If you're going to hang and tape drywall throughout your home during construction or remodeling, it's a good idea to get a little practice at it before doing it on a highly visible wall in the living room or kitchen. The interiors of the closets have to be drywalled, too, though few people every see them, so that's a good place to start. It's easier than drywalling a larger room, because closet walls are seldom longer that the 8-foot drywall boards, meaning less trimming is required to cover each section of wall. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Stretch your tape measure across one wall of the closet, getting the measurement from end to end.
2. If the wall length is less than 8 feet, stand a piece of drywall on its long (8-foot) edge. Put two pencil marks, one above the other, at that length as measured from a 4-foot edge. Set your level along the two marks and make a line across the 4-foot edge.
3. Cut on the line with a razor knife, going about 1/8th inch into the surface. Snap the piece at the scored line.
4. Set the cut drywall against the wall, at the bottom. Use your screw gun to shoot drywall screws every 6 inches through each stud behind it.
5. Repeat for the rest of the wall, placing the cut drywall sheets one above the other. For a standard eight-foot ceiling, you'll have two, stacked; for higher ceilings, you'll need to a third piece lengthwise for the top. Do all the walls in the closet.
6. Set drywall tape over each seam between the boards; fold the tape length-wise to tuck it into the corners. Spread a thin layer of joint compound over each strip of tape with a drywall knife, making it slightly wider than the tape and getting it flat and smooth.
7. Let the compound set for six to eight hours. Spread on a second coat, making it slightly wider than the first. Let it dry.
8. Apply a third coat of joint compound, making the line slightly wider again. Let it dry. Use a drywall sander to sand it flat and smooth. Prime and paint the inside of the closet.
Tags: slightly wider, 4-foot edge, above other, flat smooth, joint compound, making slightly, making slightly wider
