When you hang drywall, having tools designed for the job not only makes your project easier but results in a more-polished, professional appearance. Though substitutes can be found for some tools on small jobs, such as hanging one sheet or making a small repair, you should invest in the right tools if your project extends beyond a minor job.
Cutting
Drywall needs to be cut to size. It also needs to be cut to fit to go around vents and outlets and to accommodate lighting fixtures.
A drywall T-square is used for marking lines and ensuring the marks are square. A utility knife can be used to make straight cuts. Use a drywall saw, also called a keyhole saw, for cutting around vents and similar obstacles. For making round holes in the drywall, use a circle cutter. This is useful for making holes for light fixtures.
If you need to cut a small amount from the drywall, use a rasp. This shaves the edge to make the fit.
Jacks
One of the more labor-intensive tasks in hanging drywall is installing it onto the ceiling. This can be a three-person task: two people hold the drywall in place while the third person installs the sheet.
You can rent a drywall lift or a drywall jack from home improvement stores or rental shops. You can also make a jack by assembling two 2-by-4 lengths of lumber into a T-shape. The horizontal piece should be 3 to 3 1/2 feet wide. The overall height of the jack should be one or two inches higher than the ceiling to allow for wedging it into place.
Fastening
The drywall hammer has a convex-shaped head, creating a small dimple around the nail head. This dimpling keeps the hammer from tearing the sheet's paper surface as you drive in the drywall nail.
Drive in drywall screws with an electric screw gun as an alternative to the hammer-and-nail method of fastening. The screw gun needs to be specifically for drywall installation; the head allows for dimpling just as the drywall hammer does.
Finishing
Once the drywall is installed, you need to tape the seams and plaster them. You also have to plaster all the dimples you made when fastening the drywall to the studs.
The taping knife, also called a drywall trowel, is your tool of choice for applying plaster, also known as mud, to the seams and dimples. Taping knives come in various sizes and you will need a successively larger knife for each subsequent coat of mud you apply: a 5-inch knife for the base coat, an 8-inch knife for the second coat and a 12-inch knife for the third coat.
Use a small mud pan to hold manageable amounts of plaster as you work. Once the mudding is complete, you'll need to sand it all down for a smooth surface.
An electric sander is faster than hand sanding but creates more dust. To sand ceilings, use a pole sander. A small sanding pad will work well for the small, hard-to-reach spaces and edges.
Considerations
When fastening drywall to the studs, use only drywall nails or screws. If you tear the drywall's paper surface, the nail or screw doesn't "grip" the surface but sinks instead into the softer interior gypsum. The pressure of the nail or screw will ultimately degrade the gypsum, resulting in a loose screw. Using the right hammer and nails or screw gun and screws reduces the chances of paper tears.
Related posts
The tools needed to mud and tape drywall are relatively cheap to purchase and can be found at most any hardware store. Depending on the level of experience you have with mudding and taping drywall...
Hanging and finishing drywall can be a difficult task unless you have the right tools. A drywall finisher's tool belt will be equipped with a myriad of drywall tools such as a razor knife, assorte...
Mud pans allow drywall finishers to carry small portions of joint compound.Drywall professionals refer to the process of mudding and taping drywall as "finishing." These last steps of th...
Drywall is a material that is used as an interior wall covering. Also known as gypsum or wall board, drywall has a gypsum core that is covered by paper on both sides. When finished and painted, dr...
Drywall is a building material used to cover the interior of a structure. While installing drywall in garages isn't always necessary, doing so is a wise choice. If legal requirements do not affect...
