Professional drywall installation can be very costly.
Installing drywall is a relatively simple task. The material is easy to cut and size properly, it attaches to the wall with drywall screws, and any damage or mistakes can be covered with drywall compound. The hardest part of installing drywall involves the actual mounting of the sheets to the wall. Drywall is not a one-person job. Take your time measuring to minimize the need for cuts and limit the amount of scrap produced. Finishing the drywall is the easiest aspect of the project.
Instructions
Installing Drywall
1. Press the first, full sheet into an upper corner of the wall so that the 8-foot edge of the drywall sheet is horizontal and the 4-foot edge is vertical. Press the sheet firmly against the wall so that the upper edge is flush with the ceiling.
2. Drive 2-inch drywall screws through the sheet of drywall into each of the wall studs. Space the screws approximately 6 to 8 inches apart vertically. Drive the head of the screw to just beneath the surface of the drywall. Run your finger over the head of the screw to make sure the head does not protrude. Add your subsequent pieces adjacent to the first and pressed up against the ceiling to complete the row.
3. Measure and cut end pieces carefully. Measure from the upper corner to the wall along the ceiling and from the lower corner to the wall. Transfer those measurements to a sheet of drywall. Use a straightedge to draw a line connecting the upper and lower measurements.
4. Cut through the drywall along the line with a utility knife. Snap the drywall in half along the cut line and cut the backing along the crease made by snapping the drywall to complete the cut. Install the end piece the same as prior pieces.
5. Measure cutouts for switches, outlets, and fixtures by measuring the distance down from the ceiling to the fixture, and the distance from the end of the nearest piece of drywall. Transfer those measurements onto a new sheet of drywall and cut out the holes for the fixtures prior to installing the piece.
6. Install the drywall over door frames and window frames. Cut the drywall with the piece installed on the wall by tracing the outline of the frame onto the drywall with a utility knife. Snap the piece off. This guarantees a proper fit for the piece of drywall.
7. Repeat the process to install a bottom row of drywall. The bottom row will likely not be a full 4-feet tall, so cut each piece by measuring from the bottom edge of the first row to the ground and transferring those measurements to a new piece of drywall. The first piece to be installed needs to be a half-sheet instead a full 8-foot sheet so as to stagger the seams from the upper and lower rows.
Finishing
8. Press premixed drywall compound into the seams between sheets of drywall with a 6-inch taping knife working in one 4-foot section at a time. Hold the knife at an angle to the seam and to the wall and slide the knife over the seam to press the compound into the gap between sheets. Spread compound over the drywall 1-inch to the left and right, or above and below, the seam.
9. Tear a piece of drywall tape off to the length of the work area. Press it onto the seam so that the center line on the drywall tape runs along the seam in the drywall. Scoop more compound on top of the tape and smooth the tape and compound over by dragging the taping knife along the length of the tape.
10. Fold the drywall tape in half so that it makes a 90-degree bend to install the tape into corners. Follow the same process for applying the compound to the seam and smoothing out the tape.
11. Press compound into any screw holes or damaged points in the same manner as filling in the seams. Smooth over the surface of the holes or damage by dragging the knife across the area at an angle. Allow all taped and mudded seams to dry.
12. Sand the surface of the compound with 150-grit drywall sandpaper to remove tool marks and lines. Add more compound and sand as necessary to fill in any low spots.
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