Drywall Tools

Installing a drywall is fast becoming the most popular wall treatment in the United States today with majority of households applying this type of method. Some opt for the services of professionals to install drywall while others resort to do-it-yourself methods. Either way, having the proper drywall tools is essential in order to get the job done neatly like a professional and make your life easier as well.

Experts' advice purchasing all the drywall tools is not at all necessary, but getting some of them is. After all, several rental stores would be happy to lend you some of the equipment you lack to get the job of installing a drywall done.

For novice, the following tools will come in handy: hammer, screw gun, large caulking gun, a Phillip's screwdriver, utility knife and extra blades, chalk-line and chalk, 48"/56" T-square, a small carpenter's square, floor jack, a tool belt (to easily keep track of your tools), and at least a hundred feet of extension cords.

Today's drywalls are usually fastened on the wall using screws because of the fact that they conceal easily unlike nails that tend to protrude and become prominent, leaving a dirty job. Moreover, driving screws is faster than to drive nails and it requires fewer screws to attach a drywall than nails.

Other reasons are that screws have greater holding power (about 350 percent stronger) than nails making them the choice among installers; and screws are able to attach a drywall panel to a metal framing. Consequently, it makes screw guns a must whenever hanging a drywall. When choosing a drywall screw gun, find a kind that is light, well balanced, fast, and comfortable.

Drywall Cutting Tools

Aside from screws and screw guns, you would also need familiar drywall tools to cut panels to the appropriate size for your wall. Drywall cutting tools simply include a long straight-hedge or utility knife while you can get the help of a T-square to guide the knife blade. Compound inside cuts for doors and windows can be accomplished using a drywall saw.

You might also be working with rectangular cuts for receptacle boxes and electrical switches, which can be created using any keyhole saw, or get one specifically made for drywalls. Another way to bore holes on drywall panels is through a drywall hole cutter that works like a compass, which features a knife instead of a pencil.

Drywall taping tools and drywall texture tools
Special knives and fasteners with tape and joint compound will be needed to conceal seams. The first coat of compound may be applied on the area and embed with a tape using a 5-or-6-inch broad knife. Then using a 10-or 12-inch taping knife, spread on the coats evenly. Inside-corner knives lets you apply compound on both sides since it has two blades at 90-degree angles.

It might be necessary for you to sand some portion of the wall, which can be easy when you clamp sandpaper onto a sanding block. The sanding process can be hastened with a pole sander when sanding areas that are out-of-reach like ceilings. In the case of ceilings, texturing is possible using a texture sprayer.

Drywall finishing tools can be used when polishing interior corners such as a mud pan. But don't get a cheap plastic mud pan with a metal lid that is prone to rusting. The mud pan is necessary to hold some mud. On the other hand, you can achieve a clean finish using taping knives to smoothen or taper joints.

It is amusing why most people think installing a drywall is better left to professionals. With all the drywall tools out there to help you get the job done easier now, compared to the previous years, there shouldn't be any reason not to try out this task.