Install drywall on interior cement blocks.
Cement blocks provide structural integrity and are common in basement construction, but they're also cold, sometimes damp, and aren't aesthetically pleasing as an interior wall finish. Drywall panels can turn a cement block basement into a finished living space. You'll need a few carpenter's tools, an assistant and a little construction knowledge.
Instructions
Wall Prep
1. Line the interior of the cement block walls with vapor barrier fabric. The cement blocks can "sweat," and it's essential that they not come into direct contact with the dimensional lumber.
2. Frame the interior of the cement block walls with 2-by-4 studs. Basement framing studs install with the flat side against the blocks, 16 inches apart measured on-center.
3. Use a hammer drill and concrete screws to fasten the studs to the wall, leaving a 1/2-inch space at the bottom, so the wood doesn't touch the basement floor.
Drywall Installation
4. Install the largest drywall sheets you can comfortably handle. The sheets come in 4-foot widths and 8-foot or 10-foot lengths. Using long sheets cuts down on taping later.
5. Push the first drywall sheet horizontally against the ceiling. Start in a corner. Snug the drywall panel as tightly as possible against the ceiling.
6. Insert drywall screws every 8 inches through the drywall panel and into the studs beneath. You'll need an assistant to hold the heavy panels in place while you insert the screws. Countersink the screw heads about 1/8 inch to prevent snagging when you're applying joint compound.
7. Repeat the process with the next upper sheet and continue to install drywall on the upper wall, all the way around the room, before installing the bottom row of drywall.
Finishing the Wall
8. Apply a coat of joint compound to every seam in the drywall, with a 6-inch taping knife. Use a 10-inch taping knife to fine-tune the compound, pulling the flat edge over the damp compound until it's flush with the wall.
9. Add a strip of drywall mesh tape on top of a seam while it's still damp. Use your taping knife to smooth the mesh into the compound.
10. Add more compound on top of the mesh, and smooth it out along the seam. Work quickly, but carefully; joint compound dries within minutes on a hot day.
11. Air out the room and let the seams dry before sanding down rough spots and adding another thin coat of joint compound to the seams. The compound may shrink slightly as it dries, so you may need three or four thin coats.
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