Drywall ready to be painted.
When an interior wall is constructed, there are two main components to the job: building the frame and covering the frame with drywall (also called Sheetrock). Drywall consists of gypsum board that is wrapped in paper and connected to the framing where it is then painted or covered in wallpaper or paneling. Installing drywall is a project that a do-it-yourself homeowner can complete with the help of an assistant.
Instructions
1. Hold a sheet of drywall up to the ceiling joists in one corner of the room with the help of an assistant. On the drywall, mark the location of the center of the last ceiling joist that the drywall reaches. (The end of the drywall sheets need to be screwed into the ceiling joists and cannot meet in the gap between the joists.)
2. Measure and cut the sheets of drywall. To do this, hold a straight edge against the cut line and score the drywall with a utility knife. Stand the drywall up and snap it along the score line. For boards that are being installed over a fixture (such as a light), measure and mark the outline of the fixture on the drywall, and cut an opening with a jigsaw.
3. Lift the first drywall sheet against the ceiling joists in a corner. Drive five evenly-spaced drywall screws through the drywall and into the joists across the width of the drywall. Drive the heads of the screws slightly below the surface of the drywall and keep them 1/2-inch away from the edges of the sheets. Continue installing the drywall until the ceiling is complete.
4. Measure and cut the plywood sheets to fit on the walls, using the same method you used for the ceiling (only use the wall studs instead of the ceiling joists when measuring). Measure and cut holes needed for light switches and electrical outlets.
5. Lift the first drywall panel into the corner of the wall. Push the sheet against the ceiling and drive five evenly-spaced screws into the drywall. Keep the screws 1/2-inch away from the edges of the sheets and drive the screw heads slightly below the surface, just as you did with the ceiling. Continue installing the drywall until the walls have been finished.
6. Inspect the walls and tighten any screws that are loose. When inspecting the ceiling panels, make sure that the drywall is tight against the ceiling joists. If it is sagging, drive more screws into the drywall.
7. Fill the gaps between the drywall panels with joint compound. Use a 5-inch putty knife to completely fill the gaps. Scrape away any excess joint compound with the putty knife.
8. Run paper tape over the joint and press it into the compound. Run the putty knife over the tape in both directions, holding the knife at a 25-degree angle. Scrape away any excess joint compound with the putty knife. Repeat this process to tape all of the joints and corners. Allow the joint compound to dry overnight.
9. Sand the joint surfaces with a sanding block to make the surfaces smooth and uniform. Wipe the surface with a damp rag to remove any dust.
10. Apply more joint compound, using a 10-inch putty knife. Cover all of the joints and screwheads, and smooth the compound with the putty knife. Allow it to set overnight.
11. Sand the surface smooth again, and wipe it down with a damp rag. Apply one more layer of joint compound with the 10-inch putty knife, and allow it to dry overnight.
12. Sand the joints smooth again, and wipe them down with a damp rag. The walls are now ready for primer.
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