DRYWALL CALCULATOR

How to Estimate and Prepare Drywall

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Calculating angled walls for drywall

If an area of the wall has an angled top, you’ll need to measure the area of the triangular section at the top. To get the area, measure the height and length at the base and then divide the result by 2. For this area, you are likely to require full drywall sheets. To determine exactly how many sheets of drywall you need, measure the wall from its tallest point. You can then multiply the number you get by its length. As you install the section, you can just trim the part that slopes.

Common sheetrock or drywall measurements

Drywall sheets come in predefined sizes. The standard widths are 4 and 4.5 feet. The 4-foot width is mostly ideal for vertical installations. In this case, there are no butt joints and the installation is simple and easy. The studs can be 16 or 24 inches apart which means there is one every 4 feet. On the other hand, the 4.5-width sheet is for installing horizontally. It’s usually ideal for the high ceilings so as to leave very few seams along the middle. When it comes to thickness, drywall sheets come in 3/8 inch, ½ inch and 5/8-inch measurements. The thicker pieces are ideal for more sound protection. The thickness will also depend on the building code requirements.

Drywall coverage by type

The type of drywall you need will largely depend on the room’s requirements. If you have two rooms and they need walls covered in ½ inch drywall as well as 5/8-inch drywall, you’re likely to have more waste. There are also building code requirements for the type of drywall needed. For instance, a garage will require a 5/8-inch drywall, which is fire resistant. There are also moisture-resistant drywall types that are often recommended in spaces such as the kitchen, baths, and basements. It’s important to understand the type of drywall recommended for different environments.

Drywall ceiling calculator

The drywall board needed for your ceiling will depend on the type of ceiling you have. For instance, if you have the standard flat ceiling, measuring the floor area will give you an accurate estimate of how much gypsum board you’ll need. If you have a sloped or vaulted ceiling, you’ll need to measure the length and width up to the peak then multiply to find the area. The sloped ceilings simply mean that they have more wall area next to them hence you’re likely to use more gypsum boards. You should get an accurate estimate when you calculate the areas and add them together.

How to calculate sheetrock waste

There are two main sources of waste in a drywall project – waste that comes from cutting out the doorways, windows, and light fixtures as well as incorrect measurements or accidents that result in a broken sheet. It’s typical for DIY (ers) to end up with more waste than a professional drywall installer. If you choose incorrect measurements, you may end up ruining the sheet. Remember that the boards are fragile and poor handling can end up ruining the sheet. Take time to get accurate measurements so that you only buy what you need or better yet, work with a professional who will advise on exactly what’s needed and help to minimize waste.

Drywall Mud Calculator

In most drywall projects, one of the challenges could be knowing just how much drywall joint compound, commonly known as drywall mud, will be needed for every square foot. Typically, you will need about 0.05 pounds of the joint compound per square foot of your project.

To get the best results, it’s recommended that you use two different kinds of drywall mud. There’s the light drywall mud that is recommended for top layers. This lighter joint compound is thinner and easy to sand off giving your project a smooth finish. Then there’s the all-purpose mud that’s thick and best used for setting tape. A combination of both will give you the best results.

If using the standard 4*8 drywall sheet, you’ll need 1.5 to 2 pounds of joint compound per sheet. It depends on the compound type and how much water has been used to thin the drywall mud. There are different drywall texture styles and the amount of joint compound you need will depend on the style you choose. For instance, the light textures will require 1 gallon of drywall mud per 100 to 150 square feet whereas the knockdown texture will use the same gallon per 50 to 75 square feet.

Drywall Estimator Square Footage

When you want to determine how much drywall you need, you can use a drywall calculator especially if your room is a standard square or rectangle. However, if you have an irregularly shaped room or sloping walls, estimating the amount of drywall needed can be a problem. We’ll share with you a few tips on how to use a drywall estimator and get the most accurate measurements.

Try breaking the room into smaller sections and measuring each separately. You can then add them together to determine how much drywall will be needed.
Whenever there are sloping walls, bring them together to form a triangle. You can then calculate the area of the triangle using the equation: length * base divided by 2.
When estimating drywall by hand, try and give an allowance of 10% of the drywall sheets required.
Keep in mind that as you measure the length, some drywall sheets can be very difficult to carry and install on your own. You’d rather get two standard sizes and use joint compound to fix them together. This would simplify the entire installation process.

How many drywall screws per sheet?

The other important materials needed in a drywall project are the screws. Drywall screws are usually sold by the pound. These specialty screws will be used all around the sheets in order to secure the drywall on the attached surface. The amount you need will depend on the number of drywall sheets that will be installed.

How much drywall tape do I need?

You will need drywall tape to cover the joints in between the drywall sheets. The amount of tape that you’ll need will depend on the size of your project. If you expect to have many joints between the sheets, you’ll need a lot more tape. The best part is that the drywall tape is inexpensive as it costs approximately $.5 per 150-foot roll.

What tools will I need for drywall installation?

With drywall installation, you will have to ensure you have the right building supplies and tools before you begin. You will need basic tools like a utility knife, tape measure, drywall square, mud pan, drywall knives, sandpaper, and a pole sander. Protective tools like a dust mask are also important during the project.

What should be the thickness of the drywall?

An important consideration when choosing drywall is the depth of the drywall sheets. The sheetrock comes in different thicknesses such as ½’’, ¼’’ and 5/8’’. The half-inch drywall is usually very easy to install. It’s lightweight and easy to carry. The other ¼’’ and 5/8’’ drywall sheets are often used as a double surface or on ceilings. Thicker drywall is ideal for coffered ceiling or any textured ceiling installation projects.

Does drywall contain asbestos?

Until the late 1980s, American drywall sheets, tapes and joint compound mixes contained asbestos-based additives, but today’s drywall doesn’t contain asbestos. Asbestos was added to drywall to make it lighter, stronger and more fibre resistant but better technologies have come to develop a resilient product without ever compromising on safety.