Watch the video on Drywall Finishes.
Delivering a high-quality drywall finish
Just like judging a book by its cover, many homeowners judge the quality of their new home by the quality of the interior finish. During a walkthrough, if homeowners see places where the drywall finish is rough, uneven, or showing nail pops, the defects can plant seeds of doubt in their minds. That doubt can turn a reasonable and happy customer into a nit-picking nightmare for the builder.
Even though drywall is used extensively in almost every new home today, many trades still don't understand how to deliver a top-quality finish. So, how can the builder make sure the customer has less to complain about?
By following these best practices, builders can manage their teams to ensure a smooth, even drywall finish every time.
- During the framing stage, inspect the home for any bowed or twisted studs, protruding nails or screws, and joist hangers or tie downs that aren't flush with the framing.
- Thoroughly check the plumbing and HVAC systems for any leaks. Over time, even the smallest leak can lead to deterioration within wall cavities and eventually become noticeable within the living space. Water issues within the walls can also lead to mold growth.
- Install all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components so the drywall can be fastened flush to the framing surfaces. Slight bows or waves in the finished sheet will be readily noticeable by the homeowner and could require extensive (and expensive) repairs to correct.
- Check to make sure that wall cavities are free of over-packed insulation. Too much insulation can create a bulge in the drywall.
Once the drywall has been installed, the tape and mud applications are critical areas to inspect for quality.
- Make sure all corner beads are straight and flush against the drywall. If corner beads aren't hung correctly, they can create wavy corners, nail pops, and clumsy and visible seams in the drywall. (For more information on installing corner beads, check out the Best Practice on "Paper-Faced Drywall Corners").
- Make sure all joints are covered with tape, especially corner joints, such as the areas where the ceiling meets the walls. Joints that aren't taped properly can produce visible cracks that are much harder to repair after the final coats and paint have been applied. Large expanses of painted drywall, such as ceilings, make even minor flaws stand out.
- Carefully check the second coat of joint compound or mud to make sure that no fastener heads are visible through the smooth surface. Mud should be applied over all joints, as well as inside corners and corner beading. The tape shouldn't be visible through the mud.
- After the third coat of mud has dried, carefully inspect it to make sure the drywall contractors didn't miss any spots. Remember to check obscure locations, such as inside closets, along stairwells, and in the basement. All edges should be smooth and feathered out to meet the paper face of the drywall.
- Sand carefully before the prime coat of paint is applied. Make sure that every joint, inside corner, fastener, and corner bead is sanded smoothly. Careful sanding will greatly improve the appearance of the surface after painting is complete.
Builders can save time, money, and headaches by carefully inspecting the drywall surface areas every day and at each critical stage of installation. Drywall quality remains one of the leading complaints among new homeowners, so by giving customers less to complain about, builders can help close the book on callbacks.
Want to learn more? Check out the online training course, "Improving Paint and Drywall Quality," at www.buildiq.com.
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