Drywall can create an area that is worthy of the pages of an interior designer magazine however, if it is not properly installed the wall can leave your house looking unprofessional and poorly-made. Since finishing techniques vary and you should discuss your requirements with the contractor goes in the direction of achieving satisfactory outcomes. Additionally, be aware of what mistakes aren’t acceptable, so that you do not end up with a subpar drywall.
Setting Out Your Expectations
The appearance of drywall that appears rough is not always an indication of a lack of skill. Five acceptable degrees of finish for drywall as outlined within the Gypsum Association’s Guide to Recommended levels of Gypsum Board Finish. The higher the quality that it is, the more flaws there are. Higher levels mean more work and cost, which is why installers make use of them only when needed or requested. Before you can determine if an installation of drywall is poor or not, it is important to know what the contractor was trying to achieve.
It is important to talk about the type of finish you’d like to achieve The installation must conform to the standards of a professional. In your garage you’ll see a level 2 finish with small ridges is typical and is not indicative of poor installation. The same condition in your living room however, is a sign of poor quality work.
Level 1 It’s rough finish for places that aren’t often seen like an unfinished attic, space above a ceiling , or the service corridor of a commercial building. In this area there are lines and tool marks. Screws, nails, and other fasteners as well joints could be evident.
level 2. The finish can be commonly used in storage sheds, garages commercial warehouses, garages and similar structures. Screws and nails should be covered well and mostly invisible, however you may find a few ridges and marks made by tools.
level 3 The finish of this is the lowest you’ll ever want for your home and only in the event that you intend to apply a wallpaper or paint that is heavily textured. The walls should be clean and free of lines, tool marks or signs of fasteners . The wall is followed by an application with drywall primer.
4. At this stage the installer will apply additional coatings of joint cement on joints, tapes and fasteners. They will finish by applying primer to create an extremely smooth surface. It is then possible to apply smooth or wallpaper that is lightly textured with no bumps or other imperfections visible.
Level 5 If you are planning to apply a high-gloss satin finish, semi-gloss or enamel paint for drywall, this is the finish you’ll need. It requires all the extra joints that are used in Level 4, plus the skim coat or the thin coating of joint compound plaster or any other material specifically made for the intended. The application of primer is the last step.
Affects of a poor Drywall Installation
While some flaws can be expected in lower finishes Certain issues shouldn’t appear in a professional installation.
visible joints Ideally, you should not be able tell the place where one drywall sheet is finished and the next begins. Joints that are visible and gaps greater than 1/8 inch can be a sign of poor installation. This is usually due to improperly spaced sheets of drywall and air bubbles in the tape that covers the joints.
Visible screws and nails holes Visible nail holes and screws can be a red flag indicator even at the less polished levels. In older drywall, keep an eye at “nail pops” or nails that push through the wall. The majority of them are easily fixed and aren’t a problem. If they’re throughout the wall it’s a sign that the wall is damaged and may have been badly put in place.
Corners that are uneven At any stage of finishing the edges of your drywall need to be straight and smooth. There shouldn’t be any crooked lines or gaps, as well as indentations, bubbles , or creasing. Tape that is not properly applied can create creases and indentations. A corner that is not straight could result in a wavy corner.
rough surface Minor roughness and ridges are normal in lower finishes. In the higher levels of finish nevertheless, the surface will appear smooth and soft. Ridges can be caused by remnants of joint compound poorly applied two coats of compound air bubbles, or problems caused by joint tape. In most cases, the installer will smooth these out. The appearance of grooves is usually caused by excessive sanding. smoothing them requires more compound.
Cracks are, however, not necessarily indicative of a bad wall. Particularly in older homes that is constantly subject to temperature changes, the expanding and contracting of the structure eventually leads to cracks in the drywall. It is less often that it indicates damage to the structure.
Panels that are crooked – Drywall tends to be in a crooked position when an installer attempts to complete everything on his own. It’s difficult to keep a large piece of drywall and put the screws in simultaneously by yourself. Sometimes this is because the wall is uneven. An experienced installer may be able to make the drywall straight in a wall that is crooked however, it’s rarely possible. The fact that drywall is crooked on a wall doesn’t mean that the installation was poor.
Ceilings that are sagging If there aren’t any water leaks in your upstairs area Sagging, sagging, or “pillowing,” drywall on your ceiling is typically the fault of the installer. It could be that they utilized 1/2-inch drywall sheets instead of thicker 5/8-inch sheets that be able to withstand the force of gravity. The use of screws instead of nails could also be a reason behind sliding drywall.
A mess left over The process of creating smooth finish to the drywall requires many sanding sessions, which creates a lot of dust. Professionals with a good reputation take care to clean up the dust prior to leaving. If it is not cleaned up the dust from your drywall, it can cause problems with the wall paint or may even cause a clog in joint joints on your doors and windows. If the installer wasn’t concerned enough to tidy up their mess, this puts the remainder of their work to be in question.
Drywall installation is an artisanal process which requires time and focus so mistakes aren’t unusual. Although you may encounter small flaws to the garage or attic that isn’t finished but don’t let it become serious issues that could affect the look of your house. If you see clear joints and fasteners, ridges, or sharp corners, you should contact your builder to get the work rectified.
