It’s lightweight, cost-effective and the perfect way not only to complete a construction but to decorate your home. It goes by the name of drywall but also as wall board, gypsum board or sheetrock. But how much do we really know about this product? In order to make your next drywall project easier, we fill in the blanks you may have with some basic information about drywall.
The quality of finished drywall depends on several factors. The framing job and overall care given during the drywall installation are both main determinants of the results. As long as these steps are completed with success, the only remaining challenge will be to tape well the joints and finish the product to your expectations. It’s important to point out here that even if a wall serves solely as a separator and not as a decorative structure, proper drywall finishing is required. After all, that’s why there are five different levels of finishing drywall. Each one of them is used to cover different requirements. So, let’s explore them.
Your interior walls are most likely drywall. You might decide to use a flat paint or install tiles to decorate them. Every wall décor idea is welcomed but in order not to be challenging, the overall drywall installation should be done right. This includes sanding drywall properly too. If not, imperfections will either show under the flat residential painting or keep you from installing tiles.
Since drywall installation is common practice, knowing the differences between the main fire-rated products is imperative. Let’s point out one main thing: due to the water composition in gypsum, all drywall types retard the spread of fire to a degree. But type X and type C drywall are both specifically designed to resist fire and thus increase safety. So should you just pick either off the shelf? No. There are differences between the two products. And even if you plan to hire a drywall contractor for the job, it’s vital to know the basic distinctions. Here we are going to draw the line between type x and c drywall to help you understand the differences.
Skim coating 5 is the highest level of drywall finishing. It’s the method to finish drywall and create the smoothest possible surface. Isn’t that what we all want? But here is the breaking news: skimming coating level 5 is not broadly used. And so we can’t help but wondering why we don’t insist on finishing drywall with skim coat!
The last stage of drywall finishing is painting or texturing. Although this last phase seems to be the easiest one after the tiring drywall installation, taping, mudding, and sanding, it’s not. Which are the main problems here? If you prefer smooth walls and thus just a regular residential painting, you run the risk of exposing the small imperfections of drywall. But then again, if you opt for texturing drywall, you run the risk of concealing these imperfections. Albeit many people would prefer drywall texturing for this reason alone, it doesn’t make much sense either.
The point of residential or commercial painting is to freshen up and perhaps change the color of the walls to spruce up the space. So whether you opt for a smooth or textured wall, you most likely desire long-lasting results. And that’s not all when it comes to drywall. Since these panels are taped and nailed, the joints might show under the paint skin. Is that why you need a primer for? Well, actually you need to prime drywall for various reasons. Let’s see.
Which home doesn’t have scars? Drywall defects are actually an eye-sore. Some imperfections are due to bad drywall installation. But many wall flaws just happen over the years. Or you move to a new home and simply know that the ex-tenants were artwork lovers by having a hard time counting the holes in the wall. The question is what do you do when the drywall looks more like emmental cheese? Or when small drywall dents indicate the age of your home?
Should you opt for plaster or drywall installation? That is the question. And there is not a straight-forward answer either. That’s because personal preferences are as different as family budgets. With that said, consider that the price tags are different. The aesthetic results depend on which materials are used and the painting service as well. But as an overall, both options have strengths and weaknesses. So before you take the big step and decide which one to choose, take a minute to discover more about these two building materials.
Let’s talk about drywall texture, your choices, and how you can spruce up the home, shall we? Texturing drywall might sound too passé to those with contemporary homes. But the popcorn pattern is not the only drywall finishing option. As a matter of fact, there are numerous textures for drywall in all rooms, styles, and interior design preferences. Some can actually be extremely modern or help you enhance the industrial look of your home. And although only a specialized painting contractor can tell you what choices you have in your home, check out some great options.
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