A Simple Solution To Drywall Corner Cracks Starting with the right materials on a construction project can really pay off.

Drywall corner cracks, for example, are unsightly, can be costly to fix and often come when you least expect them. They are a nuisance for both homeowners and construction professionals. Fortunately, it’s often possible to avoid cracks by making one small, simple change during the construction process. It’s easy to understand why corner cracks appear. Traditional "bare metal" corner bead-the thin metal strip that goes over the corner of a wall before it is finished and painted-is attached to the drywall corner using nails or screws to hold it in place. These fasteners penetrate both the drywall and the framing. If the wood frame warps, shrinks or swells, the fasteners pull and stress the metal bead along with it, producing cracks. Structural movement due to foundation settling can also add stress to the corner bead.

While the process of fixing corner cracks can vary depending on the severity, crews often have to remove the metal bead, install a new piece and then renail it.

Multiple coats of joint compound are also applied throughout the process, sometimes requiring several trips to the residence. Corners then need to be repainted. In cases where walls are ornately painted or textured, the finishing alone could push the cost into the hundreds, not to mention the inconvenience and time it takes to coordinate all the repairs. The good news is that corner cracks can be quite preventable. For example, homeowners can simply request that their builder or contractor substitute a high-performance product such as Sheetrock brand paper-faced metal bead by USG for the standard, bare metal corner bead typically used. Made with a strong paper tape laminated to a sturdy, rust-resistant metal form, Sheetrock paper-faced metal bead is adhesively applied to the drywall corner and, as a result, resists edge cracking, paint chipping and everyday wear and tear. This is a classic example of how requesting one small, simple change during the construction process can really pay off.

Builders and contractors can appreciate how it installs faster and requires less joint compound to finish. Homeowners can appreciate that it comes with a limited 30-year no-edge-crack warranty. By: Wendy Mitchell Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com For additional information on this innovative solution, please call (800) USG-4YOU (800.874.4968) or visit usg.com/pfbead. Using the right product during construction can reduce the chance that drywall corner cracks will appear later on. That means saving time and money. Drywall plus Thickness of Tile – Fix-it Forum: Home Improvement … You mount the box to accomodate the drywall plus the thickness of the tile. Toolmonger Blog Archive The Pocket Kicker II The Pocket Kicker II will lift up to twelve-foot sheets of drywall with ease. Measuring just 6-1/2 long, it ll fit in almost any toolbox, tool pouch, or even your back pocket. Advocate: Drywall woes may affect several hundred thousand homes … MANATEE The leader of a national consumer advocacy protection group believes the problem of tainted drywall could plague a couple hundred thousand homes nationwide. By the Numbers: Chinese-drywall problems spread beyond Florida … Chinese Drywall Problems South Florida Pounds of of drywall made in China that have been offloaded at U.S. ports since 2006, enough to build 60000 homes, according to a HeraldTribune.com.

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Drywall: Cheap and Dirty

There are many options when finishing a basement.

Drywall- one of the most common choices – is also one of the worst. Even "green board" will have no warranty against mold. This article outlines the disadvantages of drywall.

Old habits die hard. The same goes for building practices. When it comes to finishing a basement, builders tend to do the same thing they’ve always done- especially if it’s a cheap solution for them. Why would they change what’s making them money? I mean, it’s not like they have to live with the job, right? The bottom line is this: a basement environment is different than any other place in the home, and drywall is simply not made for this environment. If you install drywall into a basement, it’s probably not going to work, and even if it does, it won’t be the best building material for the job.

Below are four good reasons to drop drywall from your basement finishing plan. Holding its Own When it comes to shelves, cabinets, or anything else that weighs over 10 pounds, drywall is in for a real challenge. Generally, this means that you’ll have to find wall studs to use to mount the weight, which can be a difficult and imperfect process. You’ll be limited to places where studs are located and will find yourself at the mercy of sometimes unevenly spaced studs. Unfortunately, it’s very popular to want to mount things such as shelves, cabinets, pictures, or perhaps a plasma TV on finished basement walls. And just as easily as it crumbles under too much weight, it’s very easy for you, your children, or a well-placed doorknob to leave an unsightly hole in it.

There are hardboard wall panels such as Total Basement Finishing’s Wall Panels with dense foam insulation available that can have things mounted at any point on the wall with no need to find a stud. Because these panels are free-standing, they’re also ideal for adding wall partitions for a bedroom or extra closet. Drywall Dust Dealing with drywall dust woes is probably the most painful part of a basement remodeling. Drywall installation is dirty work! As the heavy panels are cut to fit your basement, a thick and extremely fine dust will coat everything in the area.

The dust is invasive and can kill ordinary vacuum motors as it quickly clogs their filters and causes the motor to work too hard and overheat. Professional drywall vacuums cost about $650, which is impractical for a homeowner and not often used by professionals. On top of that, the gypsum in drywall is irritating to eyes, lungs, and sinuses. Drywall should be installed carefully- with masks, goggles and gloves. Whenever possible, drywall dust should be cleaned up immediately after installation. Service and Renovation Woes Drywall ceilings in a finished basement are a nightmare when it comes time to service or renovate a basement. Drywall ceilings provide poor access to pipes and wiring when they need to be serviced or new ones need to be installed. Occasionally, the drywall may even need to be removed or damaged for the sake of the job. While a service panel will make this access easier, it can’t replace a drop ceiling, where every ceiling tile doubles as a service point. To make matters worse, installing heavy sheet rock on the ceiling can be a work-intensive and expensive process, and if you later decide to renovate the basement or the first floor of your house, you’ll spend hours and hours running wires and pipes under the floor and learning where already existing ones lead as you’re remodeling. And there’s a reason that drywall is filling up landfills all over the country! It’s constantly being replaced and reinstalled as water from a leaking basement, plumbing leaks, and moisture from concrete basement walls, mold, and impact damage ruin it. Black Mold Blues Even mold and moisture-resistant drywall does not stand by their claim with a warranty. Why? Because drywall is made of a core of gypsum laid between layers of heavy processed paper. This paper provides food for mold. As mold grows on your drywall, it becomes increasingly aesthetically unattractive. Signs of mold include peeling and cracking paint, bulging behind the paint, musty smells, and discolored walls. Drywall can support the growth of toxic black mold as well, which is particularly dangerous. But even when toxic molds are not present, mold spores in the air can agitate asthma, and cause breathing problems as well as other health issues. Very often, the entire drywall installation may need to be removed and replaced by a trained professional. A Better Solution Total Basement Finishing has products that are guaranteed to be mold-resistant that are made specifically for the basement environment. Their wall panels and ceiling tiles are perfect for a basement finishing project. Our products install cleanly without the mess of drywall, make service easy, and our wall panels can hold 300 pounds per panel without a problem! We offer free estimates, and we’d love to help you! 30 minute-rated insulated roof lining … insulated dry internal lining, and can be jointed and decorated in the normal way to give smooth monolithic appearance. It is available to order from leading builders merchants. British Gypsum signs 16million rail contract by British Gypsum British Gypsum signs 16million rail contract. … British Gypsum has signed a contract with rail freight specialist, First GBRf, for delivery of gypsum. british gypsum – isover ltd thermal insulation; insulation, accoustic; insulation, thermal. British Gypsum ceilings stand up to the Union by British Gypsum High performance acoustic ceiling boards from British Gypsum are helping to maintain a calm environment in various areas adjoining the Student Union facilities at Winchester University s new .

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