How to Install Sheetrock
What is Sheetrock? Sheetrock is actually a brand name for drywall, a kind of material commonly used in interior walls. Sheetrock is made from gypsum layered with hard, sturdy paper. Here’s how you can install drywall or sheetrock on your own. Read on for more.
Tools
Drywall
Level
Razor knife
Measuring tape
Drywall screw dimpler
Drywall screws
Drywall tape
Drywall mud
Drywall mud topcoat
Drywall mud tray
Putty knife
Pole sander
Medium grit sandpaper
Fine grit sandpaper
Procedure
Have someone help you when installing sheetrock. It’s not going to be easy doing it on your own.
Start choosing the sheetrock you’re going to use. The generic sizes come in 4″x8″, 4″x12″ if you want a larger size. Find out what the local building code in your area’s required sheetrock thickness is. You should also determine what type of sheetrock you want to use. For example, the sheetrock for a bathroom can be different from the type of sheetrock you would use in a bedroom.
Remove any old sheetrock or drywall installed previously in your walls. Make sure you remove nails and screws as well. Once removed, inspect for damages, things that can be improved upon or pests like termites.
Repair tears in the insulation material using Kraft tape and use expanding foam to seal cracks and gaps.
Measure the areas on the walls where the sheetrock will go using a tape measure. To resize sheetrock, place it down on stable ground and use a razor knife and a hard straight edge to cut off the exess sheetrock you would like to get rid of. Turn the sheetrock on its opposite side, grasping the top and you knee on the sheetrock. Snap off the unwanted piece with one quick pulling movement. You can use the drywall saw to cut irregular shapes or edges.
If you’re installing sheetrock in an area with protuding objects like pipes, place the drywall first on the area, slightly tapping it on the surface with a block of wood. This will leave an indentation on the sheetrock. Use the drywall saw to cut out the indentation to make space for the protuding object.
Look for the studs and mark them by putting a whole length of masking tape and marking the studs with a red marker.
Use a spring loaded drywall screw dimpler to install the screws on the vertical studs. Try to keep as close to the edges as you can.
Use the drywall knife to apply drywall mud over the seams of the sheetrock. Take your pre-cut drywall tape and dampen it only slightly with clean water. Put the tape over the joints where you just applied the mud on. Flatten the tape using your putty knife.
When flattening the tape, remove the excess putty that comes off with it. Use one smooth motion and move only in one direction. Check the tape for any remaining air bubbles. Let one layer dry thoroughly before putting on another layer. Try to keep the layers thin. Keep repeating this step until all the joints are covered.
Screed over joint lines, screw dimples and imperfections on the sheetrock.
Sand the joints after all the coats have completely dried. Do this with a light hand.