They say that colors vary according to taste and in this matter it was no different. The truth is that there are detractors and defenders in favor of both options, but really... Are these thoughts founded?
In Spain we have always used ceramic brick partitions, so tradition is quite important and although plasterboard arrived in our country a quarter of a century ago, a large part of society is still skeptical about the use of this material.
If you prefer the so-called “real walls”, I advise you to use at least a 7 cm brick (machete brick). There are narrower pieces (3 cm strips, 4 cm strips and partition brick), although I do not recommend using them to build self-supporting walls, much less if you later need to incorporate electrical or plumbing installations inside; Those partitions will remain like Gruyere cheese after the execution of slashes and will be very weakened. To achieve thicker partitions we can use 9 cm double hollow brick or ½ foot bricks with thicknesses around 11 cm).
For their part, the plasterboard partitions are formed by a central metal structure to which plasterboard plates are screwed on both sides. Depending on the type of plate we place and the total thickness, we can create partitions for different uses. There are special plates for wet rooms (kitchens and bathrooms) with water-repellent characteristics, plates for spaces with fire-retardant properties, plates with reinforced hardness for areas susceptible to impacts, etc. Furthermore, in the central core we can incorporate the insulation that is necessary in each case (mineral wool blankets, extruded polystyrene, etc.) This system allows us to add plates of different thicknesses (between 13-15 mm thickness) to one side/ both sides of the central structure that substantially improve the final characteristics of the wall.
Which system is faster? Plasterboard partitioning is a job that can be executed more quickly, we reduce deadlines and generate almost no debris.
Which one isolates more? In my opinion, plasterboard partitions undoubtedly provide much better performance. For similar thicknesses, with plasterboard plates we achieve better thermal and acoustic insulation. The brick itself hardly provides any type of insulation and the only way to improve its qualities is to increase the thickness of the wall, which reduces space in the rooms.
And how are they priced? Regarding the price, it must be said that in general the costs are similar. Although brick is a priori a much cheaper material, these walls must be covered on both sides with plaster and/or mortar to later be painted or tiled, so the final price of the wall is quite similar.
What if I want to hang something on the wall? Although we think that a plasterboard partition is hollow inside and that this will not allow us to hang pictures or decorative elements on the walls, nothing could be further from the truth. There are special pieces that reinforce the area that we want to drill, improving the resistance of the partition and allowing us to support radiators, shelves, pictures, shelves, etc.
In the end, what is important in both cases is good execution. So decide the material you like the most and start moving the walls of your house!
