Tim,
When you lay rock down(horizontally, you have no support in between the
studs along the factory edges. Even with taping this joint, any force
against this area creates cracking. Also the requirement of edge screws
every 6-8" cannot be attained along with longer walls you create a butt
joint that becomes apparent with any paint with a sheen. By standing rock
up you eliminate all of these problems.
Hanging Drywall Direction on Steel Studs
Summary:
An AsktheBuilder.com reader asked me about which
direction she should be hanging drywall sheets on steel studs. Drywall hanging
on steel studs should be done horizontally.
Related Articles: drywall installation, drywall finishing tips, drywall book
Related Articles: drywall installation, drywall finishing tips, drywall book
Reader email:
Tim,
How do you lay out drywall on steel studs? Should it be vertical across the studs or horizontal across the studs, and should I stagger the drywall? This is for a basement that is studded with steel and I'm very confuuuuuused!!! Thanks,
Holley
Holley,
The best way to install drywall is horizontally. You should also stagger the seams. Installing it vertically requires that the spacing of the studs must be perfect and they are perfectly plumb. This is much harder to achieve that you might think.
Then wait until you are bending down to tape all of those vertical seams every 4 feet. With 12 foot drywall, you only have to do it every 12 feet. Since you rarely have wall runs longer than twelve feet without an inside or outside corner interrupting it, you might never have that flat seam in a wall run.
Tim
|
Still Need Help? Type Your Keywords Here:
Your Facebook friends would love to know how this column helped you solve your problem. Type a quick comment of what you discovered here at AsktheBuilder.com. Thanks! |
Comments:Welcome! I, Tim
Carter, don't answer questions
here. If you post a question here in the Comments Area,
perhaps another visitor will help you. You need to go to the Ask
Tim page if you want a question answered. Once there, look
closely at how many weeks behind we are. Please be patient as you use
this free service. If you have an emergency and need to talk to me,
there is an option there for you.
Mulligankid 09 Dec 2009, 22:58
Hugh Askew 10 Dec 2010, 15:34
Lay it down, you have to tape the butt joints....most do-it-on-Saturday
types can't handle butt joints.
Stand it up, all you have are the tapered edges + the corners that have to be done any way you do it. There will also be less cutting to do. Most architects specify running the rock parallel with the steel studs.
Ed 23 Nov 2011, 10:06
The interior of Metal stud/drywall wall exterior facing walls show a
dark streak along the metal stud line after only a couple of years of fresh paint. We really do not want to spend thousands of dollars for a new paint job if the problem is going to appear again. How can this problem be corrected? Thanks View all comments |
