| Installing Drywall, or hanging drywall as the | | | | and penetrate the framing. |
| professionals usually refer to the task, can | | | | |
| be done by the homeowner. However, it is | | | | Taping and Mudding |
| usually best done with two or more people as | | | | |
| it requires significant lifting of heavy | | | | Again start with the ceiling. Apply a skim |
| material. Mudding and Taping can also be | | | | coat of joint compound over the surface of a |
| performed by the homeowner, however these | | | | seam using a 6" wide taping knife. If the |
| tasks require some practice and artistry. | | | | seam is wide, apply a liberal amount of joint |
| | | | compound to fill it. While the Joint compound |
| Measuring and Ordering Drywall | | | | is still wet, apply the fiberglass tape over |
| | | | the skim coat of Joint Compound. Make sure |
| Prior to actually hanging the drywall, the | | | | the seam is centered under the tape. Once the |
| material first needs to be ordered and | | | | tape has been installed, apply additional |
| delivered. To determine how much material to | | | | Joint Compound over the tape, again using the |
| order, measure all of the surface area, | | | | 6" wide taping knife. Continue this for all |
| starting with the ceilings and then the | | | | of the seams. Note: the tape will still be |
| walls. Calculate the total square feet and | | | | visible. Additional coats will eventually |
| divide by 32. The result should give you the | | | | hide it. |
| number of 4'x 8' sheets of drywall required | | | | |
| for the job. I would also recommend adding | | | | The inside corners are usually the most |
| another 5-10% to this figure to account for | | | | tricky and require practice. Patience is the |
| inefficiencies. Drywall does come in larger | | | | best advice and note that additional coats |
| sheets, such as 4'x12', however for a | | | | will be applied later to smooth out any |
| Do-it-Yourself homeowner these larger sheets | | | | imperfections. |
| can become unwieldy and maybe even impossible | | | | |
| to bring into the existing home. | | | | Once the seams are done, using the 6" wide |
| | | | taping knife, apply mud to all of the screw |
| For bathrooms or other moist areas Greenboard | | | | nail dimples. A skim coat is all that is |
| should probably be used as this material is | | | | initially required. |
| moisture resistance. | | | | |
| | | | Note: When applying the mud over the tape and |
| For bathroom areas where ceramic tile is to | | | | screw/nail dimples, make sure all excess |
| be applied, e.g. Shower/Bathtub areas, | | | | material and uneven patches are smoothed down |
| Concrete board should be used. The concrete | | | | with the blade. This will reduce sanding |
| board is also referred to as Wonderboard or | | | | later. |
| Durock. | | | | |
| | | | Once the ceiling is done, you can move on to |
| Joint Compound and Fiberglass tape will also | | | | the walls. Repeat the same process, however |
| be required for Taping and Mudding. Joint | | | | with the outside corners just apply a liberal |
| Compound typically comes ready-mixed in 5 | | | | coat of joint compound to the valley that is |
| gallon containers. I would suggest 1-2 | | | | formed by the corner bead. This valley |
| containers per 500 square feet of drywall. | | | | typically represents the first 3 or 4 inches |
| Fiberglass tape is quite inexpensive so I | | | | from the edge of the corner. |
| would suggest picking up 2 to 3 roles for | | | | |
| most Do-it-Yourself drywall projects. | | | | Once the first coat has been applied let it |
| | | | sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to |
| Drywall screws or ringed nails will also be | | | | starting the second application of Joint |
| required. Typically I use 1.25" length screws | | | | compound. Make sure to completely clean off |
| or nails. Also, strips of corner bead will be | | | | the taping knife, the mud easel and any other |
| required. | | | | containers or instruments that have mud on |
| | | | them prior to finishing up for the day. |
| Drywall Tools | | | | |
| | | | Applying the Second Coat of Mud |
| Prior to starting drywall installation, you | | | | |
| need to obtain the proper tools. A Drywall | | | | After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it |
| Lift really comes in handy when hanging | | | | is now time to apply the second coat of mud. |
| sheetrock/drywall on the ceilings. You can | | | | It is this coat that should hide the tape. |
| rent Drywall Lifts at hardware or home | | | | |
| improvement stores. If your budget does not | | | | Again, start with the ceiling. Using the |
| allow for this cost, Jacks (or Ts) can be | | | | wider taping knife apply a generous amount of |
| made out of 2"x 4"s. The Jacks (or Ts) should | | | | joint compound over the taped seams as you |
| be of a length such that they are just an | | | | want to build up the area over the tape. |
| inch or two taller than the height of the | | | | Taking large strokes smooth the joint |
| ceiling and have a cross beam that is | | | | compound over the tape applying more pressure |
| approximately 3' in width. Usually there are | | | | to the side of the taping knife further away |
| a couple of 45o angle braces connecting the | | | | from the tape. This will help to leave more |
| crossbar to the main stem of the Jack. The | | | | mud over the tape. When complete, the mud |
| Jack can then be used to hold up the drywall | | | | should cover an area that extends beyond the |
| to the ceiling while it is screwed/nailed | | | | width of the tape by 2 to 3 inches. |
| into place. | | | | |
| | | | After the seams have all been completed, |
| In addition to the Lift or Jacks, a drywall | | | | apply a second coat of mud over the screw |
| screw gun, hammer, T-square, carpenters | | | | nail dimples. With this second coat, flare |
| knife, drywall saw and a keyhole saw are | | | | out the mud over the dimples such that the |
| required. The keyhole saw is used for cutting | | | | diameter of the mudded area is about 3-4 |
| around electrical boxes. | | | | inches in diameter. |
| | | | |
| If mudding and taping are to be performed | | | | For the inside corners a Corner knife may |
| then Taping knifes, a Corner knife, sand | | | | come in handy. Corners involve a little |
