So a basement drywall is cheap and gives a smooth finish. That’s only half of the story. What you may not know is that there are some disadvantages to using drywall material. Consider these first before installing one in your basement.
Limited Access
The single most crucial drywall disadvantage is that it offers very limited access to pipes and wires. If you have to install or repair some connections or leaks, you may have to rip open part of Drywall Repair near me. Some home owners have solved this problem by cutting access points in some parts of the drywall and using pipes to house wires. This is only a good idea though if only wires need maintenance and if you know exactly what water pipe sections need repair. If you are unable to detect a leak early, you might even end up with a completely damaged drywall.
Limited access can also be bothersome if you want to renovate your basement again. You might have to destroy your drywall if you want to improve even just a section of the basement. Taking out an old drywall can be a messy task.
Can Attract Mold
The term basement drywall may be a bit misleading. You might think that if you have one, you are also fortifying your basement from common enemies such as moisture and molds. Your drywall however is part paper. That means it is even more attractive and inviting to molds. The mold in your drywall can become so bad that other items in your basement could suffer too. The worst part is that it may actually take some time before you notice that something is wrong.
Expensive in the Long Run
Drywall installation may be cheap at first. If you carefully sum up all your expenses however, you might realize that you have actually spent even more than you originally planned. It can be expensive for example to have to repair mold and leak damage. Removing and replacing a drywall because of a common basement problem can double your expenses.
Now you know both sides of the story when it comes to basement drywall installation. You can now decide if it truly is the best choice for your basement.
Hanging drywall can be fairly heavy work, but not overly difficult to master. It ranges from 1/4″ to 5/8″ in thickness, with 1/2″ being the most common in residential work. The sheets are normally 4 feet wide and 8, 10 or 12 feet long, conforming to standard measuring increments, such as framing studs placed at 16 or 24 inch intervals.
Standard drywall sheets have tapered long edges and the shorts ends are squared off. One face is rough, and one face is smooth, for painting and papering. Water resistant drywall also has tapered edges, and is used for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Use cement-based backer board under tub surrounds or ceramics, in tub and shower areas. Some drywall comes pre-finished in different textures, colors and patterns, and some are vinyl-coated.
Wallboard (drywall) sheathing has tongue and groove edges, and is used under exterior claddings, including masonry to provide water and wind protection.
Wallboard sheathing and water-resistant drywall will both sag if used on ceilings – use standard drywall on ceilings, and cover with alkyd primer to water-proof the surface.
Drywall must be carefully measured and cut, before fastening to wood or metal studs, preferably with special drywall screws applied with a drywall gun or a drill, fixed with a drywall “dimpler” to properly counter-sink the screws. Use Type W screws for fastening to wood studs, Type G for fastening one sheet to another, and Type S for fastening sheets to metal studs. The joints are finished with joint compound (mud) and tape (paper or fibre mesh). Outside corners are covered with a metal corner (drywall “bead”). A T-square and utility knife are used for cutting, and a drywall knife (a smooth, broad spreader) is used for applying the compound.
To estimate quantities, add up the square footage to be covered, and divide by the number of square feet in a sheet (eg. 32 for a 4X8 sheet). One pound of nails or 1/2 pound of screws will fasten 200 square feet of drywall. Have a friend help you with the heavy sheets, especially when hanging a ceiling!