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Archive for the ‘drywall’ Category
How To Update by Removing the Popcorn
Change is good and changing a rooms overall look is even better. Popcorn ceilings [acoustic] are old and out dated, in large part it was an inexpensive way to avoid the finish mud process of drywall work. By removing the popcorn acoustic ceiling mask in your real estate purchase, this will bring so much needed lift and clean appearance to the home, that you wished you would have made it the very first home improvement venture. Take a few pictures of before and after so all can see what it used to look like.
Step #1: remove contents of room Step#2: plastic tarp off entire room Step#3: Get a 6″ putty knife / vacuum / plastic trash bags / goggles and mask / fine spay bottle [optional] / step ladder Step#4: at the correct angle gently dig into the popcorn surface, as to not gouge at the drywall’s, try this in several different directions as well as strength of pressure, until complete Step #5: with a damp sponge wipe clean until noticeably you see the effects of a finish product Step #6: repair any maladies with drywall mud until suffice then sand Step #7: prime entire ceiling 2 coats, now paint with your favorite color!!
Don’t forget the after photos before you crack that cold one and sit back to enjoy the fruits of your labor, GOOD JOB!
Rebuilding Haiti
It’s been 24 hrs since i have reached out to Mr Scott Kraft, a Los Angeles times media reporter. My message was very clear and to the point, in that i wish to donate 100% of the commission proceeds for 1 month, starting yesterday. I expect for him to publish our story and return my phone call and e-message tonight, we want to put a little pressure on all of our E-store affiliates IE., Sears.com/ Amazon.com and Home Depot.com, when they meet our challenge of charitable contributions and building supplies as well as energy efficient lighting fixtures and plumbing supplies.
The building codes are questionable at best but that will not stop the masses from any further advancements. We will build a better tomorrow for the people of Haiti and their families, that have suffered long enough. Our vision here at My-DIY.net is for a brighter future in all the world, pull soldiers from the middle east and put soldiers to work on an island that right now is far worse off than any war zone Mr Obama, let us help each other in this world and end the chaos today.
Stand tall you masses and understand how critical a place these Haitians are in at this very moment, tell a friend/coworker/family member about this action that requires all of us to rise above and shout ” WE CAN DO THIS”. Climb on board with that donation and help make a difference today.
Haitian Relief [proposal]
Good evening world. As we can all sit back in the comfort of our homes tonight, there are many out there that have not been quite as fortunate. But my vision and beliefs are that we all can do something to aide those in need. I just left a message for Scott Kraft of the LosAngeles Times news paper, asking him to help circulate our story. Me here, on this world exposed blog, am offering 100% of the affiliate marketing proceeds as a charitable contribution. All of the purchases staring at 7:30 pm pst will be going towards a lump sum dollar amount to the people in dire straights of Haiti. The catastrophic events of the 7.0 earthquake that tore down this place nearly 2 weeks ago has many children and their families literally upside down.
Any of us that want to help, can and will by using anyone of many E-stores via here on this blog site or at MY-DIY.net. When enough of us pitch in we are able to give back a little bit to help make a difference. From Home Depot / Amazon / Bestbuy / Commission Junction or Ebay all of which are my affiliates. I am also asking that everyone of those mentioned here and now stand up and meet us with our purchase power. If Home Depot / Amazon.com / Bestbuy.com / Commission Junction or Ebay.com can hear us roar, they will hear loud and clear that this is a challenge. That’s right, we are calling them to the mat for a no holds barred bout of matching the funds and or materials to donate.
Not only will this be of great service, the 2009 tax benefits can be of credit for all of our next filings on april 15. Lets create a better avenue of building services and appliances. I expect that Mr Kraft will help us with the broader publishing efforts involved but email this to as many friends as possible and lets start today by making a grander difference in this life.
Sincerely,
Craig E. president
MY-DIY.net and MY-DIY-BLOG.com
Diy drywall Cornerbead
Applying cornerbead on an outside corner of your diy drywall project is to complete the job. No job is done until the paper work has been finished. Unlike drywall work, no job is complete until the cornerbead has been applied. Mudded and sanded, first the 
actual metal or plastic piece of 8′or 10′ foot corner cap, gets screwed or nailed over the drywall and into the framing IE wall, ceiling soffit rim etc. With a fastener every 6″ or so hold this cornerbead down and tight to the face of your drywall. In essence a phase of diy drywall is the application of any metal around the rough edge of the drywall, for the mud to be held and finalizing a finish product. Whether going square or bullnosed diy drywall cannot be complete without the cornerbead.
Diy Drywall
Any one of us can easily diy drywall if we really want to.
