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Drywall Installation and Initial Taping

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What happens here

Measure and cut drywall sheets to fit the framed areas. Drywall typically comes in various thicknesses (1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch); use a piece from the old wall to match the existing thickness for easier mudding later. For intricate cutouts (like for electrical boxes), create a paper template, measure from all sides to corners, and transfer these measurements to the drywall sheet. Use a utility blade with a straight edge (like a level) to score the drywall, then flip it over and snap it along the scored line for a clean break. Secure main drywall panels with drywall screws using a drywall screw gun. For corners, use drywall nails because their flush, flat heads make it easier to apply joint compound without interference. Once all drywall is hung, apply a first coat of all-purpose joint compound to the joints. Lay drywall tape over the wet compound, then apply a skim coat of compound over the tape. Allow this to dry overnight.

Goal: Install drywall and prepare joints for finishing

Tools and materials

  • 10-inch Taping Knife — Applying skim coats over drywall tape
  • 14-inch Plaster Trowel — Applying wider coats of joint compound
  • 6-inch Joining Knife — Applying joint compound to joints
  • All-Purpose Joint Compound All-Purpose — Taping and finishing drywall joints
  • Drywall Nails — Securing drywall at corners
  • Drywall Screw Gun Ryobi — Driving drywall screws
  • Drywall Screws — Securing drywall panels
  • Drywall Sheets — Covering the framed walls
  • Drywall Tape — Reinforcing drywall joints
  • Paper Template — Creating precise shapes for drywall cutouts

What they say

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out now for the drywall drywall typically comes at your hardware stores in a quarter inch 3/8 1/2 inch and a 5/8 make sure you take a little piece out of your wall to kind of see the thickness that you're gonna have that will make it easier to mud later down the road in my situation though is a half-inch drywall nothing fancy the best way I figured out to do drywall cut cutouts is I take a piece of paper and draw at the shape and then measure from every side to every corner and then come out in your garage and then start tracing that exact pattern out when it comes to speeding up the process of cutting use your utility blade with a straight edge kind of like a level in the situation on the white part and then flip it over and crack it it'll break exactly perfectly on that line it's really fascinating it's a lot of fun and it works a lot better than just using one of those drywall knives all right all the drywall is hung up using the screws but for the corners actually recommend using the drywall nails mostly because the head on the nail is flush and flat makes a lot easier to apply the that joining compound on top of that and it won't interfere in the way now for the actual taping of the joints on the drywall you're gonna need a few tools you're gonna need a six in joining knife a 10 inch taping knife and a 14 inch plaster trial itself if you want to get a hot can spend extra money that's a little plate that you can put the compound on it makes it a lot easier but you can get away with it doing it a different way when it comes to mixing the content itself it's the all-purpose joint compound and you want to get it to the consistency of ketchup being on a trowel essentially so add some more honor there and mix it up and you're ready to go apply a first coat into the joints themselves and then lay the tape down on top this is your drywall tape follow the drywall tape with your drywall taping knife with a skim coat of the compound applying onto it let that sucker dry overnight once this dry come out sand it a little

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