Wallboard is a kind of board made of gypsum and paper or of fibers of wood, cane, or other materials. It is used to cover large areas such as walls and ceilings. Wallboard gives protection against fire and weather, and insulation against heat and cold. It absorbs sound and also serves as a decoration. Wallboard is made in sheets 1/10 inch to 3 inches (2.5 to 76 millimeters) thick. It is made in sections up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide and 20 feet (6 meters) long. A wall that has its surface covered with wallboard is called a dry wall. Wallboard itself is often called drywall. A type of wallboard called plasterboard, often sold under the trade name Sheetrock, has a core of gypsum sandwiched between layers of heavy paper.
Fiberboard is made from wood or cane fiber pressed into sheets. The fibers may be loosely compressed, leaving air spaces for good heat insulation and sound absorption. The surface is usually fibrous, but some is veneered with paper-thin sheets of decorative woods. Fiberboard is used for interior surfaces and also for outside wall sheathing.
Hardboard is a kind of wallboard also used in making furniture. It is made by heating specially treated masses of wood fibers with small amounts of adhesive and placing them under pressure to form a dense, hard board. Tempered board is made by further treatment of hardboard with chemicals and heat to improve durability.
