Page 284 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 230

When the ceiling is done, begin hanging drywall on the walls. The standard ceiling height is 97-1/8"
between the floor and the bottom of the ceiling joists. Subtracting 1/2" for the thickness of ceiling panels
leaves a 96-5/8" wall height. Two panel widths total 96". Hang wall panels 5/8" above the finished floor
for a snug fit at the ceiling. The 5/8" at the floor will be covered with baseboard. Use a drywall foot lift to
hold the panel 5/8" above the floor while driving nails or screws.

Regular core 1/2" drywall panels are recommended for single-layer wall application in new residential
construction. 3/8" panels are recommended for ceilings in residential repair and remodeling in single or
double-layers. Type X drywall is designed to meet requirements for fire safety. Greenboard is
water-resistant for use behind tile. Brownboard is designed for exterior sheathing or soffits.

Joint compound comes in both powder and pre-mixed forms. Home improvement specialists generally
use pre-mixed compound. Dry mix has to be used right away after adding water. Pre-mixed cement will
last for weeks if kept in a sealed container. Regardless of which you use, the mix should have a soft,
putty-like consistency that spreads easily with a trowel or wide putty knife. Mud that runs off the knife is
too thin.

Most drywall has a tapered, or beveled edge. Joint compound and tape fill this recess, leaving a
smooth, flat surface. If a sheet has been cut to fit, the edge won’t be tapered. You can tape a square
edge the same way you tape beveled edges, the joint compound will rise slightly above the finished
surface. The extra depth won’t be as obvious if you feather out the joint compound at least 4” beyond
the joint, but one located in the middle of the ceiling is going to be noticeable. In the corners, a taped
cut edge won’t show. Taping and feathering cut joints will slow your job down to a crawl. Avoid this
situation whenever possible.

Taping and finishing joints takes three or four days. Figure 10-05 illustrates the taping sequence. Paper
joint tape is the most economical, about $2.50 per thousand square feet of board hung. Fiberglass tape
costs more, about $6.00 per thousand square feet of board. But self-adhesive fiberglass joint mesh
needs no embedding coat and is more durable than paper tape. It flexes rather than curling or tearing if
the joint moves.

Taping and Finishing Drywall
1. Start with the ceiling and work down the walls. If you’ve selected paper tape rather than fiberglass,
spread joint compound over panel edges with a 5”-wide taping knife. Don’t skimp on the mud. If you’re
using self-adhesive fiberglass tape, press tape over the joints and skip to step three below.