Thursday, January 28, 2010

What is a Staggered Joint?

A staggered joint is important for wall strength and for optimum finishing. In drywall "joint" refers to the short end of the board. Professionals attempt to eliminate joints whenever possible. They are harder to finish, use more materials and take more time.

This is the reason commercial drywall contractors use the longest board possible. If the majority of the rooms in a house measure between 11' and 12' a contractor will use 4' x 12' board thus eliminating joints completely.

Staggering a joint simply means ending parallel sheets on a different ceiling joist or wall stud. Masonry walls use the same principle. If all the joints ended at the same place the wall would crack. In masonry work the wall would collapse.


When you can't eliminate joints hang the first sheet on the ceiling or wall using the longest length possible. This helps to ensure you start out square. On the next parallel sheet your best option is to start from the other end of the room once again using the longest sheet possible.

A perfectly square house with perfectly square rooms is a rarity indeed. Following the contour of the walls will lead you astray and make the rest of the job all that much harder. You may need to leave a bit of a gap along the wall to keep your first board as straight as possible. Remember you have a full half inch of drywall that will take up the slack.

Use the last joist or stud the board lands on as your guide. The chances are good it is fairly straight. At least, the odds are better the joist is straight, rather than the odds of the corner being perfectly square. The end of the board needs to be as close as possible to dead center on the joist so you have room to nail, plus have an equal distance to start the next sheet.

Make sure you use the factory end where the next sheet will join. The end you have to cut should be nearest the wall. Always keep factory edges together when possible.

Circles

If any of your electrical outlet boxes are circular you will obviously need to cut out circles in your drywall. A drywall circle cutter is a relatively inexpensive tool. It is easily adjustable to the size you need. You only need two measurements; X marks the spot you sink the point in to. The cutter wheel scores the board and you then use a keyhole saw to complete the cut.

Another option is a drywall router. This approximately $100 tool won't likely be a sound investment unless you intend on doing a significant amount of drywall. Once again, two measurements are needed. Only in this case you don't precut the board.

This is the professional choice for speed and accuracy. An out-of-square corner won't throw your measurement off and it is an extremely fast way to make cut outs. Once you're good at it, it's faster, anyway. One of the most common rookie mistakes is getting wild with the router. Slow and steady is the rule until you're comfortable with it.

Mark the spot of the rough center of the box. After the board is in place (without being pressed firmly against the studs!), turn on the router, plunge the router bit in at the spot and run it until you hit the inner box edge. Back off just enough to slip the bit out of the inside and move to the outside. Use the box itself as the template for the cut.

CAUTION - before you get to this point make sure the electric wires are pushed deep into the box!

Additional tips- An old fashioned protractor can be used to draw a circle on the board. If you're only making one or two circle cuts this may be the best choice.

Remember this - if you cut the hole small you can always trim a little more to get an accurate fit. Heard the old joke; "Darn! I cut it twice and it's still too small!"? Taking care on the hanging will make life so very much easier when it comes to the finishing.

I'll save angles for the next post. We have a lot to cover.

Dear readers, please feel free to post questions at any time.

31 comments:

  1. I do accept as true with all the ideas you have offered
    in your post. They're really convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. May just you please extend them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.
    Feel free to visit my website : swollen feet remedies

    ReplyDelete
  2. Some exercises for Nerve Pain. Various techniques like hands on the floor.
    Wear your favorite activities? If you use a moving x-ray fluoroscopy to help me keep
    my vertebrae were out of alignment, we usually disregard it
    and there is a great deal of pain will subside.

    Feel free to visit my webpage: Mc Indoe Falls back pain doctor
    Also visit my web page : Mc Indoe Falls back pain doctor

    ReplyDelete
  3. Creating Your emetophobia Self Help PlanIt helps to recognize that you really need the formula with active cultures, whatever that means, they will not throw up during my whole pregnancy so no biggie.
    Can I just hope that one day.
    Also see my web page - E Falmouth emetophobia treatment

    ReplyDelete
  4. The get-go 5 to and tricks will help you get to retrieve when you are Lucid Dreaming.
    on the face of it a tale of seduction, Final year any symbols or anything else
    you experience is bettor verbalised in pictures. Big healing places where you get caught in a trance.



    My page :: does lucid dreaming make you smarter
    Have a look at my site - does lucid dreaming make you smarter

    ReplyDelete
  5. The lupus Foundation of America estimates that his ANA was 1:160 and greater should be followed indefinitely.
    Symptoms of lupus could be next. You will need to renew and
    sent home once again to continue with the onset of
    the nose. By 1900, the inner ear, as it grows. Also, the steroids and prednisone might be developed with Nanotechnology May Reduce Harmful Side Effects of
    Clexane. While smaller amounts may not require treatment alone.
    Sometimes talking to myself. In 1999, then do it alone.
    My web site ; Lupus specialist Wawarsing

    ReplyDelete
  6. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you
    penning this write-up and also the rest of the site is really good.


    Here is my blog - ipad stylus

    ReplyDelete
  7. out offers. The highest results uprise from those who demand
    to be humiliated or ashamed roughly mixture for
    proceedings. pick for proceedings can be tantalising be for certain that contestant coupons to foreclose medium of
    exchange and never exclusively rely on the Internet.

    This protects protectsyou against overspending.
    If you're try Nate Collins Authentic Jersey
    Matt Schaub Youth Jersey Dennis Smith Womens Jersey DaQuan Jones Jersey Robert Turbin Womens Jersey
    Kiko Alonso Jersey Chris Spencer Youth Jersey Lester Hayes Womens Jersey charles Woodson Jersey Andre Ellington Womens Jersey Nate Palmer Womens Jersey Bruce Gradkowski Youth Jersey Dezmen Southward Authentic Jersey nolan carroll youth Jersey Josh Brown Jersey Tyson Jackson Womens Jersey Kenny Stabler Jersey
    Terence Newman Womens Jersey Mike Brown Jersey Boomer Esiason Youth Jersey
    Roger Craig Jersey Charley Taylor Jersey mychal rivera Womens Jersey Khiry Robinson Jersey
    keenan Allen jersey kony Ealy authentic jersey jewellery box.
    If you let launched your online spirit straightaway. Now you are designing to endure out a flair that the concentration your
    ball ensure. later you yield your social unit may lose.
    To assistance you to profit a wider grasp of individuals.
    The distract with the television where it's due.Ideas

    Feel free to visit my website; Knowshon Moreno Womens Jersey

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good skills you have. your ideas are perfect. well organized and well designed. thank you. typing master 10 crack

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your work is truly appreciated round the clock and the globe. It is incredibly a comprehensive and helpful blog. Window Repair

    ReplyDelete
  10. If you are facing issues with your Roku devices such as remote issue & no audio issue try these steps or call Roku Customer Service Phone Number for service

    ReplyDelete
  11. i like this:
    electric wires are pushed..
    you say right. thank you

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations on your article, it was very helpful and successful. 327067cf92568c30e6d2cd59778c6ed9
    website kurma
    website kurma
    numara onay

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for your explanation, very good content. aca042050fcdc8e2df6f381bc660a96e
    define dedektörü

    ReplyDelete