It’s not all that difficult once the basics are understood. Common framing layout is 16″ on center, hence divisible by 48″ and 96″, or a standard 4×8 sheet of drywall. If lined up on one framing member IE wall stud and or a ceiling joist, the natural other end of the sheet of drywall should end up on the center of the framing member for fastening there. After a few sheets it will be hard to tell where the field (middle of the sheet) needs screws or nails. It is advised to mark with anything all the framing members prior to covering, then as each sheet goes up or on nail or screw each framing member at the edge as you go, this will fasten as well as enable your new framing members as marked. Be certain to check your local building department for all corresponding schedules and details. DIY drywall and do it right the first time, have fun while the transformation occurs!
Tile over Drywall
The best approach to execute how to install ceramic tile on top of drywall. In our professional opinion there is no way ever in this planet’s existence to apply any type of tile directly over drywall or gypsum board in a predominately wet environment, IE a bathroom. The constant daily heat and humidity (condensation) from the shower’s use breaks down the adhesion and causes problems.
The exception to this rule is when installing tile to a backsplash such as a kitchen counter, but it is absolute prep work to get this right, and not unheard of. The drywall has got to be sound and well primed with a proven product, Kilz or another quality primer. A latex thin set adhesive is recommended here with the grout application and grout sealer giving all the insurance for water repellent and moisture protection because most ceramic tile has a glaze waterproof finish.
Drywall Taping/Finishing
After all has been hung and nailed or screwed off we can now begin the mudding process. Pre mixed drywall compound can be bought in a few different ways. Basically in a box or in a bucket and ready to be used as is, although you may add a little water and mix it in to make it more fluid and less stiff for your drywall finishing ease.
Taping joints is the act of covering any seams to bring an even flowing appearance and looking as it’s all uniform.
When mud has been applied over the seam first we then cut our piece of tape to length and place onto the seam(illustrated @ left) . The mudding compound acts as a glue for the tape and can then be knifed smooth by applying another coat of mud over the tape to cover entirely as a first rough coat.
The corner seams get the same approach only the tape will be pre-folded prior to installing, NOTE: if gaps in seams are big it is not necessary to fill the void with mud. The drywall compound mud need only be applied behind and on top of the tape completely. If not you will see what looks like bubbles in the tape, this is where the mud was not there and caused the tape to not adhere.
Hoisting Drywall
I understand it’s hard, maybe even not possible in the mind set, but i’ve did this alot because it had to get done and no help was available at the time. What Im trying to say is with the right techniques we can do anything, even how to install a full sheet of drywall on the ceiling.
A solo approach to hanging a sheet of drywall overhead, we need help right. Well instead of another person use a cleat on the wall , a little holder if you will. Getting this through the door alone is harder for me. But i want to use the ladder as a shelve first, now im in the room and have the sheet balanced on the ladder, it cant fall because the walls to the left and right of me are the ends of the drywall as well, and the third wall is now in front of me 48″ away. Now with the ladder placed just right as i did my pre dry run I also have the cleat to hold the sheet from falling, and with 4 drywall nails on the sheet from my pre layout marks im golden, awkward yes but really not too heavy for one person at all. AS I guide it onto the cleat I now raise it and hold pressure against the ceiling with my non hammering hand and grab my hammer and nail her home. We only do some things out of pure need but by all means enlist a helper every chance you get.
Drywall It
Thats right it’s time to cover it all up in this bathroom. 1/2″ drywall on the ceiling and 5/8″ on the walls, the ceiling is going up first so we need to get some dimensions. There is one fan/light to cut for and we’ll take two measurements, the first coming from the corner above the tub and with a 4′ x 8′ sheet we have to cut the length off at 62″ with the fan getting only notched here because its 42″ from back wall and 28″ from the left wall. And to make this accurate we need to realize it has to be installed upside down. In other words it becomes exactly the opposite on the saw horses? Because it gets flipped over the top becomes the bottom and the numbers have to be pulled from the correct sides. 
Okay got it? Now with the marks made take your sharp bladed utility knife and score into the face of the drywall sheet about a third of the way through. Pull the sheet past the edge of the table it’s on until the cut line is at the edge and the cutoff will fall to the floor (get clearance to fold it down) with pressure lifting up and pushing down at the cut it will snap on the line and hinge off the table. Not free yet we have to now score and cut the back of the drywall’s paper at the hinged cut. It will drop free and were off to hang the first piece drywall on this project.
Redo Bath 1
As promised for the next 25 posts or so this blog will be reflecting on a series of home improvement 
info relative to a full bath remodel. From the bare naked studs and sub straight plywood on above the subfloor framing members.
One complete bathroom, meaning 1 shower/tub combo, 1 vanity with a single sink basin and 1 toilet. Typical full service bathroom that every house contains in this universe, generally typing of coarse. We’ll take you from demo stages into the rough placement of lighting, fans, shower valve exchange with stone or tile surround above the new tub, an in depth redo done right the first time.
“The power to think consecutively and deeply with clarity,is an avowed and deadly enemy to mistakes and blunders, superstitions, unscientific theories, irrational beliefs, unbridled enthusiasm and fanaticism”- Haddock