DRYWALL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS KHALEEJ TIMES | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
BUILD WITH THE FINEST Drywall beat the odds and became a staple construction material in every structure globally
TIPS FOR THE AMATEUR ‘DRYWALLER’ There are three common sizes:
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4 X 10-FOOT • Provides a smoother surface on tall walls and expansive ceilings. 4 X 12-FOOT DRY • Ideal for large rooms and areas with high ceilings. It covers more area in fewer panels. There are four common thicknesses:
the form of small fireproof tiles. A few years later it evolved into multi-layer gypsum and paper sheets. Few more years passed and drywall has become what we know today, consisting of a single layer of compressed gypsum sandwiched between two heavy paper sheets. Many attribute the rise of the use of drywall to World War II when the US’ labour force became focused on war manufacturing. With drywall, houses and factories could be constructed in a fraction of the time and with a fraction of the labour previously required. By the time the war ended in 1945, drywall had become the dominant building material in the US and contractors used it in their projects, constructing homes and workplaces in one-tenth the time and leading to higher profits.
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Manufacturing drywall Drywall is made primarily of gypsum. Gypsum is a mineral usually found in massive beds that look like white sand and contains a lot of water in crystalline form, which gives the final product its fire resistance. The drywall is heated to remove the water by evaporation, keeping the drywall cool and protecting the structure behind it. Once mined, gypsum is shipped to factories globally where it is mixed with starch, paper pulp and a thickening agent to form a dense paste, which is spread onto Manila paper in thick layers and then another sheet of the paper is laid on top. Different additives are mixed for different purposes. This product is placed in a 500°F oven, that dries the material out and prepares it for cutting.
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History Prior to the invention and wide use of drywall, walls and ceilings were always constructed by slathering layers of wet plaster over thousands of wooden strips called laths, which would eventually harden to form walls. The installation and repair processes were complex and time-consuming. Drywall was a ground-breaking discovery made by the US Gypsum Company in 1916 to save time and labour and the cost of the plaster and lath. In its humble beginnings, drywall was sold in
Drywall is an easy-to-install low-cost construction material. It has incredible strength and can support and sustain walls for years. If damaged, it requires minimal repair, which can be done quickly.
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rywall is one of the most common materials used in construction today. It is an integral part of every building and people walk past it every day. It’s inside one’s home, office, and every store. It goes by different names like wallboard, plasterboard, gypsum wallboard, or most commonly, drywall. Despite the popularity of drywall, very few people know how it’s made, where it comes from or how useful this material really is. Let’s get introduced to this universally favoured material first. Drywall is a construction material used to create walls and ceilings. It is a sheeting made of gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate) and consists of two paper boards, which sandwich the gypsum panel. It is also used to create many design features, including eaves, arches and other architectural specialities. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws.
4 X 8-FOOT • The most common size, which allows for either vertical or horizontal installation. • Ideal for small and medium construction projects
Why drywall Drywall is an easy construction material that even the amateur home carpenter can install, reducing energy and labour costs. It has incredible strength, it can support and sustain walls for years; if damaged, it requires minimal repair, which can be done quickly; it can be permanent (ceiling applications) or temporary (partition wall applications); it can be dismantled, cut, changed and modified as desired; clothes hangers, frames, mirrors, paintings, etc. can be hung on drywall with ease. Different types of drywall are created to be mould, moisture and fireresistant and can also be made for soundproofing. Despite all these benefits, the use of drywall was slow to catch on with builders. It was only in the past five or six decades that it gained respect.
1/4-INCH AND 3/8-INCH: The thinnest ones of all the options, these drywalls can be mounted over an existing layer of wall to refresh the look and hide old blemishes. 1/2-INCH: The most common choice for interior walls as they are easy to carry and hang. 5/8-INCH: The thickest of all types of drywall, 5/8-inch drywall is fire-resistant and the best choice for soundproofing rooms. It’s great for ceiling applications as it helps prevents sagging over time. Once the size and thickness are chosen, use a handy ‘project calculator’ that you can find online to know how much you’ll need for your project.
