Recently, a heated discussion comparing Gypsum and plaster ceilings erupted between one of these popular online contractors and myself on Facebook.
The contractor had posted a video advising people or in his own opinion, potential clients that while building a house, they can save a lot of cost by going for gypsum rather than the normal “boring” plaster and paint ceiling.
Being a construction cost consultant, I found his comments not only laughable but also very misleading.
And here is why;
Gypsum Cost
Let me begin with his most misleading line of thought which is cost.
Let us take a hypothetical house whose total ceiling area is 400 square metres.
Now, the current market rate of plaster is Ksh.400-500 per square meter. In case you use plaster, you will need to paint it at a rate of Ksh.400-500 per square meter.
On the higher side, plaster and paint will cost you a total of 1000 per square metres leading to a total cost of Ksh. 400,000 (400x1000=400000).
Take the cost of gypsum which is roughly done at Ksh.3000 per square metres which translates to a whooping Ksh. 3,000,000 for the entire house. (In fact, his rate for gypsum is Ksh.3500 which is higher than the market rates).
Of course, we all know that the house can’t be done entirely in plaster and paint due to wet areas and exposed MEP pipes but my point is gypsum is already more expensive than plaster and paint for this hypothetical house of 400 square metres by Ksh. 2,600,000. (3,000,000-400,000).
Design Alterations
You see, gypsum or false ceiling as it is also known, is a very elegant and aesthetic ceiling BUT only when properly used.
The reason why I put the word but in capital is because there now seems to have emerged a craze for the ceiling which honestly has ruined its reputation.
You see, most Kenyans don’t involve or even know that construction professionals exist. They only go for some fundi ignoring the need for an interior designer or architect.
And this fundi, let me call him Mjuaji, will not build as per the needs of the client. They will always try to input some crazy designs they saw on some other site or even on same YouTube tutorial.
They will install some crazy designs even in areas which should have been done in a cheaper ceiling such as plaster and thus push the cost of your building through the roof.
A gypsum ceiling is, yes, simple to do some awesome designs but also serves other purposes such as hiding visible ducts and mechanical pipes.
Always engage an interior designer as they know the true purpose of this ceiling.
Too Much Bulkheads and Recess
Another reason gypsum should be used sparingly and after a proper Interior Designer is involved, is because it can lead to too much recesses and bulkheads.
Bulkheads are those vertical edges and recess are the hidden parts.
And the trouble is most of these call for hidden snake lights to be installed leading to too much un-necessary lighting and also pushing the budget higher.
Here are some examples of some over lit, expensive gypsum areas;
Durability
Gypsum with time starts wearing off and peeling off especially if it is overly done and also done by some incompetent fundi.
I am not saying it is not durable, but it less durable than plaster and paint.
Anyway, my key advice to you is always engage an interior designer or architect for your project.
Negotiate consultation fees rather than let a fundi lead you to breaking your bank over something avoidable.
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