How to Install Drywall on Metal Stud Walls?

Posted by Li Li over 6 months ago

Before looking at how to install drywall, drywall is an interior wall sheathing material mostly used in construction of residential and commercial buildings. The improvement brought by metal drywall studs is the use of special drywall screws. Learning how to install drywall is not difficult, but doing it well takes time and practice. http://www.adtomall.com/metal-drywall-studs Step 1: Preparations Take measurements of the area to be covered and purchase enough drywall for the job. Learning how to install drywall includes learning to snap a sheet in a clean line. Use a knife to cut the drywall into pieces and to make a line on just one side of the sheet. Put your knee on the sheet’s opposite side having the cut, push outward as you pull the sheet towards you. To cut accurate pieces, use a ruler. Use a saw to cut any irregular openings, like arches. Now, place a sheet against the pipe and then tap lightly using a flat wood block to make a dimple on the back. Hold the sheet and use the knife to cut an accurate hole. Before using metal studs, make sure that they are 16 inches or 24 inches centers and you can tell by putting tape along the floor. Making sure that the studs are exposed, mark the centerline of each stud using a pencil and then measure. To countersink each screw to the same depth, use a drywall sheet screw dimpler that is loaded with a spring. This is before you ratchet any screw bit. Step 2: Fixing the drywall Install screws at the approximate 8 inches centers only to vertical studs. It is advisable that you install screws closer to edges that are to be trimmed in order to have screw tops covered by the trim of the door frame or baseboard. Apply enough mud to every seam with the help of the knife. Step 3: Applying tape Cut the drywall tape and lightly dampen it with water. Perforated or fiber tape must not be used as they do not produce good work. Apply tape over the joints where you have applied mud and eliminate any bubbles. This can be ensured by a smooth motion using the knife starting from one end and pulling towards the other. For neat work, have a clean knife for every swipe. This process will get easier as you learn how to install drywall. Repeat this for every joint. Step 4: Drying Allow the joints to dry thoroughly for a day between each mud coat unless you use mud (hot) that dries fast. Pink mud is the best, as it easily shows that it has dried, ready for the next coat. The best tool for corners is the corner tool. After the last coat has dried, use a pole sander and drywall sand paper to smooth the joints. When mud is dry it sands off fast so do not sand until you get to expose the sheet. You have now learned how to install drywall.