Drywall panels come in a variety of lengths and thicknesses.
Installing drywall involves attaching compressed gypsum panels to dimensional studs on interior walls. Drywall panels come in 4-foot widths and various lengths and thicknesses. Although drywall panels are heavy and unwieldy, with an assistant and a drywall lift, you can attach the panels to a wall or a ceiling for a smooth, finished look when the wall seams are taped later. Following a few standard techniques when installing drywall panels will give your project a more professional appearance.
Instructions
1. Measure from the center of one stud to the center of another stud when installing drywall. Structural framing differs, but the edges of drywall panels must rest upon studs. By measuring to the center of a stud, the other half of the stud is available for attaching another drywall panel.
2. Position drywall panels perpendicular to the direction of the studs or joists. On a wall, this means hanging the panels horizontally, because the studs run vertically.
3. Push drywall panels tightly together and use the largest panels you can safely manage, to reduce taping. Every seam is a potential uneven area in your wall, if not taped out correctly. By using large drywall sheets and tight joints, you increase the chance for a smooth, flawless finish.
4. Lift drywall overhead with a drywall lift. A lift balances and raises large drywall panels that are prone to breaking if not supported evenly.
5. Measure with a measuring tape and use a carpenter's square or a chalk line to make straight lines for cutting.
6. Cut drywall with a utility knife by scoring the front of the drywall panel on the line to be cut. Bend the panel backward along the scored line, which snaps the panel along the line. With the drywall bent backward, run the utility knife along the crease to cut the backing paper smoothly.
7. Install drywall on a ceiling before installing drywall on walls.
8. Insert drywall screws through the panel and into studs about every 8 inches, and at least 1/2 inch from the edge of the drywall panel.
9. Countersink drywall screws about 1/8 inch. The tapered head of a drywall screw allows you to countersink the screw slightly without tearing the protective paper covering on the panel. The head of the screw must be below the surface of the panel for taping out the wall later.
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