why the top course of drywall first

Why can’t I fasten the edge of drywall to the wall?

The Housing Act of 1949 facilitated the construction of thousands of homes across the United States. In addition, with the development of the Interstate Highway system, more and more people were moving to the suburbs. It was in this context that Drywall took over as leader in the industry. By the late 1950's and 1960's, though plaster was still ...

Why did drywall take over the construction industry?

But as New Orleans showed, convenience comes with a cost. * * *. Drywall was invented in 1916. The United States Gypsum Corporation, a company …

What are the drywall finishing steps?

Apr 20, 2020 · The seams between each panel will likely be the first parts to show wear and tear. The drywall tape will provide a uniform and resilient barrier against this damage ( source ). Due to the natural flexibility of the tape, the shifts between two adjoined panels will not break it, unlike the drywall compound which could crack under the strain.

What makes a great Drywall Finish?

Welcome to First Drywall, Inc. We provide drywall installation, taping and finishing for ... First Drywall is listed in “The TOP 10 Drywall Contractors in Marin County CA” by the SF Bay Area Prime Buyers Report. Friendly Staff. Our office and field personnel monitor and manage all aspects of quality without compromise to budget or schedule.

Should you start drywall from the top or bottom?

Tips for hanging drywallHang Ceiling Drywall First. When hanging drywall, always hang the ceiling first. ... Hang The Walls Next. When hanging the drywall on the walls, always hang the top sheet first. ... Measurements. When hanging the bottom sheet, cut the drywall to fit around electrical j-boxes and plumbing rough-ins.

Why do you start drywall the ceiling first?

The primary reason that you want to start with the ceiling pieces first in installing drywall is for additional support. When you attach the ceiling sheets first, you can reinforce them with the wall pieces which will serve as a source of stability.

What drywall goes up first?

Hanging Drywall From the Top Down Hang drywall on the ceiling first, then the walls. Check the ceiling for bowed joists using a 4-ft.Oct 5, 2007

Does it matter which way you hang drywall?

Drywall is typically stronger when hung in the long direction than it is in the short direction, which means less chance of sagging when attached perpendicular.Jul 27, 2016

Do drywall seams have to be on a stud?

Drywall Is Not on a Stud All edges of all sheets of drywall must land on a solid surface such as a stud. A hanging drywall edge may work in the short-term, but in the long-term it can result in cracks and other serious wall issues. Sometimes, the drywall does not horizontally reach a stud.Mar 3, 2022

Does drywall need to acclimate?

Controlling temperature, humidity, and airflow before, during and after the drywall work is real important. Believe it or not just bringing the drywall in ahead of time to acclimate (just like hardwood flooring) can help reduce problems that often appear within 24 hours of first turning on the heat.Oct 27, 2013

Is it OK to drywall walls before ceiling?

Walls First If you add drywall to the walls. Then add drywall to the ceiling. The ceiling drywall will be unsupported along the entire length of the one wall.Jul 1, 2014

What goes on top drywall?

Compound. Compound, also called spackle or mud, is an important item that goes on top of drywall. After hanging and screwing drywall to wall studs, you must apply the compound to the drywall board seams using a 4-inch-wide knife.

Should drywall touch the floor?

Drywall should never touch the floor. Allow for a 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) space between your new wall and your old flooring, so there is room for expansion of both materials without cracking the drywall.Nov 11, 2021

Should drywall be staggered?

Generally, yes, sheetrock should be staggered. Most drywall contractors recommend staggering sheetrock boards so that the joints in one row do not match up with the joints in the next row, which adds strength to the wall or ceiling and helps minimize cracks.

How many screws go into a 4x8 sheet of drywall?

Use about 32 drywall screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall. This total is comprised of four screws on the five middle studs and six screws on each of the two sides.Mar 8, 2022

Do you leave a gap between drywall sheets?

Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor. This allows for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall. It also helps prevents moisture wicking if the floor floods.

When was dry wall invented?

