I have a detached garage that is 30x30 with 10 foot ceiligns that was just built. The outside is metal and standard stud walls in the inside with 2 feet on center studs for the most part.
I am debating drying to drywall the walls myself. I bought a drywall book and have been reading it.
It suggested in a garage with tall ceilings to use drywall installed vertically to eliminate butt seams which I understand.
However, there is a section in the book that stated in a garage there is, "clearly no need to do three coats of compound in the tapered edges of the drywall". Meaning, really the only coat of drywall mud needed is the tape embedding coat.
Will it produce aceptable results using self adhesive mesh tape on the joints, then one coat of 6 inch wide or so mud to cover the tape? I know the tapered part of the drywall is probably wider than this. Will you be able to tell once it is painted? I plan to prime with flat white ceiling paint then to top coat with a semi gloss. (I think white also right now but not 100% sure).
yes, you will be able to see the seams, if you paint all imperfections will show, especially if there is light shining up at the ceiling. But, its a garage, if your okay with the seams, then no biggie. If you don't want to see the seams, don't skimp, do it right.
You could do the 1 coat on the seams, then rent a stipple sprayer, that would save the fine mudding, and painting.
whoops, sorry, re read your question, what I said about the sprayer applies to the ceiling... would look like sh%t on the walls.. sorry, but, yes, if light shines directly on the walls, you will see the seams.
In theory, you should have no problem hanging vertically. In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is. In other words, what do you do if the 24" stud spacing is off a bit? Do you own a drywall stretcher?
There's a 'two' hiding out there between the author's "no need to do three" and your "one".
It all depends on what level of finish you're willing to accept. Doing nothing is often acceptable. If you like how it looks after one coat of mud then stop there. If not, give it another.
Don't try to fill out a seam with a 6" knife.
Also remember that the mesh tape isn't compatible with drying type compound. (and many will tell you that mesh tape is crap, even with setting type compound)
Primer is not paint. Paint is not primer. Use primer, then paint.
The reason I said flat white paint is it said somethign in the book about using this under the finish coat to prevent "photographing".
So, what is the proper way to do this? mech tape, 1 coat of mud on top of that about 6 inches wide, then a coat on top of that about 10 inches wide. (All settign compound)
I have a 4 1/2 inch putty knife, a 11 inch flat finishing square, and a triangle looking one about 10 inches long. What other tools do I need?
First, with 24" stud spacing, you should probably use 5/8" drywall. 1/2" would probably flex too much with that spacing. If the stud spacing is irregular, you might want to install horizontal strapping at 16" OC (1x3 boards screwed flat to the studs). Then you could use normal 1/2" drywall on top of the strapping.
Otherwise, one coat of drywall compound will definitely show once it is painted. Even if you get it PERFECTLY flat on the first coat (which you shouldn't be focusing on), the compound will shrink as it dries.
Drywall work isn't difficult, it just takes practice. Experienced pro's can do it FAST, but that doesn't mean you can't do a good job if you take your time. You'll probably be staring at those garage walls a few years so why not spend a little extra effort and try to do three proper coats. If nothing else, you'll develop skills you can use later on for other projects.
Everyone has their own recommendations for hanging drywall and taping, so here's mine:
Hang wall sheets vertically. This eliminates butt joints on long walls, all sheet edges are supported, and even if a room is less than
12' long it lets you use shorter (i.e. lighter) sheets. This will be a big advantage if you're working alone or with a single helper (i.e. The wifey). The disadvantage is having to go up and down a ladder to tape the joints, but we did 14' walls with vertical joints and it's not a big deal. The pro's just avoid it because it takes more time.
Try to avoid small pieces of drywall whenever possible. Drywall is cheap and you'll end up with a better job using a large sheet than trying to use all the little scraps. Use the scraps in a closet or something where it doesn't matter.
Use self adhesive mesh tape. It's easy to apply, especially for amateurs. We used it to tape our garage an house and 7 years later every seam is still invisible with no cracks.
Buy three GOOD drywall knives. A 6" for the first coat, a 8" or 10" for the second coat, and a 12" for the final coat. I also find a dedicated corner knife makes taping inside corners much easier.
Ideally you should use a setting type compound for the first coat, then premixed all-purpose for the additional coats. But we used all- purpose for everything on our house and garage and it worked fine also.
Apply the tape to the drywall joints first. This is easier than trying to switch back and forth between taping and applying mud.
Use the 6" knife to apply the mud to the seams, and the corner knife to apply mud to the corners. Press the mud into the gaps and try to get it smooth, but don't worry about making it perfect. Just don't leave any major bumps you'll have to sand later.
