Drywall is a panel of gypsum board used to form interior walls and ceilings. It is also called sheetrock or plasterboard. It replaced plaster and lath in the mid-20th century because it was faster, cheaper, and easier to install. A drywall panel is a sheet of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of paper. It comes in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets. It is fastened to wood or metal studs with screws or nails. The joints are taped and mudded to create a smooth surface. In the kitchen, the equivalent is the backsplash. It covers the wall. It protects the surface. It is the finish. It is not drywall. But it is a wall covering. It is the kitchen's drywall. It is the kitchen's finish. It is the kitchen's skin.

Drywall comes in several types. Regular drywall is for most interior walls. Moisture-resistant drywall, often green, is for bathrooms and kitchens. Fire-resistant drywall, often Type X, is for garages and furnace rooms. Soundproof drywall is denser and reduces noise transmission. Impact-resistant drywall is for schools and hospitals. The type is specified by the code and the design. In the kitchen, the backsplash can be tile, stone, glass, or metal. It is moisture-resistant. It is fire-resistant. It is impact-resistant. It is the right material for the right place. It is the drywall of the kitchen.

Drywall installation is a trade. The hangers fasten the panels to the framing. The tapers finish the joints with tape and joint compound. The finishers sand the surface smooth. The work is dusty, repetitive, and demanding. A good drywall finish is invisible. A bad one shows every seam and screw. In the kitchen, the backsplash installation is a trade. The tiler sets the tile. The grout fills the joints. The work is precise, repetitive, and demanding. A good backsplash is beautiful. A bad one is a mess. The drywall is the wall. The backsplash is the wall. Both are finishes. Both are essential. Both are the same. Both are the skin of the room.