DRYWALL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS KHALEEJ TIMES | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
What’s your pick? Here are some common types of drywalls to use for your next house project
The UAE construction industry is expected to grow significantly taking the convenient building material along with it
Kushmita Bose Regular/White drywall Regular, white drywall is the most prevalent form of drywall known. Most ceilings and walls are made of regular drywall in singlefamily constructions. Drywall is now available in commercial lengths of up to 16-feet, which is ideal for the growing trend of taller ceilings in homes. Abuse resistant drywall Abuse resistant drywall is beneficial in hightraffic locations such as garages, mudrooms and workshops where normal drywall can be readily damaged. Higher wallboard density, as well as fibre mesh is placed at the backside of the wallboard to prevent cracking and warping. Green board drywall Green board drywall, also known as moisture-resistant drywall, has a green surface that makes it more water resistant than ordinary drywall. It’s commonly used as a tile backer in damp places like bathrooms, basement walls, kitchens and laundries. Fire-resistant drywall This type of drywall, also known as fire-rated Type X drywall, is frequently required by building codes to lower the risk of fires in a specified building. It is not fireproof however it will slow down a fire, resulting in reduced property damage. The board is added with glass fibres to help it resist fire. Blue board firewall Blue board drywall, also known as plaster baseboard comes with a specific purpose: it’s utilised for veneer plastering and is created to provide surfaces with improved absorption properties. Due to the distinctive construction materials, blue board is built to surpass regular drywall and has high water and
Ideal platform for drywall
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Nisthula Nagarajan mould tolerances. It’s a good alternative for homeowners who want to keep mudrooms, attics and other areas that are constantly exposed to a lot of moisture. The use of a blue board can also assist in minimising noise. Paperless drywall Some believe paperless drywall to be the latest and significant technique to finish interior walls without risking mould development. This product is also constructed of gypsum, but instead of paper, fiberglass is used as the exterior covering. The material is designed particularly for places where water is a constant like showers. It’s very essential to check the prices of paperless drywall before you think of buying, as reportedly the installation is difficult than the other drywalls. Soundproofing drywall Whether it’s to create a rehearsal room for your child’s band or to block out the traffic noise outside, homeowners may opt for this drywall product. Made using gypsum, but a special patented technology polymer is added to prevent the noise that keeps you awake at night. Moisture resistant drywall When it comes to indoor air quality, you require a residential drywall that keeps both water and moisture out. Water damage is almost unavoidable in a home setting. When water damage occurs, the moistureresistant drywall has a special surface coating that reduces the amount of damage. This type is best used or bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens.
he UAE is known worldwide as a land of glass and steel. The construction industry is the essence of the UAE economy, playing an integral role in its economic uplift and development. Despite the dire impact of Covid-19, it is bouncing back and is expected to grow in the next few years. According to Mordor Intelligence, the UAE construction market was valued at $101.45 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach a value of $133.53 billion by 2026, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.69 per cent from 2021 to 2026. The government of the country is also focusing on smart cities and at a similar front plan to digitise up to 1,000 government services and install 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the country. Moreover, liberal trade policies in the country are attracting foreign investors, propelling the construction market. Another aspect to take into consideration is the Expo 2020 Dubai that will be held from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. Due to new tourism and hospitality projects and public spending on infrastructure, the demand for raw materials consequently increases. The UAE has multiple projects in the construction pipeline in the hotel segment with 161 projects/45,753 rooms. After the mega event, the long-term investments in Abu Dhabi’s commercial building sector will help
offset the expected fall. These are in the interest of expanding the capital city’s economy beyond oil. It has an ambitious ‘Abu Dhabi 2030’ plan under which it aims to attract 7.9 million tourists annually and expand its retail and office space to four million and 7.5 million sq m respectfully by 2030. With the Abraham Accords agreement, Israel and the UAE have agreed to develop a joint strategy to boost cooperation in the energy sector. Government strategies like the Energy Strategy 2050, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, and the Dubai Tourism Strategy give a positive outlook as well. Infrastructure projects are a key part of the UAE’s and GCC’s economic expansion, as they seek to build inter-connected transport and logistics networks plus consistent and trustworthy supplies of clean energy. According to The Insight Partners latest market study on the UAE Drywall Panels Market, the market was valued at $278.07 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $419.35 million by 2028 — it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5 per cent from 2021 to 2028. Various types of drywall panels are available in the UAE market, and some
of them are regular, moisture-resistant, plaster baseboard, paperless, and Type X. Growth of the construction and infrastructure industry and government initiatives in the UAE has significantly contributed to the growth of the drywall panels market in the UAE. Gemini Building Material and Knauf Gips KG are among the well-established players in the market. In 2017, the ongoing construction projects in the UAE were 11,755 with a value of $818.2 billion that accounted for around 33 per cent of the total value in the GCC countries. The emerging middle-income population in the UAE has significantly boosted the construction industry’s growth. Homeowners, commercial investors, contractors, builders etc. lean toward implementing drywall panels in the construction of homes, retail, offices and more as it is malleable for economical and modern designs. Moreover, the panels are emerging as the latest green building technology with superior performance, which is suitable for the range of commercial and residential construction projects. Hence, the increasing middle-income population and booming construction in the UAE bolster the growth of the UAE drywall panels market.
DRYWALL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS KHALEEJ TIMES | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
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BUILDING ITS LEGACY
With a presence in the UAE for over 40 years, Unique Industries specialises in design, engineering, manufacture, and are pioneers in drywall construction
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nique Industries is a family business that was established in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1982. Under the Unique brand, the company has several entities like Unique Industries, which specialises in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and installing external glass-reinforced concrete (GRC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) ceilings and cladding. Its gypsum division is involved with the design, manufacture, and installation of special projects’ decorative cast ceilings and wall cladding. It also carries out work for gypsum drywalls and partitions for special projects. Apart from these, Unique Industries is involved in real estate in Sharjah, Ajman, and Dubai under the DHP brand. It also has a charitable trust under the same name. The DHP Foundation, Rajasthan (India), is a family trust focusing mainly on education and healthcare in rural Rajasthan. Competitive advantage The firm’s experience and expertise, investments in the latest technologies and superior materials translate to lower costs to clients. Although Unique Industries have been in the UAE for 40 years, it has a 100-year-old history. Being the fourth generation in this line of business means it comes with a whole wealth of experience and know-how. It has a resourceful staff consisting of designers, architects, and engineers having a good understanding of different architecture styles from around the world.
