Trends in drywall are slowly migrating towards specialty panels that have built-in advantages over standard panels. One popular example is the 5/8” UltraLight Panel, which in the case of Type X drywall, is up to 30% lighter than standard 5/8” panels.

This reduction in weight makes a big difference in both installation time as well as the strain on the installers themselves. CGC, the manufacturer of Sheetrock^® Brand UltraLight Panels, commissioned a field study with premier consulting and research firm Ducker Worldwide. This study was to evaluate the impact that the use of 5/8” UltraLight panels has on contractors who perform drywall work out in the field. They found that the use of these panels provided a savings of up to 10% in overall project installation time and up to 26% in ceiling installation time.

Testimonials by contractors and drywall installation professionals alike found that projects progressed faster and more smoothly with UltraLight, thus providing instant time savings. One installer stated, “If I could save one hour each day on a project, by the end of the week I could do five units and not have to finish over the weekend. I could get more work in, and make more money.”

CGC Sheetrock Brand UltraLight Panels are available in Firecode^® X, the lightest 5/8” Type X panels available. They also come in Firecode 30, up to 30% lighter than standard 5/8” Type X. These are ideal for non-rated, wood- and steel- framed, single-layer partitions or where building codes require only 30-minute fire ratings.