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 the home. If you recently purchased a home with these panels, you can replace them fairly easily with a few basic tools and supplies. The process isn't complicated but does require some work.
Instructions
1. Pop the seam strips off that cover the seams between the vinyl panel boards. Use a putty knife to remove them.
2. Unscrew the vinyl board panels and toss them out. Use a drill to take out the screws.
3. Add studs to the wall in between the ones that are already there. The studs on a mobile home are a little further apart than regular walls, so this will help secure the drywall properly. Measure the height between the top and bottom plate. Measure and cut 2-by-4s to this length with a circular saw.
4. Set the new studs between the old ones. Use 3-inch nails and hammer them in to the ends of the new studs. Insert them at an angle so that they go through the studs and into plates.
5. Raise the sheetrock to the walls so that its length is horizontal to the floor. Start in one corner of the wall and drill it to the wooden studs with drywall screws. Continue hanging the sheetrock until you cover the wall. If you need to cut the material, use a utility knife to cut through it along your measure marks. Measure out and cut out openings on the wall for outlets and vents.
6. Drill metal plate covers over outside corners on walls. This will protect them from damage.
7. Use a mudding knife to spread drywall mud, or compound, to the seams between pieces as well as over screw heads and metal corner plates. Spread just a thin layer. Along seams place strips of drywall tape and smooth them down. Spread another layer of mud over the tape. Let it dry until the next day.
8. Sand the mud the next day and then spread on another layer of mud. Feather this layer out farther than the last to give the wall the illusion that it's completely flat. Let this dry another day and then sand lightly to smooth. Finish walls as you like such as with paint or wallpaper.
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