How to Correctly Put Screws in Sheetrock
The following are a few professional drywall service tips when it comes to screwing sheetrock and the pitfalls to avoid.
Never be tempted to use your cordless screwdriver to drive drywall screws. As it will not give you the precise depth control you will need for trouble-free fastening. Instead, use a screw gun, they are reasonably priced and available from most home centers and tool retailers.
Practice driving screws on a scrap piece of drywall to get the hang of it before you tackle your actual project. Start by placing a screw on the magnetic driver tip, then line it up with the center of the framing and squeeze the trigger. Once the motor is running at full speed, press straight in and do not release until the clutch begins to ratchet. You’ll know by the clattering noise it makes.
Press against the drywall when driving screws in, and do not release the pressure until you have driven in two or three screws to distribute the load.
Crooked studs or puffed-out insulation will stop drywall from lying tightly against the framing or studs. And when the gap is too big, the screw head will pop through and not pull the drywall tight.
How Many Screws Per Sheet of Drywall?
You need to purchase 1-1/4-in. coarse-thread drywall screws to attach 3/8-in., 1/2-in. and 5/8-in. drywall to the framing. Use fine-thread screws when dealing with steel studs. To answer the question though of “how many screws per sheet of drywall?” It will depend on how big the piece of drywall is. However, the most important part is to place screws 12 in. apart where the ends of the drywall sheets butt the framing members, and along each framing member in the center of the sheet. Never use longer screws unless you are screwing through soft material such as foam insulation into the underlying framing.
For information pertaining to our drywall service, please call Cinto Drywall Service of Cary today if you live in or around the Cary, NC region at (919) 568-1407 anytime.
