How does drywall look like

Hold the bit against the box and move the tool counterclockwise around its perimeter. Once the cutout is finished, drive the remaining screws into the panel. Cover the wall Photo by David Carmack Mark all the stud locations on the adjoining ceiling panels.

Use a tape measure to ensure the first panel's end will land in the center of a stud; if it won't, cut the panel as in Step 2. With a helper, hold the panel against the studs so that one edge butts against the ceiling panel and one end fits snugly against the abutting wall. Following the stud marks on the ceiling, drive a line of five screws through the drywall and into each stud.

As in Step 3, start screwing into a stud close to the middle of the panel and work outward. Continue hanging panels along the top of the wall, right over any window and door openings. The excess will be trimmed later.

Make sure no seams line up with a door or window corner. Don't fasten panels to the framing around the openings yet.

Trim around doors and windows Photo by David Carmack Install the next row of panels as in Step 4, butting the edges tightly together. As on the ceiling, offset the end joints from those in the previous row by at least 4 feet. Cut out the switch and outlet boxes following the same procedure as with the ceiling boxes in Step 3: Mark the box locations before covering them with drywall, taking care not to drive any screws closer to each box than 24 inches.

Cut holes for the boxes with a rotary cut-off tool, then drive any remaining screws. With a cut-out tool or drywall saw, trim any ends and edges that project into window or doorway openings flush with the face of the innermost studs. Then screw the panel to the framing. Make inside and outside corners Photo by David Carmack At inside corners, simply butt the end of one panel against the face of the panel on the adjoining wall.

For outside corners, install the first panel so its end is flush with the studs on the adjoining wall. Overlap this exposed end with the panel on the adjoining wall, so that the corner is completely encased in drywall.

With blueboard, the panel ends do not overlap at outside corners; their ends land flush with the corner of the stud. This void will be filled later with plaster. Cover outside corners with a metal corner bead, cut to the height of the wall.

Do the same on the adjoining wall. How to keep studs in line Illustration by Gregory Nemec Drywall contractor Paul Landry assumes that carpenters frame walls so they are flat and straight. But he knows from experience that in the six to eight weeks between the time the framers finish and the drywallers start, studs can move, twist, and bow. If he locates a wayward stud on an interior wall, Landry quickly brings it back into line with a saw and a shingle.

First, he places his saw blade on the concave edge of the stud at the midpoint of the bow and makes a cut two-thirds of the way through the stud. To hold the stud in its corrected position, Landry inserts the shingle into the open kerf to act as a shim. When Landry does, his only choice is to power-plane the edge of the stud back into alignment.

Finishing touches Photo by David Carmack After all the drywall has been installed, check for protruding screw heads. Start attaching your drywall sheets to the wood or metal studs used to frame your space. You should hang sheets horizontally when working with wood studs, while metal studs work better with vertical installations. This is because wood studs are more likely to warp and deflect over time. Hanging the sheet horizontally allows each sheet to be in contact with more studs and helps minimize deflection.

Generally speaking, it can be more difficult to screw into metal studs. When using wood studs, you should also apply a drywall adhesive to the face of the studs before hanging your drywall in order to further minimize deflection.

To attach the drywall to the studs, use a screw gun and drywall screws, making sure you hit the studs. Screws should be placed about every four inches. This involves applying three layers of mud, one layer of drywall tape, and a whole lot of sandpaper. First, use a 6-inch finishing knife to spread joint compound along each seam.

This first layer is called the tape coat, and should be about four inches wide, centered on the joints in your drywall sheets.

Next, apply drywall tape along the joints. The mud you applied will hold it in place. Your second coat of mud is called your block coat. Use your 6-inch finish knife to apply a second coat of mud on top of your drywall tape. Use just enough to seal the drywall tape in place. The final coat is called the skim coat. A or inch knife should be used to apply a third coat of mud.

Take your time on this coat to spread the mud thinly away from the seams to provide a smooth, level surface. Use a pole sander and grit sandpaper to lightly sand the mud you applied earlier. You've finished sanding when you can't see any tape or mud bulges on the walls' surface, and when a level applied to the wall shows it is smooth and even.

