Estimating Drywall Sheetrock Materials Needed

•

For The Do it Your Self
Homeowner

Drywall / Sheetrock Repairs - Patches,Holes,Ceilings,Walls

Drywall Texture & Finishing - Techniques &Tips

•

For The Do it Your Self
Homeowner

•

Drywall Repair for the
Do It Your Self Homeowner

www.vertri.com

ESTIMATING MATERIALS NEEDED

Fig. 1 provides a chart for estimating the number of 4x8 sheets of drywall required for paneling rooms of various sizes. If wallboards of any other size are used, make the necessary adjustments.
After estimating the number of sheets of drywall required, add another 5% of waste.
Fig. 2 provides tables for estimating the number of nails, the amount of joint compound and the quantity of wallboard tape required for installations of different sizes. (These tables are figured based on the adhesive and nail-on method of applying drywall.)
For applying the adhesive to framing members from a caulking gun with a 3/8" diameter bead, plan on using eight quart-size tubes of adhesive for each 1,000 square feet of wallboard used.

Fig. 1
How to Figure a Room for Drywall
Determine the perimeter. This is merely the total of the widths of each wall in the room. Use this conversion table to figure out the number of wallboards needed.

Perimeter                               No. of 4x8 Wallboards Needed
36'                                                                 9
40'                                                                10
44'                                                                11
48'                                                                12
52'                                                                13
56'                                                                14
60'                                                                15
64'                                                                16
68'                                                                17
72'                                                                18
92'                                                                23

For example, if your room walls measure 14'x14'x16'x16', this equals 60' or 15 wallboards required. To allow for areas such as windows, doors, fireplaces, etc., use the deductions listed below:
door = 1/3 wallboard(A)
window = 1/4 wallboard (B)
fireplace = 1/2 wallboard (C)
Thus, the actual number of wallboards for this room would be 13 pieces (15 pieces minus 2 total deductions). Always use the nexy highest number of wallboards when the perimeter total is between ranges shown in the table. These figures are for rooms with 8' ceiling heights or less.

There is also a sheetrock calculator where you can enter all of your information into it and receive the amounts needed....click here for sheetrock calculator

Drywall Repair Tips

2. ADVANCE PLANNING FOR DRYWALL INSTALLATION

Always start by making a sketch of the wall and ceiling areas to be covered before applying the drywall.
A sketch enables you to detect errors on paper - not on the job.
Always install the wallboards perpendicular to (across) the joists on ceilings.
You should apply drywall to the ceiling first, then to the walls.
Use a special water-resistant drywall where excessive moisture may be a problem. In most cases, water-resistant drywall is covered with a green finish paper.
Install a special fire-rated (Type X) drywall where building codes require the use of a fire-rated material.
If a vapor barrier is needed, use a special insulating, foil-backed wallboard, or create a vapor barrier with sheets of plastic material.

Fig. 2
ESTIMATING NAILS

drywall thickness                                type of nail                              approx. lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. of drywall

3/8", 1/2"                              1 5/8" coated type drywall nail                                      5 1/4 lbs.

5/8"                                       1 7/8" coated type drywall nail                                      5 1/4 lbs.

ESTIMATING JOINT COMPOUND AND TAPE

drywall (square feet)           estimated amount of joint compound                estimated amount of wallboard tape
100-200 sq. ft.                                        1 gal.                                                                     2 - 60' rolls
300-400 sq. ft.                                        2 gals.                                                                   3 - 60' rolls
500-600 sq. ft.                                        3 gals.                                                                   1 - 250' roll
700-800 sq. ft.                                        4 gals.                                                                   1 - 250' 1 - 60' roll
900-1,000 sq. ft.                                     1 -5 gal. pail                                           1 - 250' 2 - 60' rolls or 1 - 500' roll