Drywallers… The Unsung Heroes of Happy Homes!
July - August 2020
The very first thing we learned about drywall is that it is split into different specialties — hangers, tapers, and primers. This is the first time in the project where we could actually say “wow, this is starting to look like an actual house!” and we’re so grateful for Altmann Drywall & Painting for making our Happy Boolo home start to take on its true form inside!
But first, some quick specs:
The majority of the drywall is 5/8” EcoSmart panels composed of 92% post-consumer recycled content — a choice made for meeting LEED materials requirements. We used 5/8” Type X drywall in the garage and mold- and fire-resistant drywall in the master bathroom around the tub.
The Hangers
The first crew — the hangers — were responsible for affixing the drywall to the framing and making sure all insulation was covered. Hanging is considered the most labor-intensive of the three sub-trades for drywall, as the sheets have to be hauled, cut to size, mounted, and nailed in-place not only on “easy” vertical walls, but also on ceilings and — in our case — our specially designed skylight, which poses all sorts of angular challenges. It requires strong shoulders and strong lungs — there’s lots of dust from cutting the sheets to fit around electrical outlets, light switches, supply/return openings, minisplit line sets, windows, and doors.
Staging for master bedroom and bath
Staging in Amy’s master closet
Staging on main floor. Why not spruce up the place with a wreath? ;)
Staging in basement
The first drywall installed in Amy’s office… right over the newly blown-in spray foam insulation
Strong shoulders!
Cutting for can lights
The Skylight Challenge
Scary!
Success!
The typical homeowner may never realize it — we certainly didn’t until we started this project — but one good reason for drywall is because it’s NOT the plaster and lath of the past. Check out the following three photos. The first is the traditional plaster over lath construction of an older home, which requires a series of furring strips be nailed into studs or joists to then provide a framework over which to layer plaster. Try to imagine the amount of labor that would have been required to do our master bedroom’s tray ceiling — or any other part of the home — using this method!
Traditional lath and plaster (By Larry McElhiney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51805666)
How would you like to fur out our master bedroom ceiling for plaster?
Thank you, drywall!
A job well-done!
The Tapers
The next crew seals — or “tapes” — the seams between different sheets of cut drywall as well as forms the precise 90-degree corners we all take for granted in our walls. A specialized set of tools, including long tape guns and stilts, help to create the seamless, smooth walls and ceilings we all appreciate in a well-constructed house.
Roy muds the ceiling
Skylight taped and corner beads applied
Looking good!
Tray ceiling taped
Nail holes mudded
Tapers stand proud!
The Primers
Once all the seams and corners are taped and “mudded” with compound, the priming team comes in to prime down all the walls to make them ready for paint.
Juan wears a safety mask while priming Amy’s office closet
(Almost) fully primed skylight vestibule
Fully primed master bedroom tray ceiling
The Priming/Painting Crew
With the hanging, taping, and priming done, the Altmann crew has the house LOOKING like a house now!