Whether you are re-doing the walls in a place you bought, or you are building your dream home from the ground up, knowing how to install drywall is a vital skill that will save you money and help to speed the process along.
Don’t be intimidated by this part of the building process – with a few key steps, anyone can learn how to do it.
One of Colorado’s most successful construction CEOs was a drywall rookie just like you until he discovered it was such a simple task, he knew he could make a business out of it.
Lloyd Claycomb has made a name for himself in the Denver construction industry by building up United Builders Service into one of the most prolific drywall installing companies in the area.
He did that by building a great deal of trust with clients by ensuring that they got things right the first time.
While you will be doing this job yourself, you can save yourself a tremendous amount of time by learning how to do drywall properly. This article will aim to educate you on this subject.
1) Gather the tools and materials you’ll need
Before you can apply drywall to the ceiling and walls of your home, you’ll need to bring together the required supplies.
Aside from the sheets of drywall themselves, you’ll need a square, a knife, and a saw specifically designed for this task, as well as special tape, screws, and the mud that will hold the sheets together.
A mud pan and a paper taper will be necessary for this job as well, so don’t forget them when you are at the hardware store.
2) Measure the area
Once you have all your supplies on hand, get out your tape measure so you’ll know how many panels you’ll need to buy.
Attach fasteners to the walls and ceiling where the plates of drywall will go, as this will make it easier for them to stay in place when installed.
When you get the drywall, you may need to cut them into smaller pieces to fit leftover areas that can’t accommodate a full sheet. Measure out where you’ll need to cut, and then slice it using your drywall knife.
3) Screw the drywall panel into a joist
Start with the ceiling panels, then move on to the walls immediately afterward. When you are in the process of hanging them, make certain that the edge of the sheets are positioned over a joist or a stud, as these make for good anchors, which will make your wall/ceiling stronger.
Be sure to use a drywall bit to screw the sheet into the stud/joist, but don’t go too fast when installing them, as the sheets can be damaged easily.
4) Apply mud to the drywall panels on the wall
Once your panels have all been secured, apply mud to their exterior. This will create a surface that will make applying texture and paint much easier.
5) Tape over the joints
The last important job of the process, taping joints will protect these connection points from external exposure, while making for a more aesthetic pleasing wall. Be sure to complete this task before the mud dries to avoid issues.