Used Equipment

Installing Drywall question?

We are finishing our basement……….Right now it has the old 70s style paneling which I started ripping out. I never installed drywall before so I guess I am at the idiot stage. What is the typical way of cutting drywall? What tools am I going to need to complete this job?

Thanks a ton

After installing thousands of sq. ft. of drywall, but only surfing all your answers, I’m sure there are valid suggestions.

Assuming you’ll install in 4 x 8 sheets,,, allow that someone might help you,,, at least to carry, and hold sheets. The choice is yours as to thickness,,, Common is 1/2 inch residential.

If by chance the ceiling to floor height is 8 ft. half your battle has been won. Measure first, and at least twice,,, not only in cutting the drywall, but in planning the least amount of waste.

You don’t mention studs or furring strips, so I’ll assume either have been installed 16 or 24 inch on centers. If they happen to be 2 x 4 studs, I advise tyvek, and/or blue foam insulating panels installed first.

Define the quantity needed by the room measurments, before you make the first cut on any piece of drywall. IE: If a wall length is 8 ft high by 10 ft you’ll have to cut a 4 x 8 in half,,, lenghtwise allowing a 2 x 8 to be used elsewhere. I’m not trying to dumb this down,,, please don’t take offense.

Into each corner, determine that 48 inches or any cut pieces, should center on a stud or “strip” I allow no less than 1 inch off the floor surface in case of a flood,,,IE: a plumbing break. That may mean cutting an inch off the length of a sheet? You can use a piece of 2 x 4 to accomplish this.

You need only a couple of drywall screws to keep it in place, allowing you to “finish” without a helper.

CUTTING: As others have likely suggested a utility knife is acceptable. DO NOT bother with the snap off blade type,,, BUT DO buy a pack of 100 extra blades.

With help you can have the drywall section upright. If no help is available leave it laying flat on the floor. Snap a chalk line at the proper measurements for any cutting, and if you have a steady hand and eye, cut into the line, once, twice, perhaps even 3 times, as evenly as you can in applying pressure. Certainly if you must, you can use an 8 ft straight edge.

In either case of cutting,,, Cut on the “back side” of the sheet. Once you’ve “scored” the sheet, you can flex it back, folding it to a 90 degree angle, more or less, then cut at the fold or if you’ve scored deep enough just “snap the length back beyond the flat, to free it. Most often, if your knife is sharp, and the scoring deep enough, the edge will be relatively clean. Then install.

To avoid screwing the drywall screws through the piece you can purchase a bit stop tool. The screw only needs to be installed just below the paper surface. I use 1 5/8 most often, but certainly it’s your choice,,,especially when furring strips are the support.

After the fact, and placing screws appropriately, without over doing it (Drywall hangs by “Shear” weight), tape, mud, sand, and finish.

Rev. Steven

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