Drywall

Drywall is referred to by many as sheetrock. Drywall is made of gypsum sandwiched between paper. Standard drywall sheets are 4ft. x 8ft. in size. Longer sheets are available. The most common used thickness is from 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch. Greenboard is a water resistant drywall. Backerboard is smaller in size than drywall. It has a concrete core and usually a fiberglass face. It is used as a base under ceramic tile. Drywall is usually screwed to the wall. Screws will hold drywall good to the wood when the wood expands and contracts.


A.) Taping
Taping is applying joint compound to all joints and corners inside and out. Then apply a drywall tape that comes in either paper or fiberglass mesh. Each has it's particular usage. Then a coat of joint compound is smoothed over that. Then another coat is topped over the first coat with a wider knife. Then a third coat is skimmed over the top coat with a wider knife. Then usually sanded, skimmed and touched up again. And it is now ready to prepare for smooth wall or texture coat.

B.) Smooth, texturing and different finishes
Smooth finish is the most difficult and expensive finish of drywall. A smooth finish is a lot of sanding and finishing with compound. Smooth finished surfaces take more prepping and preparing for painting. The most common type of textures are a sand with trowel application, orange peel, knockdown or acoustic. Thickness of the texture is usually shown before application and approved by the owner before applied. Textures can be rolled on also if that is the desired texture.