
How to repair a bad seam in drywall?
Why do Drywall Seams Show?
- Windows
- Door frames
- Corners
- Stairs. Any area that is likely used the most, will begin to see cracks. The different changes in temperature can affect the seams.
- Apply a skim coat of setting compound
- Use drywall tape
- Sand the seam
- Use dark or matte paint
- Hanging up wall décor
- Color washing technique
Should drywall seams be staggered?
This means you have to work with large drywall panels. The idea is that fewer seams equal less potential problems, but does staggering the joints add strength to the ceiling and wall? Drywall seams should be staggered to make walls stronger and seams less visible since they are often difficult to finish and can be noticeable in the end result.
Do you stagger composite decking?
Yes, additional framing is required for staggering decking. Composite decking needs the full 1 ½” (38mm) of framing to support the ends. If you stagger the joints, an additional block will need to be added to the joist to support the decking. Ideally, a second joist is better than a block.
How to roll compound on drywall seams to save time?
- Step 1: Prepare the Wall
- Step 2: Prime the Damaged Area
- Step 3: Coat the Damaged Area with Drywall Joint Compound
- Step 4: Replace Nails
- Step 5: Coat the Seams with Mud
- Step 7: Apply Texture
- Step 8: Apply Drywall Primer
- Step 9: Repaint the Wall

Do you need to stagger drywall seams?
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.
Why do you stagger seams on drywall?
Ultimately, staggered seams are stronger because the joints – the weakest part of the wall or ceiling installation – are minimized. Staggered joints are also less visible and easier to conceal for a flawless finish, offering a smoother, more professional look to the completed job.
Should drywall be butted tight?
Close drywall joints are desirable, but not too close as to cause problems. If you have two adjoining sheets of drywall that fit snugly side-by-side, you risk breaking off the drywall in ways that you didn't imagine.
How do you align drywall seams?
1:452:52The Orientation for Laying Drywall : Drywall Help - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou separate the seams you stagger them from one stud to another this is going to make this drywallMoreYou separate the seams you stagger them from one stud to another this is going to make this drywall a lot stronger. Rather than having one seam run all the way down through it they'll be staggered.
Is it better to install drywall vertically or horizontally?
Final Thoughts. In short, drywall should be hung horizontally on residential buildings and vertically on commercial buildings. In the case of either, support beams should always run perpendicular to the wall studs at a distance of 24 inches (61 cm) apart.
Should ceiling drywall be perpendicular or parallel?
Drywall is typically stronger when hung in the long direction than it is in the short direction, which means less chance of sagging when attached perpendicular.
Should you wet drywall tape before applying it?
Dampen, but don't soak, the tape in a bucket of water. Wetting the tape before you embed it in the joint compound can help eliminate troublesome bubbles that show up after the joint dries. Keep a bucket of water nearby and quickly run each piece of tape through it before applying the tape to the wall.
Do you leave a gap between drywall and floor?
It might sound counter intuitive at first to leave space between your floor and your wall, but you should always leave a ½ inch to ⅝ inch gap between drywall and the floor. There are several reasons for this: Drywall absorbs moisture.
How many screws go into a 4x8 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.
Does it matter which direction you hang drywall?
Structural strength – Drywall is typically stronger when hung in the long direction than it is in the short direction, which means less chance of sagging when attached perpendicular.
Do you hang drywall on walls or ceiling first?
Hanging Drywall From the Top Down Hang drywall on the ceiling first, then the walls. Check the ceiling for bowed joists using a 4-ft. level. Irregularities less than 1/8 in.
Do you have to stagger plasterboard on walls?
Plasterboard should be staggered, however, it is not a requirement. It is a good idea to consider, as staggering your boards will make the joints of the wall not as visible overall. If you do stagger your plasterboard, it is advised that you put them up horizontally, and not vertically.
What does staggering joints mean?
The staggering of rail joints is logical because it avoids placing two weak spots, the joints directly opposite each other; it reduces the impact at the joints to that of a wheel load instead of an axle-load; and it produces a more uniform vertical continuity of the track.
