Hanging drywall is one step in home building that can be completed by an amateur. It can help you finish an addition or build an additional wall in a room. There are a few ways to install drywall. One includes taping the seams, the other is to use drywall mud only. This article gives you a few techniques for professional installation of drywall.
Installation
Drywall is installed universally in one of two ways. It is first positioned on the wall by lifting the drywall sheet at setting it into place. The drywall is then screwed to the frame boards using a power drill and drywall screws. Some people will nail the drywall sheets to the wall, but this application is rarely used anymore. To find the studs, simply measure 16 inches from the last exposed stud. If it is the first sheet, you can measure from the corner to find the first stud. You can also use an electronic stud finder to locate and mark studs.
Cutting
If the drywall needs to be cut, it can be cut by laying a ruler or some other straight edge across the line to be cut, then scoring the line with a razor blade. The drywall is then laid onto a board and snapped just be applying pressure to the shorter section. Another method is to use a drywall saw. This is a good idea for cutting sections out of drywall. The section is marked with a pencil, then a hole is drilled on the line and the drywall saw is forced through the hole. Pulling the saw back and forth will cut the section out of the drywall.
Taping and Mudding
Drywall is installed in sheets one next to the other. Between them is a tapered seam. This seam can be taped first and then covered in drywall joint compound or mud. Run the tape along the seam, then apply the mud. Use a generous amount of mud on a trowel and then apply it in one continuous motion. Use the edges of the trowel to smooth the mud. You can place the trowel so the edges lay right on the drywall, and the center is over the area with the mud. Just drawing it down and across the mud will flatten and smooth the joint.
Lifting
Drywall can be lifted into place by hand onto walls and held in place by one person, while another person fastens the top to the frame boards with screws. This is the common method and strategy to lifting and installing. Another way is to use a drywall lifter, a machine that can install drywall on ceilings. Place the drywall sheet onto the frame of the machine right under the area of the ceiling it is to be applied, and then crank the handle which extends the frame and places the drywall into position where it can be screwed to the ceiling joists.
The next day
After the joint compound has dried overnight, you'll need to sand it down with sandpaper and apply another coat. Typically, at least 3 coats of compound are needed for a truly finished look. Allow each coat to dry, then lightly sand the compound before applying the next coat. Once the final coat is on, allow it to dry thoroughly before sanding. Now the drywall and compound are ready for painting.
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