Drywall: Professional Techniques for Great Results

While fixing some holes in drywall my brother cut some pieces of drywall to patch it up. The problem is he cut the end grain instead of the side grain and as a result the patch failed within a month. Also he attempted to texture it with a knock down finish but his skills are lacking and it came out looking tacky. Because of these experiences I wanted to learn the correct way to repair and finish drywall so it looked seamless. That is where I benefit from this book the most.I pretty much figured out most of what I needed to do but bought this book to cover anything I might have missed. It's good to have a professional source listing all your options because it allows you to be more creative and come up with better solutions instead just simple fixes or very basic applications. This book helped me look at hanging walls from a more professional approach and has given me insight and confidence to start on some projects.I agree a lot with what the author is saying but do not necessarily agree with some of his suggestions. This book is mainly about drywall as it states but does go on to discuss backer board which I plan on using for my bathroom walls after I tear out the drywall. There is mold resistant drywall but cement board is superior by far. He talks about drywall being more sound proof than plywood (which he is right since plywood has an echo effect) but I plan to replace my garage ceiling with plywood since it is more durable than drywall. Also I think it would be easier to hang and you do not have to worry about corners crumbling or weak connections to nails screws etc. The thing is I have a Brother who is very clumsy and almost most special needs. He sometimes helps me do projects. Well He has bad luck in the garage and fell through the ceiling completely damaging most if not all the panels. He is like a bull in a china shop. So I need something more brother proof.Instead of using furring strips as you would with the lightweight drywall I plan to reinforce the ceiling in between the joists with studs to accommodate the heavier plywood. As for sound proofing I would think to use an appropriate insulation batting . Finally in the attic above the garage place plywood on top of the joists for flooring so my link head brother does not fall through the floor again and to make it safer for my as well.The author talks about how tape reinforces the joint but I think it's mostly to cover the seam and hide fasteners. Tape is pretty weak even if embedded with plaster, mud, joint compound or whatever. It's just a piece of paper. Things like that and saying hanging the drywall perpendicular strengthens the structure seem a bit embellished. Drywall is weak and taping it together just makes one solid piece of weak material. But everyone has to deal with drywall since it's a lot easier to find studs, make cutouts, and remodel in then plaster and lath and the author does cover the correct way to hang it and finish it professionally and all the tools that are available. For that he gets 5 stars.One thing I would add is where he discusses repairs. He advises to cut out the damaged area and place a piece of drywall in with 1/8" gaps around the side then fill with drywall compound or make a patch with the dry wall facing extended past the gypsum core and then feather the flange facing out to blend it in. I already knew that and even bought a Dremel for that purpose so I had straight cuts. However I think a better option would be to cut out the damaged area with jab saw, then use a rasp to bevel the opening on all four sides, take a piece of drywall and bevel it so it fits in, then use drywall compound on the beveled edges to adhere it making sure the patch is recessed. That way you are adding texture to a recess to blend it in instead of trying to feather out a bump on the wall. Flat straight walls are nicer. When I can I plan on purchasing the Dewalt folding jab saw as it has a fold out planer just for that purpose.

I've got absolutely no experience hanging or finishing drywall, but after reading this and using it as a guide, I'm actually looking forward to drywalling my basement. The writing is very easy to understand and there are a ton of pictures to help. Author appears to be a master drywaller and is very clear in his explanations. Some sections I appreciated were on soundproofing, how to plan for material usage, and what tools to use. I'm a big DIYer and a perfectionist. While some skills detailed in this book seem to require a great amount of detail and patience, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Already recommended to a buddy who drywalled his entire house (but did not tape and sand) and is looking to finish his basement as well. Just by skimming it, he found a number of things he wasn't aware of and wish he had known years ago.

Bought this book to help me with some minor repair work in my home. Lots of pictures, easy to follow and understand instructions and is actually written for someone who really does not know much about drywall. Had to pick up a few tools but this book made that a lot easier, i didn't purchase anything i didn't need. Also explains why you need each specific tool. Also good explanations of the types of drywall, tapes and compounds. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to do a little project work.

18 months ago I finished a portion of the basement in our new home. I had zero experience with drywall and used this book and some youtube videos to guide me along. It was a little tricky, but this book really helped me out a lot. The room is done and while not quite a pro finish, it is pretty nice looking and with a couple coats of paint on the walls everything looks quite nice. This book was absolutely a big part of why the drywall turned out as well as it did.

Good guide for newbie who knows nothing about drywall. Lots of useful information, but I have no idea how complete it is since I could write a book on what I don't know about installing drywall.

I have been an amateur drywall man for 25 years, however after reading this book I can say that it was a great and I will be ready for my next job. This book is just the right instruction book for anyone who wishes to improve on their technique. It walked you from the beginning with proper tools and technique to special considerations that the average handy man would not know.

Overall this is a pretty good book, but is more general than what I expected from the Author. Was hoping to have a bettter explanation of the different joint compond types (i.e.) regular, lightweight,VLS ect. Was also hoping for a little more on the actual taping process. He seems to speed through it. Wasnt really intersted in learing noise control from a drywall book.

I have another drywall book for reference and comparison. This book has excellent examples of pictures for reference as well as other tips for working mud and finishing. Although I've been working on a never-ending remodeling project for 13 years, I've still been able to pick up on something new. I would recommend this book for any beginner as well as those who are more experienced.