Drywall became popular in the early 20th century as a popular replacement for plaster. Sheetrock or Gypsum board became the efficient way to build inside walls. The new board also was more fire resistant than wood. With this new board, a new industry developed called drywall contractors.

Drywall has become a major industry with products and tools developed specifically just for that. Drywall can be shaped into curves, arched into walkways,or formed into imaginative drywall ceilings. Drywall repair has also developed with a lot of innovative ideas over the last two centuries.

Drywall is manufactured in 4′ by 8′ sheets for ease of installation. It is normally installed in a horizontal position. It can be bought in thicknesses between ¼ inch to 5/8 inch but the most popular thickness is ½ inch.

Drywall Contractors

The drywall contractors okc is usually split between the hangers and the tapers and mud men. The tapers and mud men are sometimes called the drywall finishers or float crew.

Drywall is cut to size using a large T-square to score the paper with a utility knife. The sheet is then broken along the cut. A keyhole saw or a hand router(a small rotary tool with a high-speed bit) is used to cut holes for outlets. Drywall is attached to walls with nails or recently with drywall screws. The hangers are usually a two man crew and complete the entire house in a single day.

The float crew comes behind the hangers taping the joints and mudding the tape and screw indentations with drywall compound. It is finished at level 4 or level 5 for customers requiring a better finish for special paints or papering needs. Drywall clips are sometimes used by the hangers for supporting corners and these have to be taped and mudded as well. Sanding comes after the mudding is dry. When the drywall contractors oklahoma city is completely finished, all surfaces will be completely smooth and ready for paint.

Multiple layers of drywall are sometimes required if the client needs the walls to be soundproof. Only the outside walls in a multi-layer installation need finishing. Special types of drywall are more soundproof than others. Insulation can also be used to help insulate the wall from any sound.

Disadvantages of Drywall

Drywall is vulnerable to moisture and develops mold. Water dissolves the compounds that hold Sheetrock together. Gypsum will soften when exposed to moisture. The boards will turn into a gooey paste. The materials that hold the board together become food for mold when exposed to any amount of moisture. A wet climate is the mortal enemy of wallboard. Leaking roofs destroy Sheetrock. Flooding causes the entire structure to need all walls replaced. Termites eat the paper causing walls to collapse. Microbial activity in wet walls can cause a house to be uninhabitable.

Drywall Repair

Because of the nature of drywall, it needs repair often when something is banged up against it like a doorknob. Repairs can be done simply and for small costs. A protective doorknob medallion placed strategically behind the door, or a wall protector with a rubber tip at the bottom of a door and screwed into the floor molding, can prevent damage to a wall.

Patches to drywall are a common household chore. It’s a good idea to patch drywall holes promptly. You make a patch big enough to cover the hole from a piece of sheet rock. Then outline the area with your patch and cut it out. Use joint compound to hold the patch in until it dries. Then sand and paint to match the wall.

Drywall has its disadvantages but because of its low price and easy installation and repair, it has become the normal solution for the building industry. For more info contact here