How Much Gap Between Drywall Sheets

Allow the joint compound to dry until it s white or according to.

How much gap between drywall sheets. Thinner drywall sheets such as 1 4 or 3 8 will sag in between rafters over time. Less than the actual measurement and leave a gap in the corner if necessary. Natural seasonal expansion of the wood framing can crack drywall joints that are too tight. Usually about 3 8 inches is ideal but as much as 1 2 inch can still work.

As long as it can be filled not show hairline cracking a few years down t the line it doesn t much matter. It s not to others. Then apply a thin layer of drywall compound over top of the tape. In fact when you re hanging the ceiling keep in mind that 1 2 in.

Habitat for humanity s quality checklist calls for 1 4 maximum space between joints of drywall. It s important to know each side of the drywall sheet. Most of the interior walls were left untouched and show a gap after removing the trim anywhere from none where it touches the floor already up to about an 1 or more in some areas which is about how much a gap was present before the drywall was taken down. In order to avoid this condition it s best to allow a bit of a gap between the floor and the drywall.

However during installation be religious about keeping that 1 8 inch space between sheets by using a guide. Suffice it to say it s a big gap to some. If time is a factor use fast drying joint compound. Gap at edges right.

The blade of a drywall square is about 1 8 inch thick and does the trick. Unfortunately there is no retroactive fix. Climate and interior vs. Spread tape over gaps between sheets while the drywall compound is still wet.

Drywall compound and tape make drywall hanging very forgiving when it comes to gaps naturally the smaller the gap the better for both walls and ceilings i have seen some bad jobs where the gap was. Use a drywall knife to fill the large gaps with ready mixed joint compound. Smooth the tape down with a 12 inch drywall trowel. To align the bottom edge of the drywall sheets properly and ensure that they are 3 8 inches from the floor you can use temporary 3 8 inch plywood sheets underneath.

And the same is true of inside wall corners. Cut it to leave about a 1 8 in. Tips for drywall sheets always choose thick sheets 1 2 or 5 8 if you re installing drywall on your ceiling. Exterior walls can make a difference too.