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Drywall

Drywall is wall building material formed from gypsum plaster (CaSO₄.½ H₂O) surrounded by a paper liner.  It’s also known as gypsum board, wallboard, or by specific brand names and trademarks.  It’s typically available in 4’ and 4.5’ wide sheets of various lengths.  Drywall is typically about a half-inch thick, but can range in thickness form ¼ inch to a full inch thick. It’s generally mounted on 1.5” thick 2’x4’ wood studs that are mounted to the wall, with metal studs being sometimes used as well.

According to ColoradoEnergy.org, a typical ½ inch thick sheet of drywall has an R-rating of 0.45, with an airspace behind the studs allowing for an additional R-1 rating.  Insulations added behind the drywall will vary depending on the materials used.

When installed in a home, drywall provides the advantage of being made of inexpensive, lightweight materials. The white finish of the materials gives them a uniform and traditional look when compared with other typical buildings.

However, when finishing a basement, the initial appearance and the price can be argued to be the only advantages to these materials, and both of these advantages are short-lived. Here are some of the most significant disadvantages to drywall:

1. Drywall breaks easily on impacts, leaving unattractive holes that are difficult to patch without an noticeable mark.
   
2. Drywall cannot support heavy weights.  Cabinets, shelves, a plasma TV, and other objects will need to depend on wood studs to support their weight.  Studs can be unevenly or inconveniently placed and sometimes difficult to find.
   
3. During installation, drywall generates an enormous amount of dust and debris.  If you’re finishing a basement in a lived-in home, the dust can spread throughout the home, coating items and irritating eyes and throats.
   
4. Drywall is not designed to hold up against a plumbing failure or foundation flood.  When the basement leaks, the water heater fails, a pipe bursts, or a washing machine hose bursts, your drywall will be easily damaged and may need to be cut along the bottom and replaced after waterproofing.
   
5. Drywall- even mold-resistant drywall- is not warranted against mold.  As moisture makes its way continuously through a basement wall, it’s trapped behind the drywall, where it becomes a perfect environment for house mold and mildew, creating allergenic spores that can travel through the entire home.
   
6. Termites are able to hide behind drywall and feed off its paper.
   

Drywall makes a good choice for the upstairs area, but in a basement, there's just too much stacked against it to make it a wise installation.  Instead, look for a material that will not absorb water, can support weight without a stud, and has a substantial warranty against mold and flooding damage.

Further Reference:

House Mold Issues