Resources and Services
Consumer Guides
Drywall Panels and Sheets
Drywall panels cover most walls and ceilings built over the last 40 years. These panels have a layer of gypsum sandwiched between heavy paper facings. A waterproof type sometimes called green board is used in bathrooms and other areas subject to heavy moisture. The sheets, which are relatively inexpensive, are 4 feet wide, 1/4 to 5/8 inch thick, and 6 to 16 feet long. The standard size is 1/2 inch thick and 8 feet long.
Drywall sheets are applied to studs, joists, or rafters with drywall nails or screws, or with adhesive. Joints between the panels are covered with a paper or fiberglass tape and coated with several layers of smooth, plasterlike joint compound.
Most ceilings are built with the same materials and methods as walls. They consist of wood framing members joists rather than wall studs and normally are clad with drywall or plaster.
A conventional drywall ceiling consists of drywall panels screwed or nailed to ceiling joists. Joints between the panels are taped and finished with drywall compound using the same methods as for walls. These ceilings are normally hung before the drywall is applied to the walls. Older ceilings often have lath-and-plaster construction.
More Popular Entries
Additions & Remodels
Stylish Basement Remodels
Checklist: Recommended Questions to Ask a Contractor
Home Improvement Trends
Agents (Real Estate), Appraisers & Home Inspectors
Townhouses
The Final Walk Through
Bringing it all Home—the Closing
Appliances
Garbage Disposals
Tip: Dishwasher
Tip: Instant Hot Water Dispenser Problems
Builders (New Homes), Architects & Designers
Small Feng Shui Tips
Checklist: Questions to Ask Your Architect
Tip: Water Seepage
Carpentry & Cabinets
Tip: Built-In Desks
Different Sized Cabinets
Cost and Quality of Kitchen Cabinets
Cleaning Services
Cleaning Asphalt Shingle Roof
Checklist: Get Your Home Ready for Spring
Musty Smell in Attic
Concrete, Brick & Stone
Tuck-pointing
Concrete Sawing
Retaining Walls
Consumer Guides
Townhouses
The Final Walk Through
Bringing it all Home—the Closing
Design Ideas
Herb Gardens
Illuminate Your Kitchen
Building a New Home
Electrical, Telephone & Data
Illuminate Your Kitchen
Checklist: Electrical Wiring Project
Upgrade for the Future
Expert Advice
Refinishing a Peeling Porch
Cleaning Asphalt Shingle Roof
Frozen Pipes
Flooring
Choosing the Best Carpet for Your Home
Steam Cleaning Grout
Cleaning Hardwood Floor Inlay
Handyman Services
Checklist: Biyearly Maintenance
Checklist: Fall Maintenance
Do-It-Yourself Compared to Hiring a Pro
Heating & Cooling
Tip: Ceiling Fan Solutions
Air Quality
Checklist: Cold Weather Survival Tips
Home Construction
Do Homework Before Building a New Home
Tip: Panelized Homes
Building a New Home
Landscape, Decks & Fences
Checklist: Spring Maintenance
Refinishing a Peeling Porch
Herb Gardens
Moving & Storage
Remodeling Increases Value
Preparing Your House for Sale
Checklist: Increase the Potential Sale Price of Your Home
Other Services
Radon Testing and Abatement
Disability Elevators
Tip: Mildew on Wood
Painting & Staining
Fun Painting Techniques
Interior/Exterior Painting
Peeling Paint
Plumbing
Frozen Pipes
Water Damage
Loss of Pressure
Quick Tips
Checklist: Spring Maintenance
Checklist: Biyearly Maintenance
Checklist: Fall Maintenance
Roofing, Siding & Gutters
Helpful Roofing Terms
Roof Treatments
Comparing Aluminum to Vinyl Siding
SP Feature Article
The Internet Will Change the Buying of Services
Walls & Ceilings
Paint Over Paneling
Nicotine Stains on Walls and Ceilings
Repair Small Hole