When it comes time to drywall at a project, often that means that the job is almost complete. The plumbing has been taken care of, framing and HVAC system has been installed. This time of the project is also when mistakes become evident. If the plumbing, HVAC, and framing have been done poorly, then that makes drywalling even more difficult. The mistakes will show. Here are a fews tips and important things to know when it come to drywall.
First off it is important to know which kind of drywall you should be using. It is always best to get 5/8” Gypsum wall board rather than 1/2” thickness. The 5/8” is a stiffer board and will hide imperfections in the framing. This will also help save you time and extra work checking for other framing problems that may become evident after the project is complete. If you have the ceiling and the walls to drywall, you will want to start with the ceiling and work down to the walls.
If you have the ceiling to drywall first, then start at the corner of the ceiling. Make sure the edges are perpendicular to strapping or joists and one end should be tight to the wall. Drive five screws, evenly spaced, in a line across the panel's width and into the joist or strapping. Keep screws at least ½ inch from all edges. Drive the screwheads slightly below the surface of the drywall. Don't drive them too far that they break through though. Repeat this at each joist or piece of strapping until the ceiling is covered. Make sure you mark the drywall panel when you cover an electrical box or light fixtures. Use a rotary cut-out tool to open up the drywall where the electrical is at.
When you move onto the walls, start at the top and move to the bottom. Hang panels right over any window or door openings. The excess will be trimmed later. Make sure no seams line up with a door or window corner.
Alignment is key. Door and window heads should line up inside as well as on the outside. You will sometimes need to offset adjacent framing so that when different types of finishes are added to surfaces, you still get alignment. Check the wall and ceiling flatness during taping whenever cabinets meet drywall. Once cabinets are installed in the room you are drywalling, an uneven wall or ceiling becomes more evident.
Sutherlands is the place to go for drywall. We have different options to choose from so you are sure to find the right kind for your drywall needs!