Drywall was invented in 1916 . The United States Gypsum Corporation, a company that vertically integrated 30 different gypsum and plaster manufacturing companies 14 years prior, created it to protect homes from urban fires, and marketed it as the poor man’s answer to plaster walls.

What was the drywall ad?

A 1921 USG ad billed drywall as a fireproof wall that went up with “no time [lost] in preparing materials, changing types of labor, or waiting for the building to dry.”. An early ad for drywall, which was originally known as sheetrock. (Courtesy Greg Gardenour, the Ad Store)

Why are house builders paying attention to alternative methods and suggestions?

In his recent projects, Mouzon says house builders are starting to pay attention to alternative methods and suggestions, possibly because being eco-friendly is a current trend, but possibly also because the cost of drywall has increased dramatically.

Where does Wallboard get its gypsum from?

(Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet's conglomerate, owns 27 percent of the company.) It gets its gypsum from mines or as a synthetically engineered byproduct of coal-fired power plants.

Is drywall better than white bread?

White bread sales are now de clining, but drywall is doing better than ever. Maybe that’s because drywall really is the best way to create affordable housing for millions. But it may just be easier to change America’s eating habits than its living habits.

Can drywall contaminate water?

The compound can contaminate water and raise its acidity— a risk to marine and freshwater animals. “When site workers put drywall scraps into a dumpster, they consider themselves at the tail end of a waste cycle,” says Amanda Kaminsky, founder of Building Products Ecosystems in Brooklyn.

Is drywall a good building material?

While drywall has many advantages, there are of course limitations to this sturdy building material. Like any supporting structures there are going to be weak points that develop over time and require some maintenance. Drywall is susceptible to the natural strain that walls will endure over their lifespan.

Does drywall tape shrink?

This means that any seams or large cracks will reappear as the compound sinks into it. The drywall tape prevents this by creating a buffer layer between the compound layers that won’t shrink as it cools .

What is a drywall screwgun?

A drywall screwgun is a specialty tool used for ​ hanging drywall. It is a more compact, lighter, and lower torque tool than most cordless drills. While screwguns do an excellent job of driving drywall screws, they have such limited functionality for homeowners that it is unnecessary to purchase them.

What is 5/8 inch drywall?

At 5/8-inch, type-x drywall is slightly thicker to retard the spread of flames and is used in garages and walls adjacent to furnace rooms. Drywall that is 1/4-inch thick is sometimes used as facing for walls and ceilings. Because it is flexible, it can be used to form curves.

What size screw gauge for drywall?

Actual sizes of drywall screw gauges: #6 (0.1380-inch) #8 (0.1640-inch) Gauge is often expressed as the second number after the length.

Do coarse threads work on metal?

Coarse threads have a tendency to chew through the metal, never gaining proper traction. Fine threads work well with metal because they are self-threading. Fine-thread drywall screws do not hold as well in wood as do coarse-thread screws. Featured Video.

Do you use drywall screws for studs?

While drywall nails are still around and do have their use as a quick way to fasten wallboard, drywall screws have evolved as the standard method of attaching drywall to studs precisely because of the nail-pop problem. Some do-it-yourselfers use drywall screws for one unintended purpose: building projects.

Can you apply mud on both sides of a wall?

You can't apply the second coat of mud on both sides of a corner at the same time. You do one side on one day and then the other side on day two or after the mud is dry. You can finish three corner surfaces where a ceiling meets the inside corner of two walls at the same time.

Do you have to have hand eye coordination to finish drywall?

Drywall finishing requires hand-eye coordination. Some people have it and others simply don't. One of my employees couldn't finish drywall to save his life. I tried and tried to get him to hold the broad knife the right way, but he never could get just the right smooth gliding motion with that knife.

Do you need to prime drywall before painting?

Yes, finished drywall should be primed and sealed. This paint coating evens out the porosity and texture of the drywall so the finished paint looks superb. After you have third coated and finally sanded the seams, corners, and nails, you MUST apply a superb sealer/primer to the walls before you paint.

How tall is drywall?

