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Installing Drywall
Installing Drywall. Drywall is a cross between plywood and plaster. Like plywood, it comes in layered, uniformly sized sheets; like plaster, it is dense, noise-retarding, non- combustible, and fragile once you break through it's paper face. Its fragility makes it easy to work with. You can cut it with a utility knife and straight-edge, or use a keyhole saw. I wouldn't recommend power tools; they just kick up too much dust.
Although you can punch a hole through
drywall with almost any pointed
implement, do not dismiss it as some
weak covering material. Nailed, glued,
or screwed to studs, it becomes an
integral part of the wall's structure.
Use it as a base for paint, paper,
plaster, ceramic tile, or paneling;
laminate double layers for superior
fire or sound control.
Drywall typically comes in 4x8-foot
sheets that are 3/8, 1/2, or 5/8 inch
thick, but you can order lengths
ranging from 6 to 16 feet. Check your building code before you buy. Most specify 1/2 inch for drywall home construction, but some call for 5/8-inch material. A few even call for "type X", which has a core that is even more fire- and sound- resistant. Use 3/8-inch drywall only for double-layer applications or over an existing wall.
Nail up 3/8- and 1/2-inch panels with 1 5/8-inch ring-shank drywall nails; for 5/8-inch panels, use 1 7/8-inch nails. If you are attaching metal studs, you will need to drive in screws with a drill. I prefer to use screws for wood-stud applications as well; although more expensive, they can't pop loose as nails sometime do. I've even heard of roofing nails used for wood-stud applications; they don't rust and never pop loose. For metal studs use 7/8-inch screws to fasten 1/2-inch drywall; use 1-inch screws for 5/8-inch material. For wood studs, you should use 1 1/4-inch screws, regardless of the drywall thickness.
For a really strong installation, you can use both nails and drywall adhesive. For each 1,000 square feet of drywall, you will need about eight tubes of adhesive.
Nailing or Screwing Drywall. Install panels parallel or perpendicular to the studs, whichever arrangement will result in FEWER joints. Locate screws or nails every 8 inches. Dimple nails or screws below the surface, but don't break the paper. You can buy an inexpensive drywall screwgun that has a recessed screwhead that makes the job easier to do and takes the guesswork out of installations.
Although you can punch a hole through
drywall with almost any pointed
implement, do not dismiss it as some
weak covering material. Nailed, glued,
or screwed to studs, it becomes an
integral part of the wall's structure.
Use it as a base for paint, paper,
plaster, ceramic tile, or paneling;
laminate double layers for superior
fire or sound control.
Drywall typically comes in 4x8-foot
sheets that are 3/8, 1/2, or 5/8 inch
thick, but you can order lengths
ranging from 6 to 16 feet. Check your building code before you buy. Most specify 1/2 inch for drywall home construction, but some call for 5/8-inch material. A few even call for "type X", which has a core that is even more fire- and sound- resistant. Use 3/8-inch drywall only for double-layer applications or over an existing wall.
Nail up 3/8- and 1/2-inch panels with 1 5/8-inch ring-shank drywall nails; for 5/8-inch panels, use 1 7/8-inch nails. If you are attaching metal studs, you will need to drive in screws with a drill. I prefer to use screws for wood-stud applications as well; although more expensive, they can't pop loose as nails sometime do. I've even heard of roofing nails used for wood-stud applications; they don't rust and never pop loose. For metal studs use 7/8-inch screws to fasten 1/2-inch drywall; use 1-inch screws for 5/8-inch material. For wood studs, you should use 1 1/4-inch screws, regardless of the drywall thickness.
For a really strong installation, you can use both nails and drywall adhesive. For each 1,000 square feet of drywall, you will need about eight tubes of adhesive.
Nailing or Screwing Drywall. Install panels parallel or perpendicular to the studs, whichever arrangement will result in FEWER joints. Locate screws or nails every 8 inches. Dimple nails or screws below the surface, but don't break the paper. You can buy an inexpensive drywall screwgun that has a recessed screwhead that makes the job easier to do and takes the guesswork out of installations.
Cutting Drywall. 1. Make a chalkline and cut across panels with a metal straightedge and sharp utility knife. Score completely through one paper face. 2. Stand the sheet on edge, apply firm pressure, and snap the board downward. This breaks through the gypsum core along the scored line. 3. Slice through the paper backing with a knife and smooth rough edges with a medium-tooth wood file. Keep your utility knife sharp!
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related video: taping and mudding drywall
How to tape and spread compound to finish drywall.
