Wallboard sheets should be stored flat to prevent warping.
Wallboard is made from a compressed fiber and gypsum core lined with paper. Also known as drywall or Sheetrock, it is used to make the interior walls of buildings. Wallboard is sold in 4-by-8, 4-by-9 and 4-by-10-foot sheets and the most common thickness is 1/2 inch. The green-backed wallboard is water-resistant but should not be used in shower stalls or where it will make direct water contact. Fire-resistant wallboard is made with with a mineral core additive that expands when heated, which aids in holding the wallboard together during fire exposure.
Instructions
1. Measure the installation area. The wallboard sheets must be joined in the center of each stud. The sheets can be hung lengthwise, horizontally or perpendicular. Mark the drywall with a pencil where it needs to be cut and use a straight edge and a utility knife and score the wallboard along the cut line. Hold it over the edge of the work bench and bend it to snap it apart. Cut out shapes with a saw or utility knife and use a drill and hole saw to make holes for pipes and plumbing.
2. Nail or screw the sheets to the studs. Place a sheet against the studs on a shim or wallboard jack to the correct height and nail or screw it to the studs, two nails at a time about 12 inches apart. Repeat until your wall is complete. Nail metal drywall "corners" to the studs over the drywall at corners. Choose regular 90-degree corners or rounded bullnose corners according to personal preference. Install the wallboard on the ceiling in the same manner.
3. Plaster or "mud" the wall. Scoop plaster onto your six-inch mudding knife and apply to the wallboard. Cover the entire board with plaster. If using fiberglass mesh tape, stick the tape over the joins first then mud over it. If using paper tape apply a layer of mud first, allow to dry, then wet the tape, place it over the seam and press it on firmly and cover with more mud. Try to make the plastering as smooth as possible while you work and before the mud dries. Allow the plaster to dry.
4. Finish the wall. Use drywall sandpaper to remove obvious lumps. Re-plaster the entire wall lightly to fill hollows and make the plaster thicker. Sand it again until the wall is totally smooth. Add more water to the mud if it starts to dry up. Sand again and apply another coat of plaster if desired until you are content with the finished look. Wait until the plaster is completely dry then paint the wallboard with a primer before applying the final coat of paint.
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