Drywall is unhealthy? Environmental characteristics of GCR

Having decided to update the interior of our apartment, we set off in search of suitable building materials. Nowadays, at the peak of its popularity there is drywall, it is used to create ceiling structures, cladding walls, perform slopes, interior partitions, niches, portals, arches. This material has earned popular love due to the possibility of creating with its help a perfectly smooth surface, ready to finish, while it takes very little time and effort to install drywall sheets. However, there is an opinion that drywall is unhealthy, and we decided to find out if this is so.

What, in essence, is drywall?

In order to assess the danger drywall, you should first understand what is included in its composition:

1. A key element of this sought-after building material is gypsum. In fact, it is an absolutely natural, natural material that has been pre-burned at high temperature and then ground. It is safe for people and the environment, has zero radioactivity.
2. In small quantities in the composition of drywall you can find PVA, as well as starch. As you understand, both of these elements are absolutely harmless.
3. The hardened gypsum core is pressed between two cardboard sheets. So the wrapping of our material is not dangerous.

The described composition refers to standard drywall, which has a gray shell color and is most often used in living rooms. As you can see, there are no complaints about the composition of the material regarding safety and environmental friendliness.

There are also several varieties of drywall: moisture and fire resistant. They have a slightly different composition, because they contain special additives. Hydrophobic additives are present in the core of moisture-resistant drywall, and the gypsum core of the fire-resistant material is reinforced with glass fibers, contains crystallized water and refractory elements. Each of the additives and impregnations used undergoes the strictest quality and safety control.

What is the harmfulness of this material?

The answer to the question whether drywall is harmful can be affirmative only in the case of gross violations of the production process. Namely, when the manufacturer uses substandard substances and additives with unverified properties. Quite often, unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers working not for quality but for a super low price add formaldehyde or phenol to the composition of drywall.

You can protect yourself only by purchasing materials from trusted suppliers, as well as by compulsory verification of quality certificates and the conclusions of the relevant services.

Possible hazardous situations when working with drywall

In addition to the direct harm to health described above, drywall can also cause it indirectly:

• Any kind of work performed using this material is associated with its sharp, as well as dust emitted during its implementation. Her inhalation can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes, the occurrence of allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to use protective masks and goggles when working with drywall organs of vision and respiration, during the cut, and carefully collect all accumulated dust with a vacuum cleaner, and not sweep away.

• Misuse of the material. If you used ordinary drywall for wall decoration in a room with high humidity, then with moisture gets a favorable environment for the propagation of fungi, mold and pathogens microorganisms. In addition to the unpleasant odor, their active reproduction can significantly harm the health of all people in the room.
• If a window slopes Since they are made of ordinary drywall sheets, the accumulated condensate can lead to the same consequences as described above. Therefore, we recommend using either moisture-resistant material for these purposes, or to perform mandatory treatment with a fungicidal agent.

Drywall Recommendations

Use the advice of experienced builders when planning and carrying out repair and decoration works using plasterboard sheets:

• Consider the core of the drywall sheet, its shade should be as close to white as possible. Gray, pink or other colors indicate that the quality of the material is not the best.
• The texture of the core of the material should be uniform and not peel off from the cardboard wrapper.
• The cardboard shell itself should be flat, without peeling, swelling and the like defects, and its thickness should be uniform.
• Based on the features of the room in which it is planned to use drywall, correctly select its type.

• Before you make a purchase, be sure to have all the necessary certificates.
• Observe the storage conditions of the stock of sheets, give them some time to go through acclimatization.
• Install the material strictly according to the technology.
• To protect the organs of vision and breathing, use special devices.

Using our advice correctly, you can choose the right material for your own needs, prevent its negative influence, protect yourself and your loved ones.