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Like shingles, siding, and insulation, drywall amounts are calculated by the square footage of the area to be covered (in this case, the walls and ceilings). Rather than measuring the ceiling and walls in every room, experienced drywallers use a shortcut calculation. They simply multiply the total square footage of a house by 31/2 (3.5). […]

It’s best to drywall the ceiling before you do the walls. This way, the top edges of the wall panels can butt up against the ceiling panels, support­ing them along the edges. The long edges of ceiling panels run perpendicular to the joists or joist chords. In bedrooms and other small rooms, you’ll probably be […]

Drywall is made by sandwiching a gypsum core between two sheets of paper. The “good" side of the panel is faced with smooth, white paper that takes paint easily. The “bad" side is darker in color, with a rough, porous paper surface. Panels (also called sheets) of drywall are packaged in pairs; to open the […]

Drywall and Painting I’m not sure when drywall—also known as gypsum board, wallboard, and Sheetrock®—was first used in construction. I have seen drywall on pre—World War II houses, but we definitely didn’t have drywall in my old prairie home. It wasn’t until the late 1950s in California, where I was working, that drywall be­came the […]

While you’re thinking about insulation and ventilation, you should also pay attention to a few other details that relate to energy conservation. Taken together, these small improve­ments can make a big difference in how well your house works. ■ Locate the water heater near the kitchen and bathroom. This avoids long runs of pipe that […]

Although it is not ideal in all climates or seasons, a whole-house fan can be a very attractive alter­native to air-conditioning. A simple fan is more reliable and less expensive than a single window — mounted AC unit, and it can effectively cool an entire house. As shown in the illustration at right, the principle […]

Insulate around electrical boxes. First, divide the batt into two layers instead of compressing it. Slide the back layer behind the outlet box (see the photo above), then cut out the front layer to fit around the box (see the photo below). This technique also works for installing fiberglass batts around electrical wires and plumbing […]

With insulation, the only time you can have too much of a good thing is when the ceiling or attic insulation blocks the roof’s ventilation. As shown in the illustration on p. 205, there must be a clear pathway for air to move from the eaves to the ridge. In the house shown here, we […]

Light, fairly inexpensive, and easy to cut and install, rigid-foam insulation has a lot going for it. This insulation board comes in different thicknesses and sheet sizes. Depending on the manu­facturer, it comes in shades of blue, green, and pink. A 1/2-in.-thick sheet is rated at R-3; a 1-in. sheet is rated at R-5. EXTERIOR […]

Although the reason for sealing cracks and gaps in a house frame may be fairly obvious—you don’t want cold breezes (or hot air, depend­ing on where you live) blowing through the house—the function of insulation may not be as evident. It is not to block airflow but rather to create pockets of dead air. Air […]