Drywall is a great option to add partitions to your house. Not to mention they also enhance the interior of your house because they come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. When compared to conventional walls, there is no match for good old drywall for the price point and ease of installation.
Another great thing about drywall is that you can do it yourself if you have some prior experience with handiwork or if you are a DIY junkie. In essence, it is just about laying blocks in the area, seam to seam. Still, it is technical work that requires skills and expertise that are found in professional guys, so it is best to rely on pros if you have that option.
If you are still bent on going the DIY route, here are some tips that can help you get the best results with your project. Essentially, they are the dos and don’ts you should keep in mind while installing drywalls in your house.
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Adequate Edge Support
As with any other installation work, there is always trouble around the edges, and drywall is no exception. In order to make sure you stay clear in this area; it is best to measure the area and divide it with the dimensions of the blocks. There are chances that you need to install only the slivers of drywall once you reach the edge.
The solution to that problem lies in adding a backing to the wall to make the area even. This can save you from a lot of trouble in terms of measuring and cutting the blocks to cover a small area.
Marked Framing Lines
This is a rookie mistake that can be expected in a DIY project. If you forget to mark the framing line, you are going to miss a lot before nailing the panels firmly. To make sure you screw the panels right the first time, marking the frame is the key.
Draw a pencil line across the area; it is best experience in screwing the whole length. In addition to that, mark the locations of ceiling joists, stud location, and other unusual activity that you need to track in order to get the panel in its place.
Tapered Edges
Another mistake that you should avoid is to hang a sheet of drywall with tapered edges along the outside corner. It is because when you have that uneven surface on the outside, it will be harder for you to install the corner head. It is because you cannot apply joint compound to the bead corner because it hangs too low.
The solution to this problem is to install cut edges along an outside corner to avoid inconvenience.
Mind the Fit
Outlet holes are always tricky to work around. Often, when you are done with measurements and holding, you find out that the outlet does not sit right in the setting.
To avoid this problem, it is best to check the fit before drilling the screws into the drywall. To do this, hold the panel against the wall and check whether the outlet hole sits right against it or not. If it doesn’t, trim the excess with a utility knife, nice and easy.
It is easier to do amends while the sheet is not glued to the wall.
Leave Gaps
No matter how seamless drywall finishing you can cut, there is always a corner that is off when you push the drywall against the wall. This can cause trouble as you may end up with a broken edge of the panel if you push the panel too hard against the wall.
One solution to this could be shaving or cutting the extra bit, but it would be time-consuming and hard. It is because there are chances you end up cutting more than necessary.
A slightly loose cut is an answer. It should not be a gulf, just an eighth of an inch, and you are good to go. For both inside and outside corners, you should leave from fourth to eight-part of an inch around the wall. After you are done installing, and you think the gap is too much, you can use setting in compounds, and they will do the trick.
Minimize Joints
With every structure that is made up of parts and joints, the ideal way of doing things is to have the least number of joints. This helps in both the strength and longevity of the structure and ease up the installation process.
In drywall installation, make sure you measure the spaces beforehand and assign big chunks of drywall instead of stitching the joints.
Drywall is a great solution to your inner spacing problems, especially in urban areas where space is scarce. By following these tips, you can easily get the job done with minimal errors.
