. So, to make it easier, we’ve made a little timeline:
- 1917 – When America entered the war, there was urgency for temporary military homes. After some trial and error, Gypsum Board became the ideal solution, as it was fire resistant.
- 1939-1945 World War II – There was a shortage of labor, so plastering became too expensive. People then started to use drywall as it was cost-effective, quicker and required fewer workmen.
- 1955 – Now 50% of the new homes in America have been constructed using gypsum wall. The widespread use grew substantially due to the baby boom in 1946-1960. The demand for low cost, quick housing was high. As a result, more builders abandoned the slower plaster process, in favor of drywall.
- The 1960s to 1970s – The use of drywall had broken into commercial construction, especially in apartment buildings and office towers.
The quick timeline shows how drywall soon became the preferred building option, which resulted in the use of plaster reducing. The United States Gypsum Corporation (USG), is still the global producer of drywall and other gypsum products. In 2007, USG was reportedly made over $5 billion in net sales. Not only that, according to Statista, in 2018 around 25.5 billion sqft of drywall products were sold in America alone.
The Many Names of Drywall
Since the evolution of drywall in the 21st Century, it has many names. You may be familiar with Sheetrock, which is essentially the branded name of drywall for USG. Drywall is also known as:
- Plasterboard
- Wallboard
- Gypsum panel
- Gypsum board
The less common name for drywall is “rock,” which is more commonly used by drywall contractors.
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Drywall is essentially the “bricks and mortar” of most buildings you see today. It’s safe to say it’s found in most homes, schools, offices, and stores. Drywall can be used to construct walls and ceilings. It’s a fire safe, quick efficient alternative to the traditional plastering method.
If you want a professional, licensed and insured
drywall contractor in Boynton, call us today.
561-254-0058
Jason Lopiccolo, Owner - Operator
[email protected]
561-254-0058
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