hanging drywall

abbub · Jan 22, 2003

I've seen people hanging drywall on TV and they position the drywall onto the wall and start driving screws. How do they know where the studs are without measuring?? Is there some trick i'm not aware of or are they just good??

rancar · Jan 22, 2003

<font color=blue>Is there some trick i'm not aware of or are they just good??</font color=blue>

In simple terms, they are just good but you have to remember, it's still just TV. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

In reality, if you want to mount drywall on an already covered wall surface, they sell these things called stud finders in hardware stores and in places like that. I've never thought much of these things. A good drywaller can tell where the studs are just by tapping the existing wall surface and listening to the 'tone' of the knock to determine if he's hit a stud or empty space. The greater dangers though are a) if you have irregular stud framing different from the normal 15-16" stud separation (this is especially prominant in older houses 'done over' by inexperienced home improvers or when state building codes were not in place) and b) figuring out where the behind the wall electrical lines are running. You hit one of these lines by accident.....and this will require yet a bit more extensive wall rehab. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

.....Bob

dummy · Jan 22, 2003

Don't forget about the "how did that water pipe get there" problem either.

Wingnut · Jan 22, 2003

They're just good!

My version of that is to mark the stud locations on the ceiling and floor and then either chalkline the drywall, or eyeball it.
The pros get pretty good about eyeballing .... and you still find the occasional "miss" when repainting. Remember that television = editing ... tha's why they show all the fun bloopers at the end.

Cacinok · Jan 22, 2003

Most construction is built with studs 16" on center and ceilings 24" on center. Drywall comes in 8' and 12' lengths, so on walls your splitting your sheet of drywall into 6ths or 9ths for walls. Same idea for ceilings.

The pros do miss, I taped drywall for a while during undergrad, they are just quick to load another screw into the gun and keep going. Some leave it to the taper to remove the loose screw -- jerks. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

RobS · Jan 22, 2003

I watched while some of our house was being "rocked". All I can say is they're VERY good! Four man crew. One screwing, one measuring, one cutting and the fourth helping to either measure or position/screw. And talk about fast!

In reality, it's not that hard to hit the studs without chalklines etc. I can't do it anywhere as well/fast as the pros, but with some attention to it you can get there /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

patrickg · Jan 22, 2003

I've hung a bit of drywall and taped and bedded too. It takes practice to hit a drywall nail "just so" and have it properly dimple the drywall but not crush it.

In anticipation of hanging some more drywall, I bought a cordless drywall screw gun with belt fed screws. How about that... a semi-auto scew pistol. It is almost as good as having three hands AND you don't drop any screws AND you dont get any metal slivers in your fingers AND it puts the screws in uniformly.

Patrick

cwave · Jan 23, 2003

I agree their fast - Hard to find (very busy in Central PA) - Here's a idea I'll use to find the studs in my house - If your building a new house or adding on give it a try. Take Pictures of everything - Digging for septic system - foundation - ceiling/studwork in every room (might want to identify which room it is) - wiring - in a word EVERYTHING - Digital pictures are free except for your time and hard drive space and you'll have them for a lifetime.
One thing I did do was stay out of the worker's way. Nights and weekends./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I probably took over a 1000./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

dummy · Jan 23, 2003

Is that the same as/similar to the new decking guns they have out? Last time I went to get a box of screws, seems like the belt fed screws were exremely expensive. Did I miss out or misread something?

heehaw · Jan 23, 2003

i agree on the taking pictures suggestion, i've gotten myself out of a couple binds when the memory just wasn't there..i was wondering, from the picture you posted, it appears the house is on a crawl space??? why do plumbers always put the p-trap in the wall, instead of under the house??
heehaw