10 Tips for Seamless Drywall Installation

1. Before you begin hanging your drywall, inspect the studs for protrusions such as old screws or nails. There’s nothing worse than installing a nice clean sheet of drywall and having an old screw pop through the middle.
   
2. Always hang sheetrock on ceilings before walls. This way the sheetrock on the walls will help support the corners of the sheetrock on the ceiling.
   
3. Always work from top to bottom, running your drywall sheets perpendicular to the framing.
   
4. Whenever possible, butt factory edges to factory edges. The factory edge features a built-in recess to allow level mudding of the joints.
   
5. The simplest way to cut drywall is by scoring it first with a utility knife. Break the sheet along the score line by applying gentle pressure. Then simply cut the remaining paper on back edge of the sheet. Make sure the blade on your utility knife is sharp. This will help avoid tearing of the paper layer on the drywall when making cuts.
   
6. When fastening sheetrock, keep your screws or nails at least 3/8” to 1/2” from the edge to avoid breakage.
   
7. Sooner or later, when fastening your drywall, one or two screws will miss the stud. It’s tempting to leave them in, but always remove these screws as they could pop out later when your wall is finished.
   
8. Outside corners are very susceptible to damage. To help protect the corner, install a metal corner bead. The corner bead will not only protect the corner, it will make for a clean, finished look.
   
9. When mudding, use a joint compound for the first coat. A good joint compound has additional glues that will strengthen the joint and prevent cracking. For, subsequent coats, topping compound is the best choice. Topping compound is not only easier to work with, it’s much easier to sand.
   
10. Inside corners can be tricky to mud. But the job is made much easier with a corner tool. A corner tool will allow you to apply an even coat of mud into the corner for a clean inside line.