Jawdah Drywall Solutions3 options
Drywall Boards: Choosing Between Gypsum, Acoustic and Cement Boards
Drywall boards are the factory-made sheets that form the visible face of ceilings, partitions and linings; Jawdah's board range centres on gypsum plasterboards and acoustic perforated plasterboards, with cement boards listed as a separate category.
- Gypsum types
- RG / FR / MR / FMR
- Gypsum thicknesses
- 9.5, 12.5, 15, 16, 18 mm
- Acoustic thicknesses
- 9.5 / 12.5 mm
- Perforation patterns
- PE-01 to PE-06
- Standard size
- 1200 × 2400 mm
The range
Choose your solution
Jawdah's drywall boards fall into three families. Gypsum plasterboards (RG, FR, MR, FMR; 1200 × 2400 mm; 9.5 to 18 mm) cover most interior walls and ceilings. Acoustic perforated plasterboards (9.5 and 12.5 mm, GYPCO PE-01 to PE-06) add sound absorption. Cement boards are a separate category for which Jawdah has not yet published product data; specifications are confirmed on request.
The board is the part of a drywall system that users see and touch, and it decides how a wall or ceiling copes with humidity, fire and sound. Choosing the board family is therefore the first decision in any drywall package, before thickness, edge or framing.
This page compares the three board families in Jawdah's drywall range and points to the detailed pages: gypsum boards for the RG, FR, MR and FMR range and its specifications, and cement boards for general guidance on that category. Acoustic perforated plasterboards are summarised here and shown in use on the wall lining page.
Why the board family comes first
Every drywall board is a flat sheet with a core and a facing, but the core material changes everything about where the board can go. A gypsum core is light, easy to cut and finish, and slows heat transfer; a cement core is heavier and is typically chosen where water or impact is expected. A perforated gypsum board turns a reflective surface into a sound-absorbing one. Choosing the family first prevents the most expensive mistakes, because the framing, screws and finishes all follow from it.
Within the gypsum family, Jawdah offers four types tailored to the room: Regular, Fire Resistant, Moisture Resistant and Fire & Moisture Resistant. Within the acoustic family, it offers six perforation patterns.
What Jawdah states about its boards
Jawdah manufactures its gypsum boards in Saudi Arabia and supplies them directly to contractors. The boards have an asbestos-free, non-combustible core, natural-finish face paper and strong liner paper; the long edges are recessed for joint treatment and the ends are square-cut. Jawdah gives the board material as complying with ASTM C1396 and EN-520, tested per ASTM C473-06a, and notes that weight and core density vary according to thickness and type.
The acoustic perforated plasterboards are produced on a specialised perforation line in a standard 1200 × 2400 mm size, with a white fibreglass acoustic tissue on the back and a face that can be supplied without finish or painted, including anti-bacterial paint on request.
- Gypsum board thicknesses: 9.5, 12.5, 15, 16, 18 mm
- Acoustic board thicknesses: 9.5, 12.5 mm
- Edge types: tapered and square
- Acoustic test references: BS EN ISO 354, BS EN ISO 11654, ASTM C423
- Documents: Gypsum Plasterboard TDS and Acoustic Perforated Gypsum Plasterboard TDS, on request
Most rooms in a building can be served from the gypsum family. The table matches room conditions to board choices using Jawdah's selection guidance for gypsum types and general guidance for the other families.
| Room condition | Suggested board |
|---|---|
| Dry offices, corridors, bedrooms | Gypsum RG |
| Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry (humid) | Gypsum MR |
| Shafts or walls needing additional fire performance | Gypsum FR |
| Wet areas inside fire-rated construction | Gypsum FMR |
| Meeting rooms, auditoriums, studios needing absorption | Acoustic perforated plasterboard |
| Showers, tiled wet zones, impact-prone areas | Cement board (general practice; Jawdah data on request) |
Use this overview to decide which family to read about in detail. Values for the gypsum families are from Jawdah product data; cement board values are not yet published by Jawdah.
| Family | What it is | Jawdah data | Detail page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gypsum plasterboard | Gypsum core in face and liner paper | RG / FR / MR / FMR; 1200 × 2400 mm; 9.5 to 18 mm | Gypsum Boards |
| Acoustic perforated plasterboard | Perforated gypsum board with fibreglass acoustic tissue | 9.5 and 12.5 mm; PE-01 to PE-06; NRC and SAA 0.25 to 0.9 | Lining Solutions |
| Cement board | Cement-based board for wet or demanding areas | Not published; on request | Cement Boards |
A simple decision path
Ask four questions in order. Is the surface in direct contact with water, such as a shower wall? If yes, consider cement board and request data. Does the room need sound absorption on the surface? If yes, choose acoustic perforated plasterboard and pick a pattern. Does the specification call for extra fire performance? If yes, choose FR, or FMR where humidity is also present. Otherwise, RG gypsum board, or MR in humid rooms, will cover the need.
