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 preferred wall covering in residential housing. “Knock on the Wall! Demand Genuine Lath and Plaster!” was the rallying cry of the once-mighty plaster industry, as they struggled against the newcomer—drywall.
Big plaster fought a losing battle. It took two or three weeks to cover walls with layers of plaster, and the process left the house frame waterlogged. In the winter, it could take a month or more for a house to dry out well. Cabinets installed after plastering often had sticky drawers. In addition, passage doors were hard to open, and hardwood floors expanded and buckled. It’s no wonder the construction industry switched to drywall. It allowed builders to complete houses in record time.
Drywall installation can begin once you’ve passed all your inspections— electrical, plumbing, heating, framing, insulation, and vapor barrier. Drywall is not difficult to secure to ceilings and walls, but it takes more skill to leave the finished walls straight and smooth. This chapter will tell you how to order and store drywall, which tools and methods you need to cut and “hang” it, how to tape and finish the joints, and how to paint the walls and trim. By the time you’re done with these jobs, your house will look a lot more like a home.
