Drywall Installation and Texture Application
Drywall professionals normally describe drywall installation in 2 stages: the hanging stage and finishing stage. The hanging stage consists of preparing wall framing for drywall installation, then lifting and fastening drywall sheets set up. The concluding phase is made up of taping drywall joints and corners, and applying finish coats and textures. An overview of the drywall installation process prepares you to choose between do-it-yourself setup or hiring a contractor and permits you to estimate labour requirements and materials costs.
Surface Preparation
Prior to lifting and attaching drywall to wall and ceiling framing, drywall installers must inspect the framing members’ surfaces as well as the wall and ceiling cavities. Drywall installers remove large debris from the wall studs’ surfaces, particularly protruding nails, staples or screws. Importantly, both building codes and secure practices need drywall contractors to protect plumbing pipes and electrical wires from drywall screws and nails. If necessary, drywall installers employ approved protective plates over pipes and position electrical wires from the wall or ceiling’s interior surface or inside electrical boxes.
Hanging Drywall
The expression hanging describes lifting, placing and positioning sheets of drywall onto a ceiling or wall surface. For small jobs, a group of at least two drywall hangers might hang drywall sheets manually. For big jobs or elevated surfaces, drywall hangers utilize specific lifting equipment to hoist asphalt sheets. Drywall hangers cut sheets to size, create openings for plumbing and electrical fixtures and secure sheets to framing with nails or screws.
Taping Drywall
The expression taping describes sealing and linking the seams between adjacent sheets of drywall. Drywall tapers cover joints together with either fiberglass or paper drywall joint tape and lots of layers of a plasterlike paste called joint chemical or”drywall mud.” Tapers apply rigid, angled covers, called bead, to wall and ceiling corners with mechanical fasteners, such as nails or screws. Finally, tapers fill nail and screw holes and smooth the taped joints together with adhesive or sanding tools.
End and Texture Application
Following the taping procedure, drywall finishers often apply a thin coat of diluted joint chemical, called topping or”skim coat” chemical, across the entire ceiling or wall surface. The skim coat makes a level, smooth surface throughout the room’s interior and occasionally evens low and high spots. After a light sanding, drywall finishers might apply primer and paint to get a smooth wall. Alternately, drywall finishers employ a drywall texture. Normally composed of topping chemical or diluted, general-purpose joint chemical, drywall texture creates visual interest and conceals surface defects. Textures range from arbitrary, splattered patterns to sweeping, hand-troweled arcs. Drywall finishers use both hand tools and power tools to apply joint compound for functions. Following the application of textures, drywall finishers or painting professionals apply primer and paint.