After the family and type, choose the thickness and edge. Jawdah's gypsum boards run from 9.5 to 18 mm; tapered edges are used where joints will be taped and finished flush, square edges where the design calls for them.
Confirm the selection for your project with the Jawdah team.
This comparison reflects general industry characteristics, not Jawdah-measured values. Use it to decide which page to read, then confirm the actual product data before specifying.
| Aspect | Gypsum board | Cement board |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Cutting | Score and snap | Score, snap or saw |
| Water | MR types resist humidity; not for standing water | Typically tolerates repeated wetting |
| Finish | Joint tape, compound, paint | Usually tiled or rendered |
| Typical use | Most interior walls and ceilings | Tile backer, wet and demanding zones |
Product family
Jawdah Drywall SolutionsThis range
Drywall Boards: Choosing Between Gypsum, Acoustic and Cement Boards
Options · 3
Core materials and what they mean on site
Gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) is the core of plasterboard. Its chemically bound water is why gypsum construction is used for fire separation, and it is soft enough to score and snap with a knife, which makes site work fast. Paper facings give tensile strength and a surface that takes paint directly after joint treatment.
Cement boards, in general industry practice, use a cement-based core reinforced with fibres or mesh. They are heavier, are cut with scoring tools or saws, and tolerate repeated wetting better, which is why they are commonly used as a tile backer in showers and wet areas. Jawdah's own data for cement boards is pending, so their properties on this page are general education only.
Fibreglass acoustic tissue, used on the back of Jawdah's perforated boards, is a thin non-woven layer that covers the holes from behind and supports sound absorption.
These mistakes show up as damp patches, cracked joints or disappointed acousticians after handover.
- Using moisture-resistant gypsum board where water will stand or splash continuously
- Assuming a perforated board also improves sound insulation between rooms
- Ordering thickness without checking the framing and screw lengths
- Specifying a cement board brand value that the supplier has not confirmed
- Mixing board families on one surface without a planned joint
Jawdah produces gypsum boards in the Kingdom and supplies them alongside framing, accessories and access panels, so a project can buy the board and everything needed to install it from one supplier. Its gypsum board pages list the full type, thickness and standards data, and the team can confirm cement board availability and data for a specific project.
Key facts
- Jawdah's drywall board range covers gypsum plasterboards, acoustic perforated plasterboards and cement boards.
- Jawdah gypsum plasterboards come in RG, FR, MR and FMR types, 1200 × 2400 mm, 9.5 to 18 mm thick.
- Jawdah acoustic perforated plasterboards are 9.5 or 12.5 mm thick with GYPCO PE-01 to PE-06 patterns.
- Jawdah gypsum boards have an asbestos-free, non-combustible gypsum core.
- Jawdah has not published cement board product data; values are confirmed on request.
- Jawdah manufactures its gypsum boards in Saudi Arabia.
RFQ / BOQ checklist
- Board family: gypsum, acoustic perforated or cement
- Gypsum type: RG, FR, MR or FMR
- Thickness and edge type
- Perforation pattern code for acoustic boards
- Face finish for acoustic boards
- Quantities by room or area
- Wet-area extent and finishes
- Fire or acoustic requirements in the specification
- Framing and screw requirements
- Delivery location and schedule
Gypsum plasterboards in RG, FR, MR and FMR types, acoustic perforated plasterboards with six GYPCO patterns, and a cement board category whose product data is available on request.
In the market the names are used for the same product family. Jawdah notes its gypsum board is also specified as gypsum wallboard, gypsum drywall board or plasterboard.
For surfaces in direct contact with water, cement board is the usual general choice; Jawdah's cement board data is confirmed on request. Moisture-resistant gypsum board suits humid rooms, not standing water.
No. Jawdah's acoustic perforated plasterboards are available in 9.5 and 12.5 mm, while plain gypsum boards run 9.5, 12.5, 15, 16 and 18 mm.
Yes. Jawdah states that its boards have an asbestos-free, non-combustible gypsum core.
ASTM C1396 and EN-520, tested per ASTM C473-06a / Clauses 11, 12 and 13, as stated in Jawdah's product data.
Yes, a common general practice is cement board in the shower zone and moisture-resistant gypsum board elsewhere, with a planned joint and suitable finishes where they meet.
Request the Gypsum Plasterboard Technical Data Sheet and the Acoustic Perforated Gypsum Plasterboard Technical Data Sheet from the Jawdah team.
Talk to Jawdah
Not sure which board family fits?
Send your room schedule and specification. Jawdah will recommend gypsum, acoustic or cement boards for each area and confirm the available data.