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How to Make Simple Knife Cuts to Drywall. In most cases, drywall is cut by scoring through the paper on the finish side (the one with white paper) using a sharp drywall knife. As soon as you notice the blade dulling, turn it around or replace it.
Do you cut sheetrock from the front or back?
Sawing. A drywall saw is used to make cuts for windows and doors while a smaller keyhole saw is perfect for cutting around electrical boxes and other small openings. Make the cuts from the front side when possible to keep from roughing up the paper on the face.
What side of the drywall is scored?
The vertical edges of the sheet should attach to studs. Score the front side and cut away the paper backing. Smooth any rough edges and position the piece. Mark the studs and drive in screws to secure the drywall.
How do you separate drywall sheets?
Tilt Pieces Inward and Make Cut Tilt one side of the drywall up to about 90 degrees. Hold it in place. With the other hand, slice the paper holding the two sections together. The two pieces will now be free.
What are the two types of seams between drywall sheets?
When installing drywall flat against a stud, there are two types of drywall joints, or seams, you can make: the butt joint or the tapered joint. In many cases, the type of joint you use is dictated by the application. But in a few instances, you may have a choice between butt and tapered joints.
What’s the difference in sheetrock and drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.
Can I cut drywall with a jigsaw?
Drywall is easy enough to cut – measure, score and snap. To cut drywall with a jigsaw, you can start with a few pilot holes – or even make them yourself with a plunge cut and a decent jigsaw blade.
What side of purple drywall do you cut?
When hanging PURPLE drywall, which side faces out? Always hang PURPLE drywall with the purple side out, or facing into the room. It decorates like standard drywall, which means the purple won’t be visible under white or lightly colored paint.
Do you hang drywall top to bottom?
When hanging the drywall on the walls, always hang the top sheet first. Raise a sheet tight to the ceiling and secure it with a drywall nail at the top and bottom at each stud. Complete the top row throughout the room before proceeding to the bottom.
Do you drywall ceiling or walls first?
Hang drywall on the ceiling first, then the walls. Check the ceiling for bowed joists using a 4-ft. level.
Why is Sheetrock sold in pairs?
Hanging and Drywall Yourself. They Come in Pairs: Drywall sheets are packed in pairs for shipping. The good sides are facing each other so that there will be no damage because each nick requires finishing later on. Two people will have to carry 140 pounds down to the basement or separate them beforehand.
Should I stagger my drywall joints?
It’s not necessary to stagger seams on ceiling drywall. However, because these joints are relatively difficult to finish—and tend to be noticeable in the finished product—it’s a good idea to stagger the drywall panels to make the joints less visible.
How much gap should be between sheets of drywall?
Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor. This allows for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall. It also helps prevents moisture wicking if the floor floods.
Should drywall be hung vertically or horizontally?
On commercial jobs, fire codes often require seams to fall on the entire length of the framing, so the drywall must be hung vertically. For walls 9 feet high or shorter, hanging the drywall horizontally has a number of benefits. Fewer seams. Horizontal hanging reduces the lineal footage of seams by about 25%.
Which is cheaper drywall or sheetrock?
As with most name brand materials, sheetrock tends to be a bit more expensive than its non-name brand counterparts. However, many builders believe sheetrock provides a better quality product and is a bit easier to work with than generic brand drywall.
How many screws go into a sheet of drywall?
How Many Screws Per Sheet of Drywall. Use about 32 drywall screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall. This total is comprised of four screws on the five middle studs and six screws on each of the two sides.
What is purple drywall?
PURPLE XP® is a specially treated, mold- and fire-resistant paper-faced gypsum board that provides Xtra Protection (XP) against mold and mildew compared to standard gypsum board. The XP gypsum core is encased in heavy, mold-, mildew- and moisture-resistant, 100% recycled PURPLE paper on the face.
Should I pop a water bubble on my ceiling?
Pop it! Sometimes it can take weeks from estimate to fixing the issue. The longer the water sits behind the paint, the more damage it will do the drywall, and especially with ceilings, which will fall into the house if the drywall gets too wet and heavy. The best preventative measure is pop the bubble.
Can you put drywall over drywall ceiling?
For a ceiling that is cracked and possibly stained, a good method is to re-cover the entire ceiling with a new layer of drywall. By re-covering the entire surface of the ceiling it allows you to basically start over to achieve that nice smooth and even surface you want.
Can you use a circular saw to cut drywall?
First, don’t use a circular saw to cut drywall. A circular saw creates giant clouds of unnecessary dust. This dust causes premature wear on the moving parts of the saw, as well as your lungs and those of anyone standing nearby. Professional drywall hangers use a regular razor knife to make straight cuts on drywall.