And don’t scrimp on materials. Drywall is cheap. If the walls you’re planning to drywall are between 8 ft. 1 in. and 9 ft. 1 in. tall, consider ordering special 54 -in.-wide sheets of drywall to avoid an extra horizontal joint. You’ll find 54 -in.-wide drywall at drywall suppliers, or you can special-order it from most home centers and lumberyards.

Where is the blocking nailed?

Normally blocking is nailed to the top plate of the wall during the framing phase , but it’s often missing. If you have to add blocking and don’t have room to swing a hammer, drive screws into the blocking at an angle from below. Check out these 20 tips for working with drywall to make your next build or repair easier.

What to do if you forget to mark framing?

If you forget to mark the location of framing members before you cover them with drywall, you’ll have a hard time placing the screws accurately (left). For foolproof screw placement, make these marks and use them as a guide to draw a light pencil line across the sheet (right).

Can you fasten drywall at the corners?

Framing at inside corners is often inadequate or lacking altogether, making it impossible to fasten the edge of the drywall (left). The solution is to inspect the framing before you start hanging drywall. Make sure there’s at least 1 in. of exposed framing at corners. If not, add another 2×4 alongside the existing framing (right).

Can you hang drywall vertically?

Hanging Drywall Vertically: Avoid Tapered Edges on Outside Corners. If you hang a sheet of drywall with the tapered edge along an outside corner, it will be hard to install the corner bead accurately (left). The corner of the bead will lie too low, making it difficult to cover with joint compound.

Can you measure drywall for exact fit?

There’s no reason to measure and cut drywall for an exact fit. It’ll usually just cause trouble. Jamming in a piece that’s too tight will crumble the edge or break out a corner (left). And removing a piece to shave a too-tight edge is messy and time consuming. A loose fit avoids this problem.

Can you notch drywall around openings?

It’s better to notch drywall around openings rather than to make a joint. For interior walls, simply continue over the opening with a full sheet and cut out the opening after you fasten the sheet (right). Windows on exterior walls are a little trickier. Measure and notch the sheet before hanging it.

What to consider before buying drywall?

There are no specific building code requirements when it comes to the length and width to use, so ultimately the decision comes down to the needs of the client, installer, or particular space of the building.

How thick is drywall?

If your particular application requires special properties, such as added insulation, moisture resistance, or fire retardation, most suppliers offer these additional qualities in some of their thicker drywall panels (usually 5/8-inch).

Is drywall the most common material in the interior?

Even though drywall is by far the most common interior wall and ceiling material in use today, many people still don’t realize the sheer number of different options that are readily available.

How long is the side of drywall?

The 8 foot long side of a standard drywall panel has a LOT of mechanical force to it if it moves even somewhat independently of the sheet next to it, and the joint compound rapidly turns to powder without tape to back it up.

What is drywall tape?

Embedded in a layer of dry wall joint compound, drywall tape creates a physical bond between adjacent sheets of drywall. Although the bond does not significantly contribute to the structural support of the drywall sheets, the bond reduces the movement and cracking of the sheets. Wouldn't simply mudding between the joints have ...

Does drywall mud shrink?

All purpose drywall mud does shrink over time and a thin coat over tape is going to shrink less than a thick coat filling a loose joint. Hot set mud of the type I have used doesn't shrink. The proof is in the doing, I redid the kitchen ceiling and walls of my 70 year old house and used tight joints, hot set mud and no tape.

Does plaster glue or drywall?

Plaster can fill gaps, and smooth out the texture of the wall, but it's the drywall tape that holds it together as one seamless surface. Plaster isn't superglue; it needs a large surface area to provide adhesion , which is what the tape (several layers of it, usually) provides.

Does drywall tape make seams invisible?

Drywall tape serves a single purpose: To help make the seams invisible. That it! Drywall tape does not offer an mechanical strength at all. If you skipped the drywall tape and just used joint compound to fill in the seams, the seams would become visible again after the compound dried. Joint compound shrinks!