Contractors Problem Drywall Durham

Contractors Problem Drywall Durham

Contractors Problem Drywall Durham
Call Jim 919-542-5336

Call Jim 919-542-5336 if you are having problems with your drywall. Providing contracting service for over a quarter century. Prompt, reliable, professional, excellent references. By Jimmy Holmes

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No matter what problem you are having with your drywall it can be corrected and look like new again. Nail pop, poorly finished drywall joints, loose or cracking joint tape and metal corners, hole repair, crack repair, water damaged ceilings all call look like new. Estimates are free and NO JOB IS TO SMALL!

Custom Drywall Contractors Durham - If you need a bid, quote, estimate or proposal for custom drywall service on your home call the best contractor for the job! Jim's Drywall - Excellent local references. Check my company with any agency, you want find a better residential drywall contractor and estimates are always free!

What is drywall?

Definition: Large, flat sheets of pressed gypsum that compose the inner walls of most residential buildings. Sheets come in 4'x8' and 4'x10' sizes and 3/8" or 1/2" thick. The long sides of the boards are curved inward to accept application of drywall joint compound, or "mud." In the past, sheets were nailed to studs but today are affixed by means of drywall screws.

Drywall is one of the most fundamental building materials used in houses today.



about drywall mud

Drywall mud, or joint compound, is one of the most versatile products in the interior of a house. The different applications of this product are what lend to its versatility. Consumers use drywall mud for a number of things ranging from patching holes in walls to sculpting. Its pliability is the main factor and can be mixed with paint, water or other additives to create texture for walls and ceilings. Does this Spark an idea?


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The Facts



Although it is easy to apply, there is a time factor involved. Once the drywall mud has been exposed to the air, it will begin to dry. Once it dries, it can be sanded to produce a smooth surface on which to apply paint. The product is available in a powder, which needs to be mixed with water. Check the label for the proper ratio of mix and water. If using the powder, a ½-inch drill and a mixing blade will make the mixing as easy as possible.


Function



When drywall, or Sheetrock, is being used on the interior walls of a house, drywall mud is used to 'float' the areas that are lower than the largest portion of the surface. Around the butted joints and holes made from the screws or nails are the primary low areas that need to be floated. It also serves as a filler in holes made in a wall that is already painted. Using it around the interior of windows, during installation, adds more insulation to the house.



Effects



Drywall mud can be used creatively to enhance the 'feel' of a room. These effects are the result of using drywall mud for other reasons that floating. For example, it can be used to help form frames on a wall or ceiling to add effect to a room. Doing this gives the ceiling or wall a sophisticated look and adds personality to a room. In addition, it can be sprayed on to create a "splatter" pattern.


Benefits



The benefits of drywall mud are seen in the different textures created by the user. Not only does it hide installation dips and holes, it can also be used to change walls and ceilings from flat and plain to textured and fashionable. For example, thin the drywall mud so it can be spread with a paint roller. Use a thick nap roller and apply the mud to the walls or ceiling. You can either let it dry like this or take a wide drywall knife and knock the tops off. This is called skip toweling.


Expert Insight



When the interior walls of a house are Sheetrock, there is bound to be the mishap that causes a hole in the wall. This is easily remedied with a utility knife and a lid from a coffee can. Cut a slot to the left and the right of the hole wide enough to slip the lid in with some drywall mud on it. Make two holes in the center of the lid to tie a string through. Apply the mud to the lid, slip it into the wall, pull it up to the inside back of the Sheetrock until the sticks it to the wall on the inside. Be certain it will stay in place by slipping a piece of wood between the strings to turn it like a tourniquet and let it dry. Then fill the hole with drywall mud in several thin layers to avoid cracking.


In addition to your basic utility knife, you'll need some special tools for cutting drywall sheets.


For making square cuts, use a drywall T-square. Set your sheets of drywall upright with the smooth side out. Set the T-square on the top edge and line it up with your measurement. Run a utility knife along the side of the "T" to score your cut. Snap the sheet back to break the sheet along the cut. Then cut the paper back with a utility knife.


For making cuts around obstacles you can use a drywall saw. Just use a back-and-forth motion like you would for any hand saw.


Cutting your sheets slightly too big is better than too small. You can always shave the ends off with a rasp.


For cutting around electrical boxes use a keyhole saw. Just punch the tip through the drywall and cut along each side. You can also use a power jig saw for these cuts.


For round cuts, like around light fixture boxes, use a circle cutter. Find the center of your circle and punch in the center marker. Adjust the arm to the radius of your circle and use it to score the perimeter of the circle. Do the same on the other side of the sheet. Tap out the cut out with a hammer. You can also use a compass to draw the circles, and a keyhole saw to cut them.


There's also a power tool professionals use that's designed specifically for cutting out holes for electrical boxes and fixtures. It's like a drywall router, and they use it to cut the holes after the sheets of drywall are up. This is a lot faster then cutting them all by hand.


If you do end up renting one of these power routers be careful so you don't strip the electrical wiring inside.



Drywall Lifts and Jacks


Getting drywall up to the ceiling can be tough. You may have seen professionals or do-it-yourselfers hold it up to the ceiling with their heads. This works, but does require some coordination and can be kind of awkward.


You can rent a rig called a drywall lift. You load a sheet on it, then crank it up to the ceiling. It holds the sheet in place while you nail or screw it to the joists.


You can also use a couple of drywall jacks to hold sheets of drywall up to the ceiling. You can construct these out of 2x4's. Make the overall height just an inch or two taller than the height from the floor to the underside of the joists or trusses.


Using 4-foot sheets on a standard 8-foot wall usually leaves you with about a 1/2" gap left. You want to leave this on the bottom so it gets covered up with baseboard. To help hold the bottom sheet up snug to the top one use a drywall lifter. You just step on one side of it and it lifts the sheet up. You can also use a pry bar for this.



Fastening Tools

For nailing up sheets of drywall, a drywall hammer is a must. It has a convex head that creates a little dimple around the nail head without breaking the paper on the surface of the drywall. This will allow you to cover the nail head with drywall mud and get a perfectly smooth surface.


Using drywall screws can go a lot faster, if you have the right tool. You want to use a special electric drywall screw gun that lets you adjust it to sink the screws a little below the surface, again, so you don't break the paper. With a regular screw gun you don't have this control.



Finishing Tools

The "art" of taping comes from using different sized taping knives to get a smooth, tapered joint.


For the first "tape coat" you'll need a taping knife that's 5" or 6" wide. With each of the next two coats you'll want to cover an inch or two farther in each direction so you'll probably need an 8" to 10" knife and a 12" to 14" knife.


Use a mud pan to hold the mud as you tape the joints.


For sanding the joints, use either a pole sander for dry sanding, or a wet sanding pad.


For applying texture to ceilings you'll want to rent a sprayer specifically designed for this job.

919-542-5336 Contractors problem drywall service in Durham - Call Jim 919-542-5336 if you are having a problem with your drywall. Estimates are free and no job is to small.

Custom Drywall Contractors Durham


https://plus.google.com/authorship#107450786396727255252/posts By Jimmy Holmes Call Jim 919-542-5336 Drywall Contractors that can fix any problem in your Durham home.