Installing Drywall? Avoid These Common Mistakes At All Costs

Whether you're repairing a wall with water damage, covering up an outdated popcorn ceiling, or completing countless other home improvement projects, it may be necessary to install drywall. Even though you're going to paint over the drywall once it's up, you still don't want to make a mistake that will leave your wall or ceiling uneven, threaten its structural integrity, or increase the likelihood that moisture will be able to penetrate through the cracks. "There is an assumption that installing drywall is pretty straightforward, but I do see a lot of people making mistakes that can be avoided. It comes down to proper preparation," Kevin Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and the owner of Keen's Buildings, told House Digest during an exclusive interview.

One of the biggest mistakes that Keen cautions against is not properly measuring your wall before cutting the drywall. Discover how to avoid this and other common — yet costly — mistakes that Keen highlights as problematic. We'll also point out some of Keen's top tips to help you ensure your drywall installation goes off without a hitch.

According to Kevin Keen, one of the most serious mistakes you can make when installing drywall occurs before you even start cutting or screwing the boards into the wall. When speaking exclusively with House Digest, he said, "You have to start by accurately measuring your wall. If you don't, you may end up cutting your drywall too small and will have to start over." Accuracy is key, and Keen said "you need to use a tape measure to work out the exact height and width of the wall so that you know you're cutting the correct size." Avoid making a mistake with your measuring tape by remembering to account for the length of the housing itself to ensure accurate measurements. The old adage, "measure twice, cut once," comes to mind here, too — take the time to double-check the accuracy of your measurements before you find out the hard way that they weren't correct.

Keen continued: "Not leveling is another mistake that people make all the time. Please always remember to use a proper leveler tool when installing drywall so that you don't end up with uneven surfaces." Not only will uneven walls make your space look off, they'll also be more difficult to paint, cover with wallpaper, or hang art over.

Finally, before you buy drywall screws, make sure that you not only choose the proper type and length for the job but also avoid the mistake of over-screwing. As Keen said, "You should never drive a screw too deeply into drywall, as this can rip through the paper layer and weaken its grip."

Kevin Keen also shared some pointers to help you hang drywall like a pro during an exclusive interview with House Digest. "First, you'll need to take the wall's measurements from ceiling to floor and wall to wall," he said. "My advice is to shorten the drywall panels slightly, only about 1 [centimeter], as this will make it a lot easier to fit. Then you'll want to position the panels and mark the screw locations with chalk. Do this for the corners and also along the length of the panel." Choosing the proper tool to cut the drywall is also important — Keen recommended using a jab saw or utility knife to ensure clean and accurate cuts.

Once the drywall is cut and ready to be installed, Keen suggested using a few nails to get it into place before firmly securing it with screws. Then, he said to "Drill the screws in place every 12 to 16 inches, starting from the center, and working your way out towards the edges."

As you might know, the final steps for installing drywall include using plaster and tape to seal any seams or gaps. After scraping off any excess plaster and applying the drywall tape (first submerged in water) over the seams, Keen said to "Make sure it's all smoothed out so that there aren't any lumps or air bubbles. Leave it alone to dry." Finally, installing drywall isn't for everyone. Keen advised that "If you're not familiar with the techniques and tools discussed above, you'd better look for a professional to handle things. Especially if it's going to be a bigger project."