Estimate Drywall Screws
To estimate drywall screws for a construction project, the application and type of screws should be determined. Drywall screws are available in a variety of lengths and thread types. The thickness of the drywall and the type of framework to which the wall attaches govern the length and thread type of the screw. Drywall screws should be no more than 7 inches apart to pass the strictest requirements; in the case of drywall screws, more is better.
Instructions
1. Determine if there are metal or wood studs under the drywall. Metal studs require a chisel point or fine thread drywall screw; wood requires coarse thread.
2. Select the screw length. For 1/4-inch drywall, the screw length must be at least 1 inch long. Drywall that is 3/8-,1/2-, 5/8-inch requires 1 5/8-inch screws. Double layers of drywall demand a 2 1/2- or 3-inch drywall screw.
3. Calculate the square footage of installed drywall. You can also figure the number of drywall sheets, factoring in the framework spacing. The closer the framework, the more drywall screws you will need. The average spacing for framework is 16 inches on center.
4. Estimate that an average 4-by-8 sheet of drywall will have seven screws along each support, including the edge. A sheet of drywall hung horizontally will have seven supports based on 16 inches on center. Multiply seven supports by seven screws per support, which totals 49 drywall screws per sheet.
The alternate estimate is one-and-one-half screws per square feet of drywall surface area. For example, sixty 4-by-8 foot sheets of drywall times 32 square feet each equals 1,920 square feet of surface space; 1,920 square feet times one-and-one-half screws per square foot equals 2,880 drywall screws.
5. Add 10 percent for extra drywall screws to allow for oddly shaped edges of drywall and for dropped or broken screws.
Related posts
Drywall screws are used in conjunction with nails and construction glue to fasten a piece of drywall across existing framework. The exact number of screws used in any given sheet of drywall varies...
Estimate Drywall CostWhen you are remodeling your home, you might find it necessary to add walls or redo existing ones. In order to do this, you will need drywall. Drywall, or gypsum board, came i...
Screws hold the drywall panels in place.Standard drywall screws have deep coarse threads to help them grip the crumbly interior of the drywall pane, and they feature a trumpet-shaped head that all...
Use the right screws for installing drywall.Drywall that is five-eighths of an inch thick provides more soundproofing than thinner types of drywall. It also provides an increased degree of fire pr...
For most drywall contractors, installing drywall is the easy part. In fact, most drywall contractors got their start by installing, and over the years moved up the ladder until they were able to s...
