For questions about drywall (aka plasterboard) installation, repair & finishing.
28
votes
8answers
36k views
How do I run wires for a wall-mount flatscreen TV?
Like a lot of you, we have several wall-mounted LCD HDTVs in the house. The TVs have two wires -- power and HDMI -- running down the wall to the power outlet and cable box.
I've historically been too ...
22
votes
4answers
6k views
Should I use nails or screws for hanging drywall on the ceiling?
I'm replacing water-damaged drywall on my ceiling and was considering using screws. Other than cost, is there any other reason I should use nails instead?
Or am I too paranoid that nails won't have ...
19
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I get a wire that is outside a wall to be inside a wall
I recently removed an abominable drop ceiling from my dining room and found this close to the ceiling on the one side of the room.
There is definitely a stud between these two holes. On the other ...
18
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the best method to patch a large hole (2-3 inches) in drywall?
I have a large hole where a TV wall mount once was (I believe the hole was used to run power and coax cable to the TV). I have since moved the TV and would like to patch the hole. What is the best way ...
18
votes
2answers
1k views
How much gap to leave between basement concrete floor and bottom of drywall board?
We have a dry basement with a concrete floor. When putting on the wall boards, how much (if any) gap should there be between the concrete floor and the bottom of the board? The boards are 3/8 inch, ...
16
votes
11answers
2k views
What should we look for when buying a fixer-upper house?
My fiance and I are considering buying a fixer-upper house rather than an apartment when we get married.
Obviously things like location, neighbors etc. are important, but; what should we be looking ...
16
votes
4answers
734 views
How do I fix a hole in drywall?
There is a hole in my drywall from a doorknob repeatedly hitting it, is there a straightforward way to fix it?
15
votes
4answers
2k views
How do I find studs when stud finders won't work?
I was trying to hang my TV at my new place, on an interior wall (between living room and a bathroom). Using the stud finder on other walls worked fine, but on this wall I got some very strange ...
15
votes
8answers
42k views
How much weight can screws in drywall withstand?
I've always had the question of how much weight can a single screw into a drywall withstand?
For instance, I would like to do things like this:
It's hanged with 5 screws. The whole thing weights ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the purpose of tape when taping and mudding drywall?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but it doesn't seem immediately obvious how a thin strip of paper tape actually helps the mudding process in drywall installation except for perhaps reducing the ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
How do I remove wallpaper from drywall?
I know there are a lot of different ways to remove wallpaper, ranging from elbow grease to chemicals and steam machines.
What way(s) work(s) best?
11
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there a technique or tool for consistently placing drywall screws correctly?
Is there a special technique or tool for consistently placing drywall screws correctly?
I'm using a standard Dewalt DWD115K (with no auto-stop mechanism) so I'm usually paranoid of going too deep ...
11
votes
1answer
718 views
Are these drywall screws driven too deep into the sheet?
First off, I apologize for the asking and deleting my previous question about this. I thought it was more of a dupe of this question that I asked a while back. I'll be more central to the actual ...
11
votes
7answers
814 views
Is fiberglass mesh tape a good choice for drywall?
I'm going to be doing some drywalling shortly and was wondering what experiences other have had with the self adhesive fiberglass mesh tape.
Is it a good choice or am I going to regret using it?
10
votes
3answers
292 views
Why are progressively larger drywall knives used after each mudding pass?
I've been researching drywall finishing techniques and have noticed that when a first coat of mud compound is used, a smaller 6 inch taping knife is used... then on the second mud application, a ...
10
votes
4answers
8k views
What are the different types of drywall anchors, and what are the advantages of each?
I recently put up wire shelving in my pantry, and spent forever figuring out what type of drywall anchor I should use. I even found several types that I didn't even know existed. It might be good to ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
How do you bend a sheet a drywall into a curve?
How do you bend a sheet a drywall into a curve? I tried wetting the back surface with a paint roller, letting it soak for 30 minutes, then scoring the back paper in parallel lines about an inch apart ...
