The Evolution of Drywall: A Journey Through Time

At CKS Drywall MT, we've spent years perfecting the art of installing and finishing drywall in Montana's rugged homes and businesses. But have you ever stopped to wonder where this everyday building material came from? Drywall, that smooth, reliable backbone of modern interiors, has a surprisingly rich history. From ancient plasters to wartime innovations, let's dive into the story of how drywall transformed construction forever.

Ancient Roots in Plaster: The story begins long before factories and sheetrock. As far back as ancient Egypt, around 3,500 BCE, builders used gypsum-based plasters mixed with lime and horsehair to create durable walls in pyramids and homes. These early mixtures were applied wet over wooden lath (thin strips of wood), drying into solid surfaces that resisted fire and weather. The Greeks, Romans, and medieval Europeans refined this technique, using it in grand structures like the Colosseum. Plaster was labor-intensive but effective—until the industrial age demanded faster solutions.