You'll often see the pro's do long sweeps up the wall to catch all the screw holes in the middle of the sheet. We just dabbed each hole and it worked just as well. Push it in, screed it flush with the drywall surface. If you have a "clinker" (a screw that isn't driven in enough), nows the time to drive it in and remud. Again, we were focused on quality more than speed.
Let the first coat dry fully before applying additional coats. This is where the setting type compound has the advantage (it dries faster and harder), but all-purpose will work fine if you give it time to dry. You'll be able to tell by looking that the damp areas will be darker.
Apply the second coat with the 8"/10" knife. Hold the knife closer to perpendicular to the wall, so you don't flex the blade and cause a depression. Apply more mud than you need, then screed it off with the knife.
Once coat number two dries, apply coat three with the 12" knife. Now you're really trying to get it as smooth as possible. Small imperfections can be sanded out later, but the better you do now, the less work you'll have later.
If you take too long and the compound starts to dry out, you'll start getting little gritty balls that will leave gouges in your work. If you notice this happening, toss out that batch of mud and start over. Again, joint compound is cheap and you'll never be able to get a smooth coat once it starts drying out.
There's no reason you can't apply a fourth, fifth, or sixth coat if you find things still look bad after the first three. This is usually more of an issue with butt joints than the tapered edges. But three is usually adequate once you get the hang of it. In fact, I usually only do two coats on the corners as imperfections are much harder to see there.
When everything is level and dry, use flexible sanding blocks (sponges with a sandpaper texture), or dedicated sanding pads (the kind that mount to a pole are great for ceilings) to LIGHTLY sand the surfaces smooth. You don't want to sand so much that you create depressions again, you just want to knock off any ridges and level everything out. Remember to wear a dust mask, and be prepared to clean up with a shop vac that has a "fine filter" bag installed (otherwise the fine dust will blow right out the back into the room).
Apply a PVA primer intended for drywall before painting with a latex paint.
Get a proper drywall mudding tool that is 12" (approx) wide. It sounds as though you have never mudded before, a garage is a great place to learn. Also you will learn how to sand, not too little and not too much. A strong light placed close to the wall, shining along the wall is the best way to tell when you have got the surface leveld properly.
Thanks so much for your informative post. My studds indeed are irregular. My thought was to use full sheets untill they because irregular in the spacing, then cut the sheets to fit the rest of the studs. I never thought of your idea on the 1x3's but one problem I see is the outlets would be way recesed if I used those.
How wide a knife? How inconspicuous do you want the seams?
An alternative...
Mud in seams
Lay and press in paper tape
Mud over the tape
Use a trowel to "stucco" all (seams and rest of drywall). Easy to do, seams hidden. __________________
Why? Drying compound can be "sanded" with a damp sponge. If you screw up you can remove all with a wet sponge. ________________
That's a trowel. _____________
A corner knife is handy. So is a mud box...that's a plastic tray maybe 16" long by 3-4" wide and deep. Tapers from top to bottom, edges have thin, removeable strips of steel used to wipe off the knife. Very cheap at HD or Lowes. While there, pick up a set of plastic broad knives...they are cheap too, not the best but adequate.
...and you've just made a 10' butt joint. In fact, a cut edge next to a factory recessed edge is worse than a regular butt joint. It makes more sense to hang horizontally, as god intended. (why yes, it is a religious issue.)
There's no need to have 16" oc for walls. 24"oc is fine. If you'd like, get the 1/2" high strength or sag-resistant board. (It is rated for
Actually, the book talked about the "stuco" way you talked about but it was called "skim coating". Where you dilute the mud with water and roll it on the entire drywall with a 3/8 nap paint roller. It is supposed to be a top of the line finish and prevents "photographing". You have to trowel the whole wall though
No need. The only reason to hang vertical is if it makes things easier. It doesn't sound like it is going to make things easier, so don't do it. Problem solved :)
Since the you have a ten ft ceiling I would buy 10 ft drywall and set them verical. Then again since it is detached from the house you dont have to worry about fire rating. Do the thing in OSB and you can fasten anything to the wall anywhere you like you like. Do a little planning and you may not want to do the whole garage with OSB or plywood but maybe part of it.
Same applies with the drywall horizontal - just not quite as often. I'd definitely go vertical IF you can buy 10 ft drywall locally. Here all that was available was 8 and 12. Horizontally you WILL have 2 joints regardless.
A very acceptable job can be done with 2 and a sponge - no sanding required (acceptable for a garage - not a parlour)
Or use a good self priming paint. They DO exist, and they DO work. Still requires 2 or 3 coats though, and generally primer is cheaper.
Rather than ceiling paint, prime it with primer for best results.
As for the taping, depends on how fancy you want to get. I did my detached garage that I use as a work shop. I did not tape or mud at all. I put on a coat of white primer and never even got around to the finish coat of paint. I don't entertain there or have dinner parties in the garage so it works for me.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.