DIY Network

The View Inside

During installation, the builder makes sure the framing members are level, and that the drywall is kept at the appropriate temperature.

Like the exterior finish, the interior finish is an extremely visible part of your home. The interior finish includes the drywall, flooring, paint, plumbing, electric, light fixtures, cabinets and appliances included in your home. You'll have to make decisions about each item, which can be both fun and overwhelming. You should take your time, and try to make sure the decisions you give to your builder are final, as changing them later in construction could cost you money. What follows will help you understand this part of the process from your builder's perspective, so you can make the most of your home's interior finishes.

Since installation directly affects the quality of the interior finish of your home, builders should take care to use proper materials, control the temperature and humidity inside the home, and use good practices for drywall, paint, trim and flooring installations. In this article, we'll examine the process of installing drywall and painting the walls, ceilings and trim. We'll also talk about common flooring underlay materials.

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How Everything Fits Together

Each component of the interior finish is important to your safety and comfort, as well as the home's overall appearance. The following is a discussion of the three-coat drywall process as well as how the interior is finished with paint, trim, and accessories.

Framing Check and Preparation

Before hanging the drywall, the builder makes sure the framing members are level and has any misaligned members repaired. Misaligned framing members can hinder drywall quality, resulting in wavy walls, edge cracks, visible seams and other unsightly problems. Even a framing member that bows out a quarter inch can cause problems with the drywall or trim installation, so the area must be sanded or smoothed until level.

Drywall is hung using adhesive and drywall screws.

Drywall

Typically, walls and ceilings are finished with 1/2" thick drywall. Fire-rated drywall, known as Type X, is used for walls near gas appliances such as furnaces and stoves, and for the walls and ceilings between the garage and living space, so that if a fire starts in the garage, it's less likely to spread to the home. Water-resistant drywall is used in high-moisture areas, such as bathrooms.

Hanging

Drywall is fastened to the framing using adhesive and drywall screws. Drywall is hung on the ceiling first, and then the walls are hung from the top down. This installation allows the walls to help support the ceiling drywall.

Corner bead ensures that corners are crisp.

Corner bead

A flexible metal or plastic corner bead is attached to all exterior corners to create a finished edge for the drywall. The builder installs the corner bead straight and spaces the fasteners evenly to hold the corner bead tight to the wall and to prevent cracking.

The finishing process ensures that the walls have a smooth, even finish.

Finishing

After the seams and interior corners of the drywall are covered with tape, three separate coats of joint compound are applied to the walls. Each coat is given ample time to dry before the next coat is applied. Once the three coats are completely dry, all areas of joint compound are sanded to give the wall a smooth, even finish. This process takes about a week.

Trim gives rooms and hallways a finished look.

Trim

Trim is added to give rooms and hallways a finished look. Trim includes interior doors, baseboards, door and window trim, crown molding and chair rails.

Paint adds the finishing touch to wall surfaces.

Paint

A coat of primer is sprayed on all walls, ceilings, interior doors and trim that will be painted. The primer helps to seal the surfaces of the drywall and trim, providing an even base for the paint. Latex paint is then sprayed on all walls, ceilings, doors and trim. Once it dries, a top coat is sprayed on the walls and ceilings or brushed on the doors and trim. Latex paint gives the walls, ceilings, doors and trim a durable, washable surface. It's long lasting, so areas painted with latex don't need to be re-painted as often.

Flooring underlay materials provide an even surface for finish flooring.

Flooring Underlay Materials

Flooring underlay materials are added on top of the floor sheathing, or subfloor, to provide an even surface for the finish flooring. Cement board is added in areas that will have floor tile. A wood composite material is added in areas that will have vinyl. Foam padding is added in areas that will be carpeted.

The final finishes include cabinets, carpets, vinyl or tile flooring, light fixtures and appliances.

Appliances and More

Finally, the home is ready for all other interior finishes, including appliances, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, carpets and vinyl and hardwood flooring.

Once interior finishing begins, your house is well on its way to becoming a home. When discussing interior finishes with your builder, it will be helpful to consider each option that is available for the following:

• Wall paint colors
  
• Trim paint or stain colors
  
• Carpet colors
  
• Tile or vinyl flooring choices
  
• Kitchen cabinet styles and finishes
  
• Plumbing fixtures
  
• Electrical fixtures
  
• Appliances
  
• Light fixtures