Taping drywall requires a fine touch.
When compared to the old plaster-and-lath method of interior wall construction, drywall is beneficial not only for reducing labor, but also for lowering the skill level required to install the panels. By following recommended installation guidelines, even do-it-yourselfers can successfully tackle drywall installation. However, the panels do present some disadvantages.
Size
When you're hanging drywall panels, the general rule is to use the largest panels you can safely manipulate. But the panels are large, 4-feet wide and up to 12 feet in length. To hang the panels, you must recruit multiple workers. Trying to hold an overhead panel in place to install drywall screws can be stressful on your neck and shoulders.
Installation Woes
Drywall panels feature a smooth paper face, and you may install the panels with nails or with drywall screws, which are preferable. Drywall screws feature a trumpet-shaped head designed to sink into the panel's paper face without tearing the paper. If you insert the screw too far, however, and tear the paper, the holding integrity is compromised, and you must install another screw. The same goes for nails.
The Dust Factor
Installing drywall creates clouds of dust. The biggest dust culprits are the power saws used to cut the drywall panels and sanding down the walls after the application of joint compound. You must wear protective eyewear and a respirator mask.
Taping Issues
A bad taping job translates into a lumpy finished wall. Taping, which consists of filling the seams between the drywall panels with wet joint compound and smoothing it out, can be more difficult than it first appears. The compound shrinks during drying, requiring multiple applications and thorough sanding between each coat. Not installing the panels snugly creates large joints that can be tough to smooth out. Another taping problem can occur if you install cut edges of drywall panels together. A factory edge has an almost imperceptible indentation designed to accommodate tape and compound, but when you join two cut edges, called a "butt joint," there is no indentation. After taping, the wall may show a swell over the joint.
Address the Problems
Rent a drywall lift to raise large panels for installation on the ceiling. You'll still have to position the panels snugly, but a lift reduces considerable labor and neck strain. Use a drywall screw gun to install the panels. To keep from tearing the paper face, a drywall screw gun features a special bit encased in a tip with a protective shoulder that keeps you from inserting the screw too deeply into the panel. Rent an orbital drywall sander with a vacuum attachment to reduce the dust from sanding drywall. You'll still need to wear a respirator mask because the sander won't remove all of the dust, but it will significantly reduce it.
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