What goes into getting framed walls ready to paint?
For 15-year veteran remodeler Abel Marin of Chicago-based Pro Done, installing drywall right starts with knowing how to order and size the panels. Pattern layout is a critical step toward ensuring a quality finish. “I know where to use 8-, 10-, and 12-foot sheets so we’re not paying to throw sheets away,” he says.
Reducing waste on the job also can be a major factor contributing to a company’s profitability, says Marin. “I’ve seen a lot of waste on jobsites,” he adds. “We try to keep waste down around 10 percent to 15 percent by ordering just what we need.”
Proper technique with mudding and taping is the final step and demands attention to detail. “We spend time on the detail work,” says Marin. “I have an eye and know what to expect from my crews.”
Here are some other important lessons to remember.
Because gypsum panels are susceptible to damage from moisture and extreme heat, it’s best to keep them clean, dry and at moderate temperatures between 40°F and 95°F. Remove the plastic protective covering and stack panels flat until ready for use.
When installing boards, always run them horizontally on wall joists, positioning edges or ends over framing members or other solid backing. Drive fasteners below the surface without breaking the paper. Test by running a mudding knife over the boards. If you hear clicking, the fasteners need to be sunk deeper.
Skillful Panel Finishing
The true test of skill comes once the gypsum panels are hung. Follow these steps to be sure the walls are paint-ready.
- Mix powder compounds and thin premixed materials with potable water. Do not allow compounds to freeze.
- Let non-setting type compounds dry thoroughly before sanding. Setting types can receive additional coats as soon as the material has set and before it dries completely.
- Apply compound to the joint first when taping. Then press in the tape and wipe off the excess compound, or use mechanical tools designed for this purpose.
- Apply a second coat of compound with tools that extends approximately 3½ inches beyond the center of the joint. Draw down the compound to a smooth even plane.
- After drying or setting, sand the treated surfaces. When sanding, take care not to raise the nap of the gypsum board paper.
- Where a third coat is needed, feather the joint treatment edges approximately 6 inches from the center of the joint.
- Sand the final coat lightly with fine sand paper or wipe with a damp sponge to leave a smooth even surface.
- Cover fastener heads with three coats, applied in different directions.
- Caulk all cut edges and openings around pipes and fixtures with water-resistant flexible sealant.
- For skim coating, spread a thin layer of trowel-applied joint compound or a material manufactured specifically for this purpose over the entire surface of the gypsum panel product. Immediately remove excess compound, leaving a thin film covering the paper. Lightly sand or sponge to assure a smooth and even surface.
- Apply a good-quality drywall primer prior to decoration.
Source: Gypsum Association
Safety Tip
When mixing powders or sanding, wear a protective respirator. Keep the area ventilated to ensure proper drying, setting or curing of taping and finishing compounds.
Source: Gypsum Association
Faster Drywall Tool
Stop picking up one screw at a time to install drywall. There’s a faster, more productive approach.
Corded or 14.4-volt cordless collated DuraSpin screwdrivers from Senco use 50-screw strips and allow single-handed operation. “This tool lets you put up sheets of drywall 30 percent faster,” says Dave Moore, trade market manager of Cincinnati-based Senco Products.
Independent testing found that installing a 4 x 12 sheet of drywall took 60 seconds with the DuraSpin system, Moore says.
“These collated systems let a rookie come in and perform like a pro,” he adds. Both tools include depth-of-drive adjustments to regulate the precise amount of countersink, plus a guide nose that helps drive the screw straight every time.
The tools are priced from $99 to $149. And yes, collated screws may cost more (approximately $80 for a typical 2,500-square-foot house), but the production savings can add up to six times that amount.
Application Tip
Automatic tapers that apply tape and mud simultaneously can reduce finishing times by up to 75 percent.