Home Improvement – Drywall Finishing Tips
Congratulations, you’ve managed to hang your drywall without any major incidents! You might be feeling stressed over putting in the perfect finish, though. It’s a major stumbling block for most drywall do-it-yourselfers. Don’t tear your hair out; it’s never too late to learn new drywall finishing tips. It’s better to do something slowly and get it right the first time than to have to redo it later!
Drywall finishing tips stress the importance of a properly hung drywall. The Drywall Contractor has to be tight against wall studs and ceiling joists. To test if screws have been sufficiently countersunk, slide a drywall knife across the fasteners. A metallic click will indicate a protruding screw. This tends to occur at where corners meet but can be rectified with a Philips screwdriver. Nails should be tapped just below the drywall surface with a drywall hammer.
The surface of the drywall should be prepped for the final finish. Any loose or torn paper, as well as paper covering areas where the drywall has been crushed should be trimmed away before the compound is applied. Failure to do so can result in bubbling through or general marring of an otherwise smooth finish. Likewise, sealant should be applied to seal in any split fibers or chemicals that may stain the final finish.
Patience is a key when it comes to applying drywall compound, or mud. The compound has to be mixed slowly and thoroughly with a small amount of water, using a drill or hand-operated tool to mix it to the consistency of cake icing. Excess water will dilute the compound’s strength and durability. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying a third and final layer of compound. A good primer should always be applied to a finished drywall before it is painted. This prevents issues like joint banding and textural problems from showing up if paint is applied without a primer.
Finishing a drywall is often the most difficult part of installing your own drywall. It takes time to do it right and most professionals have had years of experience.
Drywall lifts will save your back for more important things – like moving around, enjoying life and being pain free! They are remarkable pieces of drywall equipment that should be in place any time you are doing a drywall project. They will save you hours of work and do all the heavier lifting for you. With a lift, you might even be able to do the project all by yourself.
Installing drywall on a ceiling usually is a two-man operation, even with a special lift. However, a lift is invaluable because it holds things in place and frees up the hands of the other two people. A lift can be rented by the hour for small drywall jobs. If you are going to be doing a lot of drywall work, then you probably are better off purchasing your own lift.
Lifts for drywall panels contain a horizontal cradle in which a single sheet of drywall is placed. Once the sheet is on the lift, it tilts into a vertical position. The next step is easy: all you have to do is crank up the cradle holding the drywall sheet to wherever you want to place the sheet. All you have to do at this point is nail or screw the sheet into the joists or studs in the ceiling.
You will do a little lifting, however, because each sheet must manually be put into the cradle. Keep in mind that each sheet of drywall can weigh quite a bit, sometimes as much as 120 pounds. There are ways for you to “save your back” when you are lifting an individual sheet of drywall however. Lift only one end of the sheet when you are putting it into the cradle. Be careful not to lift more than one sheet at a time. When you store your drywall sheets, stack them so that you can easily slide your hand under them. Putting them on 2 X 4 boards gives you this extra space for an easier “lift off.”