Drywall was once thought to be the province
of professional builders and installers. Many
do it yourselfers find that drywall is not all
that difficult to install and finish yourself.
With the proper preparation and tools, anybody
can install drywall. However, it can be difficult
to determine which type of drywall is right for
you. A quick look at some types of drywall and
their application can help sort out this issue.
Drywall comes in many thicknesses and sizes,
and can also have many different qualities. These
different types of drywall have their own applications,
and purchasing the right type of drywall is essential.
The first thing you will notice when shopping
for drywall is that it comes in different sized
sheets. For most residential applications, 4'x8'
sheets are sufficient. However, if you have high
ceilings (or if you are drywalling your ceiling,
you may wish to purchase sheets which are 4'x10'
or even as large as 4'x12'. These sheets are
a bit more unwieldy, however, and may be more
prone to breakage in transit.
The next variable in drywall is the thickness.
The standard thickness for drywall is 1/2-inch,
and this is the size you will use for most applications,
including walls and ceilings. Slightly thicker
5/8-inch drywall is recommended if you are using
walls with larger than standard stud centres.
Thinner drywall, usually either 3/8 or 1/4-inch
is used for curved walls. If you are planning
a curved wall in your project, be sure to get
the right thickness and learn how to make your
drywall bend to fit the shape of your wall.
Where to put different types of drywall
Another
variable in selecting drywall is where you
are putting it. Standard drywall is composed
of a gypsum core with a paper facing. "Green" drywall
has a more water resistant facing, and should
be used in bathrooms. If you are planning to
apply tile to a wall, concrete drywall should
be used. You should also investigate whether
fire codes in your region specify the use of "Type
X" drywall, which is constructed with increased
fire resistance.
With
the right drywall and the correct tools, any
do it yourselfer can incorporate drywall into
their home renovations – without having
to pay for a contractor to install the drywall.
|