9
votes
4answers
979 views
Should I be worried if I missed the studs while mounting my TV?
I think I missed the studs based on how easily the drill moved through the drywall. My LCD only weighs 27lbs and the mount itself is 5lbs (rated to hold 165lbs, and uses 4 8mm lag bolts). I pulled as ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I install a cable jack without a box?
I recently had our drywall replaced due to flooding. Our coax cables are now just hanging out of the new wall and I need to install cable jacks.
Is there a way I can mount the coax wall plates to the ...
9
votes
2answers
259 views
What type/thickness of drywall should be used in water heater closet?
I have a rental house built in the 70's that had severe water damage in the small room (4x5 feet) that houses the hot water heater. The room is off of the garage. I've had the water heater replaced ...
9
votes
1answer
230 views
Can I modify a load bearing triple stud?
I am installing a small safe in a wall and when I cut the opening in the drywall I noticed that the studs were in an unusual distribution. The stud on the right was normal but then there were multiple ...
8
votes
3answers
591 views
What fire hazard considerations are there when creating a cable hole between rooms?
Can't believe this hasn't been asked before, but I can't seem to find anything so...
I've currently got a very light, very thin 32" TV mounted on the bedroom wall. It's perfect - except for the fact ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
What benefit do plasterboard/drywall screws have?
I have some plasterboard screws like this:
However, without a drill I have a job getting them into the wall. Am I safe to use normal screws on hangings that aren't going to be taking a great deal ...
8
votes
1answer
830 views
How should I mount a TV stand on a wall covered in drywall?
How should I mount a TV stand on a wall covered in drywall? Should I trenail it to the wall?
8
votes
3answers
8k views
Does bare drywall need to be primed before painting?
Is it necessary to prime bare drywall before painting? And do we need to prime existing textured, painted walls before we mud over them?
8
votes
2answers
6k views
How much weight can I hang from a drywall ceiling?
I have a potted plant (approx 5kg/10lbs) that I wish to hang from a drywall ceiling of a window aisle.
Unfortunately, I have no idea about what specific kind of drywall plate it is or how it was ...
8
votes
3answers
17k views
How do you know when and where it is safe to drill into a wall?
Lots of home projects involve cutting or drilling through walls (everything from nails, screws, or hooks to mount things to cutting through drywall and drilling through studs to run wire).
In ...
8
votes
2answers
775 views
Can I perform a large ceiling drywall repair myself?
A leaky roof caused water damage to an area of the ceiling approximately 3' x 4'. The ceiling also has a nearby crack that seems to follow a joint, bringing the total affected area to about 5' x 8'. ...
8
votes
2answers
739 views
When drywalling, do the pros cover electrical boxes, or work around them?
This may be a bit of a subjective question, but I was just thinking about it. I've seen many electrical boxes that are full of drywall compound, often to the point of having to dig the wires out of it ...
8
votes
2answers
535 views
What are the implications of driving a drywall screw too far into the sheet?
I'm not gonna lie. The early stages of my very first home improvement project completely smacks of novice DIY'er. I did so many things wrong that I've since learned from, but the first mistakes are ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
What's the easiest way to carry 4x8 sheets of 70-lbs drywall by yourself?
This past weekend, I had some help carrying eight 4x8 sheets of type X drywall up a flight of stairs. It was not easy. I know the sheets couldn't have weighed more than 80 lbs, but it felt like they ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I prepare patched drywall to be painted over?
I am in the process of painting my room. I have some big patches on the drywall. I am yet to begin painting that wall. Before i start i wanted to take advice. Is there anything i need to do with those ...
8
votes
3answers
296 views
What is a minimally intrusive way to move a wire that is in a wall 3.5" to the left?
I need to move a speaker that's mounted on a wall about 3.5" to the left.
Here's what the actual mounted speaker looks like:
The wire comes out inside the bracket that attaches to the wall, and ...
8
votes
1answer
354 views
When finishing drywall, is it a common practice not to mud the bottom of horizontally-hung drywall?
