How to Install Sheetrock (Drywall)

There is a great deal of pride to be had by owning your own home, but try as you might to maintain that level of pride, the time invariably comes when things start to go wrong.

Nothing in this world is designed to last forever, which when you talk about the home translates to improvement projects that are going to have to be faced at one time or another. Many of those, such as plumbing and electrical, should be left in the hands of the pros, but there are others that can absolutely be tackled on your own, although you may want to ask a couple of buddies to help, usually with the going rate of a case of beer.

Installing sheetrock is a common home improvement job, and one that can be tackled by even the most casual do it yourself enthusiast. It can be argued that half of the battle of any good DIY project is being properly prepared, so let’s first look at what you will need to install your sheetrock properly.

The most obvious thing to figure out is exactly how much drywall you need for the job. There is nothing worse than having to make more than one trip to the hardware store because you have run short. The easiest way to calculate is to get the total square footage of the room and then add 10% for waste, Divide that number by 30 and round up to the nearest number. That should let you know how many 4’ X 8’ drywall sheets you’ll need for the job. In addition to the drywall you are also going to need some other items, with the following numbers being the amount you’ll need per thousand square feet: 370 feet of joint tape, 140 pounds of joint compound, 700 screws and 700 nails. You will also need some tools for the job, with a utility knife, saw, t-square, hammer, screwdriver, taping knife, and power sander at the top of your shopping list.

When it comes to the actual installation you might want to check your local building codes to be sure that you comply with fastening requirements.

1. Hand the sheetrock from top to bottom, making sure that it is perpendicular to the framing.
2. Screws should be inserted every 16 inched, with nails put in between those so that there is a 7 inch gap between each fastener.
3. Countersink all of your fasteners as this will make the finishing process a lot easier for you.

Once all the drywall is hung, use your taping knife to add compound to the seams, making sure to fill the whole space. The next step is to place tape over that which is then covered with a very thin layer of compound. Fill in all your screw and nail holes and then allow it to dry for 24 hours. You will then add a second and third layer, being sure to make those final 2 layers as smooth as possible Allow that to dry again, sand it until it is smooth and even and you are done.

It’s as simple as that.

And now that you’ve got the drywall up, you need to finish your work.