Texturing and decorating your walls with drywall is both affordable and easy to do. Drywall, also known as plaster board or gypsum board, is used to finish ceilings and interior walls. It is a reasonably easy job to do yourself, so long as you have someone there to help you. This is mainly because you have to lift heavy materials and keep them in place. Let’s take a look at some top tips provided by drywalling expert Lloyd Claycomb.
Partitioning
A lot of people use drywall for partitioning. This is because it has so many fantastic benefits, like quick installation, aesthetic appeal, excellent performance, dry construction, flexibility, and versatility. You do, however, have to be realistic and know that installing it takes a lot of practice. This is why professionals are out there, after all.
Taping Drywall
Installing drywall is really easy to do, but taping it will take some practice. Once you have hung the drywall, you have to tape all of the joints. Two types of tape exist:
- Plain paper black t ape.
- Self-adhesive fiberglass tape.
A lot of people opt for fiberglass because it can be directly put on the drywall. However, fiberglass does require specialist protective equipment because it can irritate the skin and airways.
Necessary Equipment
If you are ready to tape, you will need the following equipment:
- A 12-inch trowel.
- A roll of tape.
- Setting compounds.
- Putty knives.
- Sandpaper.
Finishing
When you start preparing your drywall surface, you have to inspect the entire wall first. Any lumps and holes need to be smoothed out or filled in. Obstacles and nails have to be removed. Once you have done that, you can sand the wall down, so the surface is perfect for drywalling.
Next, you have to prime it, which you do before painting it. When you prime your drywall, you will make sure the paint can properly adhere to it, making sure it lasts long. Start from the top and work your way down, so that the paint doesn’t drip.
Last but not least, you have to finish the drywall. Hopefully, you have used a simple, flat paint on the drywall, as this is easiest to patch up. Make sure you leave at least 24 hours between applying one coat and the next one, so that it is properly dried. You will also find that, once the paint is dry, it will look quite different from when you first applied it.
Preventing Mold Growth
Usually, drywall sheets were generally made of gypsum paper, but they are now often made from fiberglass. This is because fiberglass is mold-resistant, thereby solving one of the biggest issues that drywall faces. When traditional drywall is exposed to water or even a little bit of moisture, mold will take hold quite quickly. Mold has the potential to cause significant structural damage, it looks terrible, and it potentially causes health problems, particularly in those who have breathing difficulties such as asthma.