Smart Drywall Tips for the House

In this article we will go over great step by step Drywall Tips for installation. We will also tell you how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes! Let's get to it.

No matter what you call it: Wallboard, plasterboard, sheetrock, or drywall it works wonders to lay a flat foundation for paint or wallpaper but you have to install it right!

After going through these Tips for installation be sure to check out our other related article: Drywall Finishing Tips to get the job done.

Drywall Tips #1: Get prepared. Before you even start to think about hanging drywall you need to buy the right tools and figure out how much square footage you will need.

How much drywall do you need? Well their is 2 things to consider. The total square footage of the ceiling and walls you plan to cover and the limiting of joints.

To get the total square footage you simply need to take 2 measurements: the length and the width of each surface you plan to cover and times them by each other then add each up.

The more challenging part is fitting them to limit the amount of joints. You want to limit joints because it is the harder part of installing drywall.

The standard size for sheets of drywall is 4 ft in width x 8 ft in length x 1/2 inch in thickness for walls and 5/8 inch thickness for ceilings.

You usually want to run them with the long side running from floor to ceiling on the walls. All drywall sheets are 4 feet wide but some stores sell 10 & 12 foot lengths.

With the size sheet you aim to buy plan to limit as many joints as possible. As for the rest of the supplies a general rule of thumb for 1000 square feet of drywall is:

7 pounds of drywall nails or screws 5 gallon pale of mixed joint compound 500 foot roll of tape (for inside corners) 1 metal corner bead for each outside corner

What tools do you need? There are essentially 13 tools and some elbow grease to get the job done. Drill or Hammer (to drive the screws or nails)

T-Square (for guiding cuts)

Circle Cutter (to make openings for lights or ceiling boxes)

Drywall Saw (to cut and trim panels)

Metal Cutting Snips (to cut corner bead)

Utility Knife (to cut panels and to smooth ends)

Ladders and Staging Planks ( to stand on when putting up ceiling panels)

Measuring Tape Rotary Cutter (to cut around windows, doors, and electrical boxes)

Pack of coarse Sandpaper

Ruler or Straight edge

Now on to hanging some drywall.

Drywall Tips #2: Get ready to hang the panels.

The 1st drywall you want to hang is for the ceilings. To get ready for this you will need to make some T-Braces using 4x4s to hold the panels up while securing it.

To make the T-Braces you need to cut 2 pieces of 4x4. One is the long piece which will reach to the ceiling. Make the length about an inch longer than the ceiling height.

The other T-Brace can be about 3 feet long. Nail them together securely and use an angle to better secure them. You will need 2 T-Braces. An easier alternative is to rent them which do not cost much.

Also you may be better off with a helper when doing the ceilings. It makes it much easier but you can install them yourself.

Drywall Tips #3: Cut drywall panels to the correct size.

Time to get out the utility knife and straightedge. After measuring make the cut through the paper face of the panel.

Place the board on a 2x4 on the ground and "snap it" down with the cut facing the floor. After you snap the gypsum turn the panel over and cut the paper. Smooth the rough edges with coarse sandpaper. Just do one piece and hang.

Drywall Tips #4: Hanging.

After making your cuts position the T-Braces against the drywall sheet to hold it in place. Start in the corner and always make one side tight to the wall.

Now it's time to get your nails and screws out to secure it. By starting in the center and working your way out put a nail or screw every 12 inches along any support beams behind the drywall.

Continue cutting and hanging till finished entire square footage area. Don't put nails or screws within one inch of the end of the panel.

When driving nails give one last hammer strike to them so that you dimple the surface slightly without breaking the paper.

When you’re done the ceiling move onto the walls. When you are getting ready to hang the wall boards don't forget to make cutouts for everything that needs to come through!

These utilities include but are not limited to: electrical outlets, light fixtures, and switches.

To accommodate the utilities make cutouts for them by drawing the pattern on the board. Then drill a hole on the outline you drew and use a keyhole saw to cut out the pattern piece.

Go counterclockwise when cutting. Don't drive screws or put nails within 24 inches of the utility area.

Butt the wall panels right up to the ceiling panels and nail metal outside corner beads to cover any outside corners.

After covering the ceiling and all the walls just sweep and tidy up because now it's time for some drywall finishing.

Drywall Tips #5: Avoid the common mistakes.

Keep these Do's and Don't below handy as your going through the process because they are the most common mistakes when installing drywall and can lead to repairs later.

Always make sure you keep in mind insulation, ventilation, moisture control, and wiring. Read the manufacturers instructions.

Be careful when handling and storing the sheets because you do not want to damage the ends of the corners.

Don't drive the nails or screws to far. You do not want to break the paper layer of the panels.

Don't contaminate the compound. Try not to let any debris or dried compound chips fall into the bucket.

Use Drywall nails and screws only. Don't just go and pick up regular ones get drywall specific ones.

Don't place seems at door corners and over windows.

Do not butt 2 panels together at the factory edge. Have a cut on one edge.

Always do the ceiling first.

Make sure you have the paper side facing out!

And that's it! With these Drywall Tips for installation you are sure to do a better job. It will look great when it's finished. Enjoy!

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