Whether you’re building or renovating your house, choosing the right drywall for your interior ceilings and walls is one important decision to make. Having drywall inside your home is also a huge investment as it provides additional protection, improves insulation, and helps save costs in the long run.
Choosing which drywall to use can be overwhelming because of the various drywall types available in the market, so we narrowed it down to two, purple drywall and green drywall, to help you decide which one best suits your preference and needs.
Let’s take a closer look at the difference between the two drywall types and the various aspects to consider, including the cost, noise reduction, water, and fire resistance properties.
What is a Drywall?
Drywall, also known as wallboard, gypsum wallboard, sheetrock, or plasterboard, is a construction material used for interior walls and ceilings as a replacement for the plaster and lath method. It consists of two panels with a core gypsum plaster in between—the two thick paperboards sandwich the gypsum.
The gypsum plaster is made of gray sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate in crystalline form.
It is made by crushing the natural or synthetic gypsum rocks and turning them into powders, which are heated or oxidized. The calcined gypsum is then mixed with water and other minerals to form a thick paste or slurry, which is then placed inside a tube to set the material faster.
The thick paste is poured in between two sheets of paper, which is fed into a board machine to make the sandwich. This process is the reason why drywall is also referred to as sandwiched material.
Drywall is measured in length and thickness. The standard width of drywall is 48 inches, and the weight ranges about 2.75 pounds per sq. ft.
The available standard lengths options are eight, nine, 10, 12, or 14 inches, while the four standard thickness options are 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, and 5/8 inch.
There are different kinds of drywall and two of the most common types are Purple Drywall and Green Drywall.
Difference Between Purple and Green Drywall
Purple Drywall, also referred to as mold-resistant drywall, provides great mold and mildew resistance as it helps restrict the build-up of mold or mildew in high humidity or damp areas. It’s also resistant to dents, scratches, scruffs, and noise.
This type of drywall may have the same benefits as standard drywall but has offered more advantages since it’s fire-resistant due to its incorporated crystallized gypsum.
PURPLE® Drywall is manufactured by Gold Bond Building Products. It is a division of the National Gypsum, a manufacturer of drywall, building, and industrial products for commercial and residential use. It is available in different high-performing products with a wide selection of thickness and width choices.
The available drywall panels are PURPLE XP® Drywall, PURPLE XP® Hi-Abuse® Drywall, PURPLE XP® Hi-Impact® Drywall, PURPLE SoundBreak XP Ceiling® Board, PURPLE SoundBreak XP Retrofit® Board, and PURPLE SoundBreak XP Wall® Board.
Moreover, purple drywall is a great choice for applications around kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, sinks, or areas in direct contact with water. It can also be an ideal choice as a tile backer board for backsplashes.
Green Drywall, also known as moisture-resistant drywall, is made with thicker paperback and wax-coated for added moisture resistance. It’s also resistant to moisture and often used in moist or damp areas, but it’s not recommended to be used on wet areas as it’s not waterproof.
Moreover, you can incorporate a joint compound, also known as green drywall mud, to maximize its resistance to mold and moisture.
Examples of available high-performing green drywall brands are Sheetrock Mold Tough, Certainteed M2Tech, GP’s ToughRock Mold-Guard, USG Sheetrock® Brand panels, and American Gypsum’s Aquabloc.
Purple Drywall Vs. Green Drywall: Cost Comparison
The standard price of purple drywall ranges from $15 to $60 per panel, while green drywall costs around $14 to $18 per panel. The installation costs range from $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot. It includes the materials and labor costs.
Moreover, the price may also differ, depending on the specific product brand.
Purple Drywall Vs. Green Drywall: Noise Reduction Comparison
Purple drywall products feature an engineered layer of material that provides sound dampening properties by reducing the sound transfer and keeping the sound where it belongs. It also features a gypsum core that is acoustically enhanced to help dissipate the floor-ceiling transfer of sound or any structural noise.
Green drywall, on the other hand, may dampen the structural noise or sounds traveling, but it won’t be as effective as the purple drywall.
To make green drywall more soundproof, green glue—a viscoelastic noise-proofing compound may be applied between the layers of drywall. It will help inhibit the vibrations traveling through floors, ceilings, or walls.
Purple Drywall Vs. Green Drywall: Fire Resistance Comparison
Purple drywall is fire-resistant as it has surface burning characteristics and is UL Classified, meaning the product has been tested and evaluated for safety or hazard properties. Green drywall, on the other hand, isn’t fire-resistant, so it cannot be used on areas that are exposed to heat or places prone to fire.
Purple Drywall Vs. Green Drywall: Water Resistance Comparison
Both purple and green drywall are water-resistant, but they are not considered waterproof products. Both drywalls can withstand areas exposed to water for some time, but they may still obtain damage if they are in direct contact with water for a long time.
Moreover, purple dry is much more resistant to water and can be used on wet areas, such as bathrooms, than green drywall. Green drywall can only be used on damp or moist areas instead.
Purple Drywall Vs. Green Drywall: Final Showdown
Both purple and green drywall feature moisture and mold resistance properties, but if you’re aiming for fire-resistant drywall and have noise reduction properties, then purple drywall is the ideal choice for you.
But if you prefer drywall that is much more affordable that has water-resistance properties, then green drywall suits you better.
