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Archive for the ‘Drywall Installation’ Category
Is Drop in Home Sales Good News?
Is Drop in Home Sales Good News? Only if you want to thrive!
“For all of you out there who accuse me of perpetual bearishness, here’s a twist: What if the drop in existing home sales in May is a good thing? Try to follow me on this: Everyone expected home sales to surge in May because this Realtor’s survey is based on closings in May from contracts signed in March and April. The May and June numbers should reflect the surge from the now-expired home buyer tax credit. Well today’s report showed a drop of 2.2 percent in existing home sales, leading us to believe that this last government stimulus really didn’t do the trick. So what if it didn’t? Last fall the tax credit really juiced the market, pulling demand forward, so that we saw a huge drop-off in the months following what we thought was the end of the credit, which was then of course extended and expanded.
So now we’re not seeing the same juice, but the numbers aren’t terrible either. Perhaps there was no big rush, so perhaps there will be no big drop-off. Here’s what we do know: (a) First-time homebuyers accounted for 46% of sales in May (49% in April) (b) Investors accounted for 14% of sales in May (15% in April) (c) All cash accounted for 25% of sales in May (26% in April). So first time buyers actually fell in numbers, but investors and all cash (which are often investors) remained pretty steady. Investors, at least for distressed properties, are what we need right now to soak up all the excess inventory. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty certain we’re going to see a drop-off in sales. A lot of sellers probably got caught up in the idea that the stimulus would create lasting recovery, and so decided to jump in. Tomorrow we get the report on sales of new construction in May. That report is based on contracts signed in May, not closings, so it will give us an idea of just how ba
d the post credit hangover will be.”
Fire walls roof line
City, county and states vary with there code requirements for a justifiable answer to ” what is a fire wall”. And exacts are not always given. In a multi-family dwelling these codes will fluctuate as well, depending on what year they were constructed. Ultimately this system of constructing a building that has a definite form of separation is in fact where the fire wall(s) are located, between units of habitable space. Condo’s may have them and some apartment structures may have them as well. Most likely a true fire wall can be noticed from the street the building is on. And knowing how to spot them is the key to a successful venture into managing your CADS. ![attic firewall construction [condo]](http://www.my-diy-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/thumbnail-2.jpg "attic firewall construction [condo]")
A one hour wall typically consists of a single layer of 5/8″ drywall [gypsum board] for meeting code requirements. If a building has an attached garage, the the inside of the parking garage area must comply with a minimal fire rating of drywall with any proper electrical components involved. A two hour fire wall may often require a double layer of 5/8″ drywall or sheetrock on the garage side to accomplish this rating. Drywall compressed gypsum is considered to be fire resistant and allows ample time for the UBC safety laws, to extinguish any flames before moving [burning] through to the next area, therefore lessening the damage, it can potentially cause. Are you a CADS manager?
Knowing a Firewall
There are two main classifications of fire walls: fire partitions, and true fire walls. To the layperson, the common use of firewalls are to slow down the fire’s ability to spread, also known as a 1 hour rated partition.
- A fire wall is a wall separating buildings or subdividing a building to prevent the spread of fire and having a fire resistance rating and structural stability. Double layered 5/8″ sheetrock or drywall.
There is a further sub-classification of fire walls. A high challenge fire wall is a wall used to separate buildings or subdivide a building with high fire challenge occupancies, having enhanced fire resistance ratings and enhanced appurtenance protection to prevent the spread of fire, and having structural stability.
Portions of structures that are subdivided by fire walls are permitted to be considered separate buildings, in that fire walls have sufficient structural stability to maintain the integrity of the wall in the event of the collapse of the building construction on either side of the wall. Are you a CADS manager? Do you aspire to be?
- A fire barrier wall, also referred to as a fire partition, is a fire rated wall assembly which is not a fire wall. Typically, the main differences is that a fire barrier wall is not structurally stable, and does not extend through the roof, or to the underside of the floor above.
Fire barrier walls are continuous from an exterior wall to an exterior wall, or from a floor below to a floor or roof above, or from one fire barrier wall to another fire barrier wall, fire wall, or high challenge fire wall having a fire resistance rating of at least equal rating as required for the fire barrier wall. They are continuous through all concealed spaces (e.g., above a ceiling), but are not required to extend through concealed spaces if the construction assembly forming the bottom of the space has a fire resistance rating at least equal of the fire barrier wall.
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!
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!
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