| paper, a pole sander and a Mud easel or pan | | | | artistry so again take your time. Apply a |
| will be necessary. For the taping knifes you | | | | generous amount of joint compound and then |
| will need a 6" wide blade and a 12" wide | | | | run the Corner knife down the corner starting |
| blade. | | | | from the top. Take long, even strokes. A 6" |
| | | | taping knife may also be helpful to smooth |
| Preparing the site for Drywall | | | | out any imperfections. |
| | | | |
| Prior to hanging the drywall, make sure the | | | | For the outside corners, using the broad |
| building inspector has first approved the | | | | taping knife apply a generous amount of joint |
| Framing, Plumbing, Electrical and Insulation | | | | compound and flare out the material such that |
| jobs. Secondly, a vapor barrier should be | | | | it extends out 6 inches or so from the |
| applied over the insulation on the outside | | | | corner. Again, apply more pressure to the |
| walls if un-faced insulation was installed. | | | | blade side that is further away from the |
| Frequently sheets of plastic are used for | | | | corner so that you leave more mud nearer the |
| creating the vapor barrier. The plastic is | | | | outside corner. |
| simply stapled to the framing, covering the | | | | |
| insulation. | | | | Once the second coat has been applied let it |
| | | | sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to |
| Finally, inspect all of the framing | | | | starting the final application of Joint |
| carefully. Ensure that nailers (e.g. 2" x | | | | compound. Make sure to completely clean off |
| 4"s) are existent at each corner and header, | | | | the taping knife, the mud easel and any other |
| that the framing is straight, and that the | | | | containers or instruments that have mud on |
| framed walls create smooth planes. In | | | | them prior to finishing up for the day. |
| addition, the ceiling should have strapping | | | | |
| applied (1" x 3" cross boards). Also, make | | | | Applying the Final Coat of Mud |
| sure metal protection plates have been | | | | |
| installed to studding where sheetrock screws | | | | After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it |
| or nails could inadvertently penetrate | | | | is now time to apply the final coat of mud. |
| plumbing pipes or electrical wire. | | | | It is this coat that requires the most |
| | | | artistry and the least amount of joint |
| Safety | | | | compound. Here you are simply applying a |
| | | | final skim coat to the already mudded areas. |
| Drywall installation is dirty, heavy work. | | | | |
| The Gypsum in drywall can be irritating to | | | | Prior to applying the skim coat it is best to |
| the eyes, lungs and sinuses so wear safety | | | | take your wide taping blade and lightly pass |
| goggles and masks to avoid breathing in the | | | | over the mudded surfaces. This will remove |
| material. Gloves are also recommended to | | | | any bumps or ridges. |
| protect against sharp blades. | | | | |
| | | | Again start with the ceiling seams and apply |
| Installing Drywall | | | | a small amount of joint compound using the |
| | | | broad taping knife. Again continue to flare |
| Start with the ceiling as this will allow the | | | | out the seam by extending the mudded area |
| sheets on the walls to help hold the sheets | | | | such that about 6 inches resides on each side |
| on the ceiling. Use the Drywall lift or Jacks | | | | of the now invisible tape. Remember this is a |
| to hold the sheets in place while screwing or | | | | skim coat so little mud is required. The |
| nailing them to the ceiling. The screws or | | | | purpose of this coat is to effectively fill |
| nails should be installed such that they are | | | | in any lines or recessed areas. |
| slightly recessed and create a small dimple | | | | |
| without breaking the paper. Screws or nails | | | | After the seams have all been completed, |
| should be applied every 8 to 12 inches on | | | | apply a final coat of mud over the screw/nail |
| each stud. Screws are typically stronger and | | | | dimples. With this second coat, flare out the |
| can be placed further apart, e.g. 12 inches. | | | | mud over the dimples such that the diameter |
| It is best to fasten the screws/nails to the | | | | of the mudded area is about 6-8 inches in |
| edges of the drywall first and then fill in | | | | diameter. |
| the field afterwards. | | | | |
| | | | For the corners use the broad taping knife |
| Rows of drywall should be applied in a | | | | and add just enough mud such that you can |
| staggered pattern. This will create an | | | | flare out the mudded surface area to about |
| interlocked pattern that creates a tighter | | | | 8-12 inches, taking care to filling in any |
| and stronger ceiling/wall. | | | | lines or dimples. |
| | | | |
| After the ceiling has been completed it its | | | | Once the final coat has been applied let it |
| time to move on to the walls. Drywall should | | | | rest overnight or until it is dry, |
| be applied from the top down, with the sheets | | | | |
| hung perpendicular to the floor joists or | | | | Sanding |
| studs. Again the rows should be staggered. | | | | |
| The bottom piece should sit about ½ inches | | | | Sanding is a very dusty and dirty mess so |
| from the sub-floor. | | | | please uses goggles and a mask. I find it |
| | | | best to use a pole sander with an open |
| For purposes of efficiency and strength it is | | | | screened sand paper material specifically |
| best to apply the large sheets of drywall | | | | designed for sanding sheetrock/drywall mud. |
| over the doors and window openings and cut | | | | |
| out the excess later. This will create | | | | Lightly sand all of the taped areas, however |
| stronger/cleaner looking walls and save | | | | concentrate sanding on the outer edges of the |
| significant time. | | | | mudded areas such that all seams and ridges |
| | | | are eliminated and blend into the main |
| Installing Corner bead | | | | surface areas. |
| | | | |
| Once the drywall has been installed, corner | | | | Once sanding is complete, vacuum up the dust |
| bead should be applied to all outside edges. | | | | and you are ready for priming and painting |
| Corner bead should be nailed every 6-8 inches | | | | the walls and texturing the ceilings. |