Most renovations can be done by yourself by using you brain and working through the details. However, one part of the project always seems to be problematic and often is the point the do it yourselfer will begin to lose their mind! That part is the drywalling, or specifically the drywall taping. Similar to car refurbishing, many people will opt out of the finishing portion of the work to ensure that the highest quality of finish is provided.
There are several errors that do it yourself'ers tend to make. The first one is not using tools designed for the particular task. Most hardware stores will sell all sorts of drywall tools, some even with special designs like the corner trowel which has a built in bend. The truth is that most drywallers don't use tools like that, instead using a quality knife. Trowels are also essential for hiding the obvious center wall joints, but again most do it yourselfers will opt to get cheap tools that do not get the job done correctly.
Another part of taping that often causes some is being too stingy with the mud! Mud is the creamy drywall compound that is used to fill the gaps, and many do it yourselfers will not use sufficient amounts of it in an attempt to save money. Over use of it is also a problem as too much mud can cause a significant amount warping during the drying process.
The tape should never be fully saturated in large portions of mud as the drying precess causes uneven drying in large gaps. Sometimes, beginners will use too little mud as a means to cut back on the costs of the project, however this too can have devasting effects. If it is your first project and you are planning to do it by yourself, you will likely need a few extra days and a few extra coats of mud in order to get it looking right. Also, expect to sand a great deal to smooth those joints out.
Drywall subcontractors are experienced to deal with the plethora of problems that can come out of boarding and taping. You might find that a poor boarding job will result in an additional cost from the taper. Ideally, both can be done by the same company and it will really save you many headaches in the end. - 29956
There are several errors that do it yourself'ers tend to make. The first one is not using tools designed for the particular task. Most hardware stores will sell all sorts of drywall tools, some even with special designs like the corner trowel which has a built in bend. The truth is that most drywallers don't use tools like that, instead using a quality knife. Trowels are also essential for hiding the obvious center wall joints, but again most do it yourselfers will opt to get cheap tools that do not get the job done correctly.
Another part of taping that often causes some is being too stingy with the mud! Mud is the creamy drywall compound that is used to fill the gaps, and many do it yourselfers will not use sufficient amounts of it in an attempt to save money. Over use of it is also a problem as too much mud can cause a significant amount warping during the drying process.
The tape should never be fully saturated in large portions of mud as the drying precess causes uneven drying in large gaps. Sometimes, beginners will use too little mud as a means to cut back on the costs of the project, however this too can have devasting effects. If it is your first project and you are planning to do it by yourself, you will likely need a few extra days and a few extra coats of mud in order to get it looking right. Also, expect to sand a great deal to smooth those joints out.
Drywall subcontractors are experienced to deal with the plethora of problems that can come out of boarding and taping. You might find that a poor boarding job will result in an additional cost from the taper. Ideally, both can be done by the same company and it will really save you many headaches in the end. - 29956
About the Author:
Paul Van Duanon works for a Medicine Hat Drywall Contractor and helps people with their home and commercial projects. For a free residential drywall estimate, check out their website.