Wear a mask and goggles while sanding to prevent damage to eyes and lungs. Sometimes drywall will become damaged due to impact from people or objects.

This damage is simple to repair, and simply involves filling any holes, then covering them with mud and sanding them so they are smooth and flush with the rest of the wall. For larger holes, cut out a piece of drywall that will roughly fill the hole, then fill the rest of the space with mud.

For smaller holes or dings, mud can be used on its own to fill in the damaged area. After you've filled the hole, use a single coat of mud and sand as usual. These sheets are not as heavy as the sheets used to build your walls, allowing for easier installation.

As useful as drywall is, it still has some drawbacks. Many people are turned off by the hollow thump made when you knock or tap on a wall built with drywall. It can remind people that drywall is still a cheap, quick fix.

Another problem is drywall's lack of texture and character, as well as its inability to be molded. Finally, some people feel that drywall is too susceptible to damage. Luckily, there are several alternatives to traditional drywall that can be used to create walls in a building's interior. We'll take a look at some of them here:. Next we'll look at how drywall fits into today's green building trends and examine ways drywall can be recycled by both the manufacturer and the end user.

Nothing's hotter in construction these days than sustainable, environmentally friendly design. Fortunately, drywall is easy to recycle and is made of green and recycled materials. From a manufacturing standpoint, drywall is already pretty eco-friendly. The cores are made from 90 to 95 percent recycled material, mostly reclaimed drywall, while the paper exterior is made exclusively from percent recycled content, mostly old newspapers. From an emissions standpoint, however, the drywall industry still has a way to go.

Approximately 1 percent of U. A product called EcoRock, introduced in by San Jose-based Serious Materials, is said to be the first zero emissions drywall material on the market. Essentially, it has no carbon footprint and is still made from nearly percent recycled content.

Builders are showing interest in this product, but time will tell if people will be willing to pay a premium for reduced carbon emissions. With commercial use, manufacturers have programs in place so builders can return scrap drywall to be recycled. For homeowners, recycling drywall is a bit more difficult. Many cities and municipalities have drywall recycling programs in place, but finding them may require a bit of research. USG is scheduled to open a gypsum recycling plant in Washingtonville, Pennsylvania in This plant will be the largest of its kind in the world, and as green building continues to grow in popularity, additional channels for recycling will become available.

Recycled drywall has three major uses. The first is to crush the material and use it to make new drywall. This is currently the most popular choice by far, and all of the major manufacturers have systems in place to do so.

Recycled drywall can also be used an an ingredient in Portland cement , which is used to make stucco, plaster, and other building materials. Finally, crushed drywall is growing in popularity in the agricultural world. It is useful as a soil conditioner, providing calcium and sulfur for plants, which is especially useful when growing peanuts, potatoes, or corn. Recycled drywall can also be placed on soil that has a high salt content to help neutralize the ground so that crops can eventually grow there.

It took some time for the building industry to recognize drywall for what it is - an extremely versatile, inexpensive and sustainable material that has overcome its initial reputation as a cheap substitute for plaster to become something an average person could use to build walls.

Not bad for a quick fix. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. It can be used with all wall and ceiling applications and is ideally suited where enhanced moisture and mold resistance is desired.

If it is going to be in contact with water, this is the one to use. This is the so-called fire-resistant drywall. Several thicknesses can be used in layers to achieve a higher fire rating. It is harder to cut and work than regular drywall and normally is used in garages, rooms, and apartment buildings, as it is required by several building codes.

Type X drywall is made with special noncombustible fibers. Soundproof drywall is composed of laminated drywall made with a mix of wood fibers, gypsum, and polymers increasing the STC sound transmission class. This drywall is denser than regular drywall so it might be a little harder to cut than other types of drywall. Due to its soundproofing characteristics, it is used in areas where noise is a problem or when silence is required in a room.

Some soundproof drywall is made with a thin layer of metal sandwiched inside that can further improve sound deadening. This one might be used in your family room walls or, if you are a musician, it might help you in your music room.

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