Adel M. Daud General Manager Unique Industries LLC Unique Industries is currently designing a mosque with elements from Fatimid and Mamluk architecture as the original design was indicative and not detailed. The application of the latest technology allows the company to understand and undertake complex works. Besides raw materials, all aspects of the group’s work are carried out in-house, allowing it to be commercially flexible with clients. Prominent projects in the UAE Unique Industries has carried out several projects for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MOPA), Abu Dhabi. These include Al Rawdah Palace, Al Hili Palace, Bateen Palace, Dhiyafah Palace, Al Jasyoorah Complex, etc. in Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain region. In Sharjah, it has worked on most government projects and landmark buildings in the last 20 to 25 years, such as carrying out decorative works for the entire Al Qasimia University complex including the administration building, library, masjid, theatre, its colleges, cafeteria buildings, manuscripts house, etc. The company has been awarded by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and
DRYWALL CONSTRUCTION AND ITS GROWING POPULARITY
Ruler of Sharjah, for its work in the Al Qasimia University complex. It was also recently awarded by His Excellency Engr. Ali Shaheen Al Suweidi, Chairman of the Directorate of Public Works Sharjah, for its work in the Holy Quran Academy, which is the largest Quran museum in the world. It also recently worked on the flagship Cartier showroom and the Cartier Café in the Dubai Mall. While there are several projects in the pipeline for the group, a noteworthy one the firm is working on right now are the HPGRC sculptures for the UAE Pavilion (Expo 2020 Dubai) designed by Emirati artist Asma Belhamar. Sustainable drywall Buildings and their construction contribute up to 40 per cent of global energy use and carbon emissions, Unique Industries reveals. Hence, a new trend is reducing the use of cement-based products in construction. One way to avoid or to reduce the dependence is by using drywall. These days, drywall manufacturers, too, are more environmentally conscious about their products and hence we now see a more eco-friendly solution. For example, gypsum fibreboards from one manufacturer which is made from recycled gypsum and paper waste. These boards are all-in-one, i.e., non-flammable, moisture-resistant, impact-resistant, and provides sound insulation. Some manufacturers provide ceiling and drywall boards made from construction waste like wood, etc. Using new, eco-friendly products for ceilings and partitions promote the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)/Green building initiative. Unique Industries’ vision The company wants to continue innovating its technology and practices, and help build the UAE’s architectural history and legacy.
As per Unique Industries, from the contractors’ and developers’ point of view, the biggest advantage of using drywall would be: TIME SAVING: Drywall can be built and finished quicker than conventional blockwork. Whether it is new construction or a renovation project, installing drywalls is a much quicker process than installing a conventional block wall partition. This is also because drywall is much lighter than concrete blocks. MAN-POWER SAVING: Installing drywall requires less manpower than conventional block walls and the added benefit is that it doesn’t require skilled people to install regular drywall, which is the case for blockwork. These days there is a shortage of skilled masons in the region. CLEAN CONSTRUCTION: As the name suggests, the installation of drywall is a dry/clean process compared to conventional block walls. There is no water involved hence there is no mess. That’s why drywall partitions are preferred in malls and offices etc. COST-SAVING: Because drywall is lightweight, the reinforced concrete structure of the building could be lean thereby making huge cost savings on the construction of the project. From the end user’s point of view too, drywalls provide various benefits such as: SPACE-SAVING: Drywall sections are thinner than regular block walls; hence, the use of drywall as internal partitions provides more floor space and increases the workability of the same space.
All pictures are from the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, the largest Quran Museum in the world inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
REFURBISHMENT: Modifications are much simpler when using drywall due to it being lightweight and easy to install. Rectification and last-minute changes to the layout are very easy when compared to regular blockwork. VERSATILE AND PURPOSE-BUILT: Drywall can be thin section and yet provide moisture resistance, fire resistance (up to 240 minutes), sound insulation, impact resistance, intrusion proof, etc. depending on the specific requirement of the end-user.
DRYWALLS, PARTITIONS, AND CEILINGS FIBROUS GYPSUM GLASSFIBER REINFORCED GYPSUM (GRG) ARCHITECTURAL GLASSFIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE (GRC) ULTRA HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE (UHPC-GRC) ARCHITECTURAL GLASSFIBER REINFORCED PLASTICS (GRP) SPECIAL WOODEN WORKS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTS ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION OF STEEL
Specialists in design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of Islamic/Arabic architectural designs. Our projects include a range of Palaces, Public Buildings, Mosques, Private Villas, Hotels, Luxury Boutiques and much more.
*Project - Holy Quran Academy, Sharjah Unique Industries LLC P O Box 3470, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates T: + 971 6 533 0519 | F: +971 6 532 6535 | info@uniquegypsum.com