Do you have to stagger plasterboard on walls?
Plasterboard should be staggered, however, it is not a requirement. It is a good idea to consider, as staggering your boards will make the joints of the wall not as visible overall. If you do stagger your plasterboard, it is advised that you put them up horizontally, and not vertically.
What is the correct way to hang drywall?
1:016:30How to Hang Drywall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold the first sheet horizontal. Against the ceiling and corner and drive a few nails in just toMoreHold the first sheet horizontal. Against the ceiling and corner and drive a few nails in just to hold it the vertical edges need to attach to studs measure. And mark the next piece.
What does it mean to railroad seams in construction?
If you railroad a bunch of seams you are creating a "control joint" almost like in concrete. It may never crack there, but that would definately be a long shot.
What is staggering seams?
Staggering seams refers to installing the panels so that butt joints are not aligned between adjacent rows of panels. A simple method for staggering seams is to start the first row with a half-panel and start the second row with a full-length panel, continuing this alternating pattern for the rest of the installation.
What is a bevel in drywall?
The long edges of a drywall panel are slightly concave, which is called a factory bevel. Two beveled edges meeting at a seam create a recess for accepting drywall compound, or "mud," and joint tape. The recess helps ensure the finished seam is flush with the rest of the panel.
What does it mean when a butt joint is not factory bevelled?
The lack of a factory bevel means a butt joint has no recess, so the tape and mud used to finish the seam create a slight mound over the panel surface. Good finishers blend, or "feather," thin layers of compound outward over the panel to make the mound less visible.
Do you have to stagger drywall seams?
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 thick is drywall?
Drywall is generally half inch or 12mm thick depending on where your from probably, since you mentioned drywall I’m assuming you’re from America/ Canada, you also get three eights or 9.5mm which is generally used for ceilings because it’s lighter. You get other types of drywall but it depends what it’s used for, some examples are for fire rating, soundproof or insulation. Insulated drywall is still half inch thick but will have insulation stuck on drywall which can increase the depth to anything up to six and a half inches
How high should I put drywall on a ceiling?
That 8′-1″ framing height that Richard talks about is key to a fast and accurate installation. We either put 5/8″ or 1/2″ drywall on the ceilings first, followed by two horizontal courses of drywall on the walls. You’d set the first sheet against the studs and mark the centerlines, then start 3 or 4 nails at the tops of several studs. Next you’d hoist the sheet up and ram it ti
What happens after insulation is blown into the cavity?
After the insulation is blown into the cavity, the holes are patched and repainted.
What is a plasterboard screw?
Plasterboard (drywall) screws are light gauge and pull or indent the plaster when driven in. Normal screws have a thicker head and tend to sit on top of the plaster rather than drive under the surface (cardboard).
Is drywall easy to install?
There's moisture resistant drywall, fire resistant drywall, cement-backed drywall, you name it. Very wide range of applications, relatively easy installation (just need some wood or steel framing, properly installed of course!) and you could finish a room with a small crew in no time. It is also easy to demolish and replace, as well as patch and tape the joints.
Does gravity pull down drywall?
Gravity pulls down all new construction. Drywall sheets, from gravity, will come down. The question is by how much and what can be done to resist the pull of gravity. So drywall sheets should be as best properly anchored and shored up with drywall fasteners, and enough of, and real glue-based joint compound to resist the pull of gravity.
Can you put a 2 hour firewall on top of a first layer?
Only exception is if you are making a two hour firewall with two layers of 5/8″ rock. Then the joints on the second layer cannot be on top of the joints in the first layer.
What is the biggest mistake people make hanging drywall?
The biggest mistake people make hanging drywall is creating seams right at the corners of the doorways.
Can you fit standard boards?
Sure you can, nothing ever fits standard size boards, lots of trimming, it just makes for a wider joint to blend out the slightly higher seam!
What happens when two edges of drywall meet?
