With proper planning you can hang drywall to your basement.
Drywall has many names. It can be called wallboard, plasterboard, Sheetrock or rock. A material called gypsum is sandwiched between paper. Drywall is not particularly strong, but it can allow builders to create walls faster than plaster. With a bit of planning, hanging drywall in the basement can be done by people who want to do the work themselves.
Instructions
1. Correct any basement problems dealing with water. Persistent problems of moisture, leaks and flooding must be corrected before planning a drywall project in the basement.
2. Get someone to help you. Even quarter-inch thick drywall will be heavy. A typical drywall board is 8 feet by 4 feet, half-inch thick, and can weigh 50 to 60 pounds. It is awkward to carry and secure it into one spot by yourself. Extra help will not only save time and effort, but it will you keep you safer.
3. Coordinate help ahead of time. If you are not a professional and have no timetable to complete the project, schedule time for the helper to come.
4. Determine how the drywall will be delivered. If you have 10 sheets of drywall, you will need a big vehicle that can handle the weight. You will also need help loading and unloading. Another option is to have the drywall delivered from the store. While the shipping cost can be hefty, it may be better than finding a vehicle and someone to help you unload it.
5. Find a dry environment inside your home to store the drywall. If you have the drywall delivered from the store, the delivery people can also move the drywall from the truck to the place where you want it stored.
6. Calculate the amount of drywall needed. Basements are usually low at seven to eight feet. These lower heights make work a bit easier without the use of large step ladders. To calculate the amount of material, measure the length of a wall and then the height of the wall and multiply these lengths. For example a 15 foot long wall that's seven feet high has an area of 105 square feet. A typical 8 foot by 4 foot drywall panel is 32 square feet. If you divide 105 feet by 32 feet you get 3.28 panels. Round up to get an even number. The result is that four panels will be needed to cover the wall. Repeat the calculation for each wall, and add 10 percent for bad cuts, installation mistakes and damaged drywall.
7. Determine the type of drywall panels you need for the basement. A moisture and mold resistant drywall is more suitable for levels below ground. The costs are slightly higher than a standard 8 foot by 4 foot gypsum board and may be $10 to $15 per panel.
8. Plan on installing drywall on the ceiling before installing it on walls. However, if you are planning to put a hanging ceiling with panels, you may want to install drywall on the walls first.
9. Acquire the tools for cutting drywall. Drywall can be cut with a utility knife, especially if the cuts are straight. For cuts such as holes or curves, a keyhole saw, drywall saw or rotary tool will make work easier. You will need a T square at least four feet long to make straight and even cuts along the four foot length of the board. Before making cuts along the eight foot length, a chalk line will be needed to mark a straight line. Purchase a board at least eight feet long so you can score the panel. With the board on a long workbench or table, you can make long straight cuts by simply scoring and bending the drywall along the edge of the table.
10. Buy hardware and other material to secure the drywall to a wooden frame in your basement. Nails can be used, but screws are better. Screws won't pop up like nails and can be removed easily if you make a mistake. Use a power screwdriver to make the work go faster and prevent your hand from injury of doing repetitive work. Screws are normally placed every seven inches around joints and 12 inches elsewhere.
11. Purchase metal corner strips for corners that go outward. Nails must be placed every four to nine inches to secure the strip. Screws can make the metal strip's surface uneven.
12. Obtain the materials to join the drywall. Joint compound or drywall compound is used to seal the joints of the drywall together. Drywall tape or reinforcing tape with joint compound hides the gaps between drywall. A four inch putty or joint knife is used to apply the joint compound. The compound can be used to hide the screw heads and screw depressions on the wall. Once the compound is dry, you will need sandpaper or a power sander to smooth out the rough surfaces and make the wall look as flat as possible.
13. Procure items to protect yourself and surfaces from the mess. Wear safety glasses and use dust masks to prevent you from breathing the particles that are created from sanding. Have drop cloths on the floor to collect dust, and use a shop vac to clean up areas to remove any dust left behind.
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