Saturday 21 September 2013

Having The Right Tools Speeds Drywall Installation And Finishing For Home Improvement

By Gary Stossel


If your next home improvement project involves installing drywall, having the right tools can certainly make the job much easier. Drywall is sold in 4x8 and 4x12 sheets for residential as well as industrial use. A 4x8 sheet of 1/2 inch drywall weighs approximately 55 pounds. While that may not sound like a lot, having the right tools for installation overhead can make the job go much smoother.

Screw Gun: Today, most contractors use screws to hold the drywall in place. Screws can be easier to use and do not pop like nails. They provide a better method of holding drywall in place. A screw gun can be set to drive the screw to the proper depth for finishing before the clutch kicks in to prevent overdriving the screw.

Panel Lift: This tool is created to lift drywall to the ceiling and hold it in place while one drives the screws into place. The tool makes the job easier and prevents breaking of the sheets used in this difficult to hold position. Some of these units also provide an optional tilt, allowing the panels to be installed on sloping ceilings.

Automatic taper: An automatic taper applies the under coat of mud along with the tape in a single pass. It extends the reach of the worker so that ceilings and walls can be tapped quickly. With a big job, these machines can take hours off the time required to complete the task.

Hopper Guns: These devices spray texture on the walls to give them the finish most are accustomed to seeing on drywall walls. Orange peel texture is accomplished by blowing drywall mud on the walls or ceiling. They can cover many of the mistakes made in amateur taping of the walls.

Compressors: Compressors can be used to operate hopper guns and other pneumatic tools used in the project. If the project includes framing, a nail gun can quickly assemble 2x4 stock to form the framework for the walls. Once the walls are completed and trim is being applied, a pin nailer can be used to attach small pieces of trim with a minimal amount of effort, without predrilling.

For most do-it-yourself home improvement projects, drywall tools will only be used once in a lifetime. It simply does not make sense to buy these tools that you do not plan to use again. However, renting the equipment can allow you to complete the job easier and with a professional looking result.




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