An insight into the reasons behind the unpopularity of drywall systems in the Iranian construction industry

Abstract

The building industry in developed countries has seen major growth during the past century, but Iran, as a developing country, has not yet experienced similar development. In developed countries, various prefabricated materials which accelerate the speed of construction are used in the industry. One such prefabricated material is drywall, which is used globally for the finishing construction of interior walls and ceilings. Although generally available, drywall has failed to gain popularity in the Iranian building industry. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that cause this unpopularity. Seven potential influencing factors, cost, culture, overall quality, availability of installation teams, quality of finished surfaces, high skill requirements and the nature of clients, were identified through a review of the literature and interviews with consultants and contractors involved in the Iranian building industry. These factors were included in a questionnaire in order to analyze their significance and to rate their effect in the industry. The responses to the questionnaires from 30 construction companies were statistically analyzed. The results of the data analysis indicate that four factors are statistically significant in influencing the unpopularity of drywall: culture, clients, availability of installation teams, and high skill requirements. The factors were ranked according to their importance.