Drywall Installation Process – 6 Key Steps & Required Materials

 With this guide, you can explore drywall, the things required for its installation, and the 6 key steps for completing the installation process.

Drywall

Drywall is a large and robust sheet of finished materials that is installed in various domestic and commercial properties for used for framing the interior walls. The drywall installation process does not include the usage of mortar or plaster. Drywall installation is commonly carried out in rooms or entire houses that require remodeling, as it involves framing the walls and ceilings with studs.

Things Used for Drywall Installation

1.      Drywall knife has a flat blade and is used for sealing the seams and for spreading the drywall mud over the seams.

2.      Drywall lift helps to lift and place the wallboard in the appropriate position in your home.

3.      Drywall panels of suitable thickness are used to effectively reduce the seams that might appear in the finished product.

4.      Drywall sanding sponge is used for touching up the walls to provide a smooth finish.

5.      Drywall saw has a long, thin blade and a handle that is utilized for cutting odd shapes into the wallboard.

6.      Drywall screws are used for securing the drywall to the stud, whose thickness is according to the board’s thickness.

7.      Drywall square is used to ensure the cuts are straight within an L-shaped square.

8.      Drywall tape is made of paper or mesh and helps to cover the seams present between boards.

9.      Dust mask covers installers’ nose and mouth to protect themselves from breathing in small irritants, such as dust particles.

10.  Jab saw is a heavy-duty serrated knife used for making holes in the drywall panel.

11.  Lightweight joint compound helps to sand the drywall for repairing cracks and is applied as a finish coat.

12.  Measuring tape is used to measure the drywall sheet size.

13.  Mud pan is used for adding drywall mud and has U-shaped shear sides that can easily be used to wipe excess material from the knife.

14.  Safety glasses help to prevent the entry of dust from getting into the eyes of workers.

15.  Sanding block is utilized for making the rough spots present over the seams smooth once the drywall mud gets dry.

16.  Sanding pole helps professional installers sand the block to a broom handle to make the surfaces smooth in higher places.

17.  Setting type joint compound is beneficial to fill oversized cutouts around the electrical boxes and seal the cracks.

18.  Stain-blocking primer is applied after the final coat to cover stains and prevent bleeding through freshly applied paint layers.

19.  Utility knife is utilized to score the drywall to have an even line to follow before cutting it.

Process of Drywall Installation

Drywall is expensive; therefore, it is essential to get this work done by experts with all the required tools and materials for safe and proper installation. The process of drywall installation Toronto usually involves the following steps:

1.      Preparing the Drywall Sheets for the Ceiling

Measuring and marking the ceiling before placing the wallboard is vital to knowing about the required number of drywall sheets and panels. This step is completed by:

·         Taking measurements from a corner that makes a 90° angle with the joists.

·         Marking the dimensions on the board’s edge.

·         Using a square to score the mark with the help of a utility knife.

·         Snapping the extra material of the drywall from the other side.

·         Determining the location for screws’ placement along the drywall panels.

·         Marking the spots where joists intersect with the wall on the top plate.

2.      Installing Drywall on the Ceiling

Once the location for placing panels is decided, the next step is to install them, which includes the following steps:

·         Positioning the first panel against the top corner of the ceiling by keeping the edges perpendicular to the framing components and flushing one end against the wall.

·         Securing evenly spaced screws within the board in a line across the whole sheet and into the framing component.

·         Using top plate marks for keeping the screws in a sequence.

·         Driving the screw heads deep into the board for indenting the paper without breakage issue.

·         Making a screws’ line in all the joists that are in contact with the drywall board.

·         Driving another row of screws by breaking through the paper without breaking it.

3.      Measuring & Cutting Drywall for the Wall

The next step is to position the wallboard for interior walls, which is done by:

·         Measuring the width of the wall and cutting the drywall sheet to keep it almost a quarter inch shorter than the actual measurement.

·         Propping the drywall up with the help of a lift to position it tightly against the ceiling.

·         Scoring the accurate mark with a utility knife and a drywall square.

·         Snaping the extra material which is against the line.

4.      Installing Drywall on the Wall

This step is usually completed by:

·         Applying some drywall adhesive and running it across the studs that results in reducing noise from the walls.

·         Ensuring that the initial board ends up in the middle of a stud which is the vertical framing component of the wall.

·         Placing the board against the studs with the help of a lift for fitting one edge next to the ceiling board firmly and another edge against the adjacent wall.

·         Driving drywall screws into the board centre and from the center to outwards with even spacing.

·         Covering the wall by hanging the drywall in the horizontal position to reduce the amount of required adhesive.

5.      Cutting Doors and Windows Openings

It is vital to accommodate doors and window openings before installing the drywall, which involves:

·         Covering the window with a drywall sheet and driving in screws to indicate the window’s corners.

·         Puncturing a hole in the middle with a jab saw and cutting sideways to reach the edges.

·         Removing the window and door trim and cutting the opening in the drywall panel before installing it.

·         Positioning the sheet along the floor and marking the window and door’s bottom edge.

·         Measuring from the ceiling to the window and door’s upper part for laying out the top edge.

·         Cutting the window and door opening and screwing the panels in place.

6.      Adding the Finishing Coats of the Drywall Compound

The finishing coats of drywall compound are used to deliver the best results by:

·         Covering all the wallboard seams to fill the gaps and make them levelled with boards.

·         Laying the joint tape on a freshly coated joint and applying the lightweight compound over the tape and surrounding it.

·         Filling the screw dimples and covering the protruding screw heads.

·         Allowing the walls to get dry till the compound turns entirely white.

·         Applying the last thin layer to all the corners and seams with a drywall knife.

·         Rubbing a sander over the joints after the finishing coat gets dry.

Once you sand and touch up the walls, you can apply primer and paint on the walls with the help of painters in Toronto.

Source: Drywall Installation Process – 6 Key Steps & Required Materials