DIY Network

Stepping Up the Basement: How to Hang Drywall and Mud Learn the process of hanging, mudding and taping drywall to create seamless walls. From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-106

With the help of contractor Adam Berlin, John and Colleen Rauscher learn to drywall their basement. They are taught the process of hanging, mudding and taping the drywall to create seamless walls. It’s a lot of hard work, but they save thousands of dollars by doing it themselves.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J
	Figure K
	Figure L
	Figure M

Materials:

drywall
tape measure
carpenter’s pencil
power drill with drywall bit
drywall screws
drywall T-square
utility knife
keyhole saw
drywall mud
4", 6" and 10" mud knives
corner mud knife
pre-creased paper tape
mud tray

Drywall Tips:

• Measure, mark and cut each drywall panel as you go as opposed to cutting the panels all at once.

• Always work from top to bottom and hang drywall sheets perpendicular to the framing.

• To comply with building codes, space drywall screws 8 to 10 inches apart on the ceiling and 12 to 16 inches apart on the walls.

• Use clean tools; a dirty mud knife could result in gouges in your walls.

Safety Alert:

• Always wear protective eyewear when working with power tools.

How to Hang Drywall and Mud:

• After framing, wiring and insulating, John and Colleen Rauscher are ready to drywall their basement (figure A). They measure the space to make sure they have enough drywall to cover the area, making accommodations for sheets that they will have to cut and any mistakes they might make along the way.

• They start on the ceiling. Adam helps John measure from the wall to the center of the nearest joist (figure B). Using a utility knife, they cut the first piece to the precise size (figure C)

• Make sure the end of the drywall falls across the center of a joist or stud. This will strengthen the drywall and produce a seamless wall later.

• John holds the drywall in place while Adam screws drywall screws into the joists (figure D), about 8 to 10 inches apart, sinking each screw just below the surface.

• The drywall bit (figure E) helps sink the drywall screws into the drywall enough so that they can be mudded easily but not too much to tear through the drywall.

• When the ceiling is covered, John and Colleen begin with the walls. Adam make notes of any obstructions like electrical boxes or can lights that need holes (figure F). He measures these obstructions from the studs and transfers the measurements to the drywall and marks them with a pencil (figure G). Adam drills a starter hole in the drywall and then cuts around his measurements with the keyhole saw (figure H).

• John and Colleen start screwing the drywall to the wall studs (figure I), sinking each screw below the surface of the drywall, spacing the screws 12 to 16 inches apart.

• When the ceiling and walls have been covered, Adam shows John and Colleen how to apply mud. Mudding give the walls a seamless finish and creates a blank canvas for texture and paint.

• First, John checks that all the drywall screws are sunk beneath the surface of the drywall. Next with the 4-inch mud knife, Adam loads a small amount of mud into the tray and covers the screw dimples flush with the wall (figure J). When all the screws are covered, Adam takes the 6-inch mud knife and runs it along the seam of the drywall, filling the crease completely.

• Before the mud on the seam dries, Adam shows Colleen and John how to tape the joints. John holds one end while Colleen stretches the paper tape across the mudded seam (figure K). John follows behind Colleen, smoothing the tape into the wet mud with the 6-inch mud knife (figure L). Then he goes over the tape again with more mud with the 10-inch mud knife (figure M).

• When the dimples and seams are mudded, John and Colleen repeat the mudding process again the next day when everything is dry. Because the Rauschers want a specific look they contract out the work wall texturing.

• Clean all tools thoroughly when finished; any dried mud could leave gouges in your walls the next time the tools are used.

RESOURCES :

Handyman Matters
Website: www.handymanmatters.com

GUESTS :

Adam Berlin
General Contractor
Maverick Home Remodeling Inc.
Website: www.RenewTheHome.com