Walls and Ceilings - Ooops, Now what? - Float or Butt ?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Ooops, Now what? - Float or Butt ?
MKM
02-02-06, 10:44 AM
The room I'm drywalling is 9 1/2 feet tall. I'm running 12' panels horizontally, so it takes 2 four foot panels and an 18" panel. I've already placed the ceiling and top panels. That leaves 5 1/2 feet undone.
It turns out that all my electical wiring in this room is at 18" above the floor, so the next row of drywall comes right down to the wire level. THe wire wraps around 3/4 of the room. All of these studs are (rightfully) protected by metal plates where the wire runs through. This means the very end (bottom) of the panel can not be attached to the stud.
Seems I have two realistic options.
1) attach the 4' panel and don't screw in the bottom edge - rather just screw a few inches above and let the tapered edge float a bit. ( same with the 18" panel that will need to go below it.)
2) Put the 18" panel up next, creating a long, horizontal, butt to taper joint (4' (or 5 1/2 ft) off the ground)
Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated...
....Mike
It turns out that all my electical wiring in this room is at 18" above the floor, so the next row of drywall comes right down to the wire level. THe wire wraps around 3/4 of the room. All of these studs are (rightfully) protected by metal plates where the wire runs through. This means the very end (bottom) of the panel can not be attached to the stud.
Seems I have two realistic options.
1) attach the 4' panel and don't screw in the bottom edge - rather just screw a few inches above and let the tapered edge float a bit. ( same with the 18" panel that will need to go below it.)
2) Put the 18" panel up next, creating a long, horizontal, butt to taper joint (4' (or 5 1/2 ft) off the ground)
Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated...
....Mike
kona
02-02-06, 02:49 PM
I have always seen the strip in the middle of the wall, not at the bottom. You'll be a lot more comfortable finishing seams standing as opposed to crouching down. Now I don't do much drywall, and when I have the wall has been 8' or less. So I'm not sure whether they finish the taper edge to the butt or if they rip the full sheet so its butt to butt. Next job where I see a drywall sub I'll find out but it wont be for a while. I'm sure Mudslinger or someone else will chime in before then.
MudSlinger
02-02-06, 04:00 PM
I would put up the 4' panel next and make sure you use glue. Then screw as close to the wire as you can. Finishing a seem 18" off the floor isn't too bad (but I wouldn't want to do a whole house that way!), although a butt joint all the way around the room will cast a shadow if you have lamps.
That answers the basic question.
Although ... if the wires are deep enough into a stud you may not need the nail plates. They are usually only used when they are not deep enough into the stud. I know that doesn't sound right from a safety standpoint, but usually only "close to the surface wiring" is all that some building codes require. (People usually don't hang pictures 18" off the floor either).
Obviously you will want to comply with the building codes in your area, so check first before you remove the nail plates.
I hope this helps
That answers the basic question.
Although ... if the wires are deep enough into a stud you may not need the nail plates. They are usually only used when they are not deep enough into the stud. I know that doesn't sound right from a safety standpoint, but usually only "close to the surface wiring" is all that some building codes require. (People usually don't hang pictures 18" off the floor either).
Obviously you will want to comply with the building codes in your area, so check first before you remove the nail plates.
I hope this helps