Mistakes People Make When Hanging Drywall

Drywall is generally considered to be a task that most competent DIYers can do without 

needing to call in the professionals. That being said, it’s not the easiest of tasks to undertake, and installing drywall can lead to a whole host of problems if you don’t know what you’re doing or you make a mistake you didn’t even realise was a mistake.

And the thing is, you might not notice the issues from these mistakes instantly. But the problems they’ll throw out will surface at some point, leading to a bigger fix down the line.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at a few drywall installation mistakes you need to avoid.

Using the Wrong Length of Screw

Standard half-inch drywall needs a screw long enough to bite at least five-eighths of an inch into the stud behind it. If you have thicker panels or double-layer installations, then you need even more length to hold properly.

Using drywall screws that are too short leaves the boards loosely attached and prone to sagging or popping loose over time. On the flip side, screws that are too long risk punching through wiring or plumbing running behind the wall.

Spacing Screws Too Far Apart

If you place screws too far apart, you’re leaving sections of the board unsupported, which show up later as visible waves or soft spots when pressure is applied to the wall. The standard spacing is roughly every 12 inches along ceilings and every 16 inches along walls, following the stud layout rather than an arbitrary interval. The edges will need closer spacing than the field of the board to prevent the seams from cracking. Marking stud locations on the floor or ceiling before boarding starts makes it easier to keep spacing consistent once the panel is up and the studs are no longer visible.

Skipping a Stud Finder

If you’re guessing where studs are located either by tapping on the wall or measuring from a corner, then you’ll find your screws will likely miss the stud entirely or catch only the edges of it. And a screw that misses the stud provides no real holding power and leaves a small hole in the drywall that prevents patching; furthermore, repeated misses in the same area will just result in the board being weakened. A basic magnetic or electronic stud finder is a good call to help you avoid damaging the drywall and making what could be costly mistakes.

Overdriving Screws Into the Board

Driving a screw too deep breaks through the paper face of the drywall and into the gypsum core. This results in the screw’s holding power being damaged even if the board still looks flush.

A properly set screw creates a slight dimple without tearing the paper, and using a drill with an adjustable clutch or a dedicated drywall screw setter helps stop each screw at the right depth consistently across the whole job. It’s a good idea to check a few screws by hand after setting the clutch to make sure it’s correct before running through the rest of the board.