Sheetrock is the modern answer to old-fashioned plaster walls. The boards are made of gypsum (chalk), covered in paper and manufactured in sheets of 4-by-8 feet. You screw them to the wall studs in courses, from the bottom of the wall up. The seams are "taped" and covered in joint compound, which is a type of plaster.
Instructions
1. Measure from one end of the wall to the last stud within 8 feet. Move the tape back 3/4 inch, so it's on the middle of the edge of the stud.
2. Mark the measurements on a sheet of sheetrock. Draw a straight line over the surface with a level and pencil. Cut along the line with a razor knife, scoring it. Snap the piece in two at the line.
3. Hold the cut piece to the wall, with the cut end facing into the corner and the factory edge sitting at the middle of the stud. Sink screws every 8 to 10 inches along each stud behind the sheetrock, using a screw gun.
4. Hang additional sheets over the remaining portion of the wall, off the side of the first sheet and up the wall. Position the sheets so they're staggered, with no four-way intersections. Cut out holes for electrical sockets or other obstructions as needed with your drywall saw.
5. Affix drywall mesh tape over the seams between the sheets. Use a drywall knife to spread joint compound each taped seam. Get it smooth and flat. Allow the compound to dry for six to eight hours.
6. Spread a second layer over the seams, keeping it thin and flat. Let it dry and spread on a third layer. Let the third layer dry for 12 hours.
7. Sand the third layer lightly with the drywall sander, getting it flat and smooth.
Related posts
Sheetrock (another word for drywall) is compressed gypsum made into wide flat sheets and covered with paper. It can be used to form walls and ceilings. Unlike plaster, drywall doesn't crack. If cr...
Sheetrock (also called drywall) is used to build walls and ceilings, providing a flat, even surface. It's installed in sections, and then the seams are "taped" and covered in joint compo...
Mobile homes generally come with vinyl paneled walls instead of sheetrock, unless you pay extra. There is no real reason you cannot have thicker sheetrock walls and it will increase the value of t...
Stained sheetrock should be primed and re-painted.Sheetrock, or drywall, is the preferred material today for covering walls and ceilings (as opposed to the old-fashioned approach of plastering). W...
Feathered joint compound extending from the sheetrock seams helps to keep the joints smooth and invisible.Covering the joints between sheetrock panels requires a combination of drywall tape and jo...
