Drywalls

Building Walls of Trust

This paneling expert is leaving no stone unturned to make drywall the preferred building method

Brick and mortar have forlong been considered as the only form of qualitative building method. But this belief is changing fast as drywall, an alternative construction method, is gaining acceptance among builders and professionals alike. And ceiling system and drywall specialist Saint Gobain Gyproc India (SGGI) is pushing hard to make drywall the first choice in construction. 

Unlike a traditional wall made of bricks and cement, a drywall is made of metal frame sandwiched between gypsum panels. The panels themselves are made of plaster compressed in between two thick sheets of paper. Drywall panels are available in various sizes and finishes, and can be painted or tiled at site after the joints have been neatly taped up. As is evident, drywall reduces the dead load from a building, and is also quick to install and requires absolutely no use of water. Since it turns out to be thinner than brick walls, it creates more space in the building. What’s more, due to the versatility of this concept, drywall is most suited to conceal pre-fabricated structures like pipelines and plumbing fixtures.

According to Hemant Khurana (hemant.khurana@saint-gobain.com), SGGI’s VP sales & marketing, “Drywall as a concept is finding acceptance in the hospitality, healthcare and residential segments, and the response from the healthcare sector has been highly encouraging.” Though he admits that the shift from traditional brick-block construction requires a change in perception, both of clients and developers, he adds that there has been a noticeable progress in terms of acceptance for the use of drywall.

SGGI has adopted a 360º approach towards spreading awareness about drywall systems. Khurana says, “In order to reach out to the key decision makers for projects, we undertake various marketing and sales initiatives, which include sector-specific media. Our public relation activities highlight the benefits of drywalls against traditional construction methods. This is in addition to our efforts to strengthen the distribution network, to ensure that components of drywalls are available in all regions of the country.”

Khurana informs that since drywall is in a nascent stage in India, a lot of ground work needs to be done to build up critical mass, and arrive at a stage where it becomes a matter of routine. “Our efforts revolve around increasing one to one contact with decision makers, and showing them what a drywall can accomplish. This is a slow, incremental approach but also the most rewarding, since our expertise comes across with every discussion.”

The company considers exhibitions and trade fairs to be the best method of showcasing drywall technology, by setting up experience centres and concept homes where visitors can get a touch and feel of the concept. “Besides, our accounts team in every region connects individually with architects and designers to update them on recent developments,” he says.

As drywall replaces masonry structures, it is required to prove itself each time on the basis of aesthetics, acoustics, fire resistance and thermal insulation. This means it will be only as effective as the skills of its installer. “Major aspects of the metal framing, installation of boards, finishing of joints, planning for loads and routing services are some essential technical details involved in the installation of a drywall,” Khurana explains. And this is the reason why SGGI is investing heavily in creating a base of skilled installers who can build drywalls that measure up to all the required parameters.

The company has set up Gyproc Academy in Delhi, Bengaluru and Wada (Mumbai), where training programmes are conducted for contractors and applicators. The focus here is on building awareness about the systems, and the basics of installation and finishing. “We also offer advanced programmes where techniques of loading on drywalls, installation of fixtures, and planning of services are discussed. Every academy has a classroom where the technicalities are first shared, and a demonstration area where these are practically shown for first-hand experience.” Clearly, SGGI is making going back to school worthwhile, both through its marketing initiatives as well as its thrust on skill development. 

Vandana Vashista