This means that when two bound edges meet, they create a trough slightly below the surface of the rest of the sheet of drywall. This means that when taping a bound edge seam, the tape rests in the trough of two bound edges.
How thick is drywall when bound edges meet?
Approximately 3 inches from a bound edge, the drywall thickness decreases slightly on the face of the sheet so that the final few inches of a bound edge are approximately 1 ⁄ 16 of an inch thinner than the rest of the sheet. This means that when two bound edges meet, they create a trough slightly below the surface of the rest of the sheet of drywall. This means that when taping a bound edge seam, the tape rests in the trough of two bound edges. Even after it is coated with drywall mud to smooth over the tape, the finished surface of a seam rises to just about the same plane as the rest of the sheet of drywall. By keeping bound edges paired with bound edges, taping and feathering seams is much easier.
What is wrong with hanging sheets parallel to wood studs?
What is wrong with hanging sheets parallel to wood studs? When drywall is hung parallel to the studs, "railroad style" the bound edges fall directly on a stud. Because wood studs are not perfectly straight, the bound edge may or may fall directly in the middle of the stud along the entire distance of the stud. Perhaps the top of the stud is curved slightly to the left and therefore the bound edge of the perfectly straight sheet of drywall will not follow the crooked stud and therefore not have sufficient backing. Other wood studs may be proud to the room and therefore the entire length of the seam will end up sticking out into the room. Either situation makes the drywall seam more difficult to tape and finish and compromises the strength of the joint.
How does drywall paper overlap?
The drywall paper continues along the front of the sheet and wraps over the edge to overlap with the paper from the back side of the sheet of drywall. Thus the edge is bound together with drywall paper instead of leaving the gypsum exposed. Approximately 3 inches from a bound edge, the drywall thickness decreases slightly on the face ...
What is drywall hanging?
The general concept of drywall hanging is very simple. The goal is to cover all metal or wood studs with sheets of gypsum panels. It can be likened somewhat to sheathing the exterior of a building using plywood or other exterior sheathing panel. However, the pattern in which sheets of drywall are laid-out on the studs is very important ...
Why does drywall crack?
If drywall is going to crack in a commercial job, it is probably because of forces beyond the help of the layout of the sheets of drywall.
What wall is the sheet on the second wall?
The sheets on the second wall will hide the edges of the sheets of drywall on the first wall and you will have a very tight corner between the first and second wall.. The sheets on the third wall hide the edges on the second wall and the only wall that must be measured tightly is the fourth or final wall.
Why is the seam on drywall hard to conceal?
If no modifications are made and the ends are attached directly to standard framing, the seam that is formed is difficult to conceal. The main reason for this is that the cut drywall edge at the seam is not tapered at all.
How long should a wall be to avoid butted seams?
Rooms 16 feet or under should not have any butted seams. I do mostly residential jobs where the walls are traditionally hung horizontally, so if a wall is over 16 ft long it will have butted seams. Ceilings are hung perpendicular to joists of furring so if the room is over 16 ft long perpendicular to the joists then the ceiling will have butted seams. So sometimes the butted seam can’t be avoided.
What is the width of a butted edge seam?
This is because the butted seam is attached along a single stud or joist which is typically only 1 ½ inches wide.
How is a rocksplicer attached to drywall?
The RockSplicer is then slid behind the seam and attached by screwing through the drywall and into the RockSplicer along it’s center. The second panel is attached to the RockSplicer.
Why are drywall panels tapered?
The long edges of drywall panels are tapered slightly to accommodate joint tape and compound. The panel ends are cut square and finished smooth with the gypsum core exposed, and are thus un-tapered. Similarly, whenever a contractor or other drywall installer cuts a drywall panel, the cut edge is of course un-tapered.
Why are the screws angled?
The screws are often angled somewhat and are too close to the drywall edge which damages the drywall core and weakens the attachment. Butt seam first panel attatched to stud. Screw had to be located close to drywall. edge and as a result drywall core was damaged.