I hung drywall horizontally in my bedroom and hired a company to mud and tape it so that I could prime and paint. As you know, drywall sheets are recessed along the edges in order to hold drywall ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Is this termite damage and if so how do I repair it?
I was moving a bolt storage rack in the basement, and when I took it off the wall, I noticed that the wall behind it was moldy. Then I noticed a ripple in the paint going all the way up, and when I ...
8
votes
2answers
420 views
Are these drywall screws properly driven/countersunk?
Related to this question. Even though I might be cluttering up SE with questions about driving drywall screws, I feel they will ultimately be helpful since I have been unsuccessful in finding images ...
7
votes
3answers
429 views
How do I corner bead around two layers of 5/8" drywall?
Here it is:
I still have yet to shave down the rough edges from when I scored and snapped it, but, after that, what can I use for corner bead?
It's entirely possible that I will end up putting up ...
7
votes
2answers
578 views
How can I quietly tear down drywall?
Is there a way to remove drywall without exerting brute force? Being that I live in a condo, I don't want to go all happy with a hammer to my wall and disturb my neighbors. It seems there would be a ...
7
votes
2answers
420 views
Why are there two layers of dry wall in my ceiling, and how can I patch it?
The fan in my bathroom died. We bought a replacement that's a bit bigger. The original was nailed to a beam in the ceiling and required me to cut out some drywall to remove.
When removing the old ...
6
votes
3answers
14k views
How do I repair a curtain rod anchor that was ripped out of the wall?
My children managed to pull on the curtains hard enough to yank the bracket which attached the curtain rod to the wall out. What is the best way to repair this?
Here's what it looks like:
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there a way to store drywall vertically on its side?
I am going to have a surplus of 8 sheets of 5/8" 4x8 drywall (4 type-x, 4 QuietRock 525) until my next soundproofing job this Summer. I have been storing 8 sheets at a time stacked flat on my ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
How can I fill small holes in drywall without painting?
I am taking down several items hung on our walls; this will leave about two dozen holes ranging from small nail holes to anchor holes about 3/8" in diameter. I am looking for a way to fill these holes ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Do I need to prime/seal new drywall behind cabinets?
If I were doing it, I would usually prime and paint before installing the cabinets. My painter for this project says he'd prefer that I install everything before he paints.
Do I need to use a sealing ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Can I drywall over plaster
I live in an old house with horsehair plaster walls. One of the walls in my living room has a large crack running the length of the wall. It appeared after someone sat on the sofa with a little too ...
6
votes
1answer
422 views
Paper joint tape VS. Mesh joint tape
What are the pros and cons of each type of drywall joint tape? Are there situations where one should always be used over the other?
6
votes
3answers
650 views
Can I hang a 60 lbs TV on 1 inch drywall?
Can I use drywall screws with plastic contraption 3/8" diameter to put a TV on the drywall?
What is the load limit for 1 inch drywall and how many screws and how close apart they can be put to carry ...
6
votes
1answer
367 views
Drywall Painting: Do I need to keep priming here?
I am painting a room where the previous paint job was not very good. You can see brush marks from a great distance, it got all over the trim, and the paint looked watered down (thanks builders). It ...
6
votes
2answers
500 views
Wet Room walls, is plasterboard (Gyproc or Drywall) OK to use?
Looking to build a new wet room style bathroom. Is it better to use cement sheeting for the walls that will be tiled, or will plasterboard (Gyproc) just as good to use? Obviously whichever surface is ...
6
votes
1answer
499 views
How can I fix an uneven and damaged transition from drywall to tile in the bathroom?
We recently replaced some old, cracking shower walls in a bathtub area with tile. Looks great. However, on one wall the drywall next to the tile bows out so it's not even with the tile in the middle ...
6
votes
2answers
201 views
Is the back section of this house salvageable or should it be knocked down?
My grandfather's house is getting to be in bad shape after years of neglect and more so the back section of the house is falling apart. Now the back section of the house, if I remember correctly, was ...
