Drywall Installation in Knoxville, TN
While the DIY-savvy homeowner can confidently tackle minor drywall repairs, it’s another matter to properly complete a drywall installation. Knoxville, TN homeowners, don’t risk damaging your property or ending up with a shoddy drywall installation job—hire our expert Knoxville handyman team for your project instead!
Give us a call today at (865) 409-0822 to book your Knoxville drywall installation appointment or continue reading to learn more about what you can expect from our professional service.
What To Expect During an Appointment for Drywall Installation in Knoxville, TN
With an average of 20 years’ experience in the industry, you can trust our expert technicians to get your Knoxville drywall installation done right. This complex process requires patience, precision and attention to detail. In most cases, it also requires a team of two or more of our skilled technicians, as having a second set of hands makes this process much quicker.
Project Preparation And Set-Up
Before beginning your drywall installation service, there are some preparatory steps you’ll need to take. These steps will depend on the reason you require drywall installation. Knoxville, TN professionals at Mr. Handyman typically do whole-house installations for homes in the process of being built, but we can also do large-scale projects during a remodel or renovation. If you’ve just had wall joists, insulation, plumbing and electrical installed in an area of your home and are ready to finish your walls off by adding Sheetrock, we’re available to help.
More commonly, our customers call us with inquiries about our Knoxville drywall installation service when significant damage has occured, such as water damage following a serious plumbing leak. In this case, you’ll need to ensure that your wooden joists are fully dried out and you don’t require wood rot repair. Drywalling over top of rotting wood will only lead to major structural issues down the road, so it’s important that you get this addressed first.
Drywall installation and finishing is usually described using levels, from 0 to 5. Though you may not need our expert drywall installers to complete your installation all the way up to Level 5, for informational purposes, all steps up to Level 5 are as follows:
Level 0: Fastening Drywall To Studs
As with most home improvement projects, taking the time to plan the layout of your project is key to achieving an outstanding result. If not done so already, your handyman team will take the time to secure any electrical and plumbing around your wall studs to prevent accidentally drilling into them. They’ll also shut off your power for a while, as a safety precaution.
To cut each piece of drywall to the correct width and length, your handyman team will measure and score the panels with a utility knife, allowing them to simply snap the board along the score line.
Next, your service professionals will begin fastening your drywall panels to your wall. They’ll apply a bead of construction adhesive to the wall studs and fit the first sheet of drywall into the upper corner of the wall. A drywall lift may be used to hold the drywall sheet in place while a few drywall nails are added to secure it to the studs, or one technician may simply hold it in place while the other nails it in. Drywall screws will be drilled into the studs following nails to ensure the panel is fully secured.
As they go around the room, they’ll also take care to mark the placement of your electrical outlets. Once the Sheetrock has been fastened, they’ll use a drywall saw to cut out the perimeter of the outlet box.
Level 1: Taping Drywall Seams
With the panels fastened, your handyman experts will apply mesh or paper drywall tape overtop of the seams and corners between each panel. Getting this tape nice and smooth is crucial, otherwise, there may be lumps and bumps in the finished product.
Level 2: First Coat Of Compound
With all the seams taped, your service technicians will use a 6-inch drywall knife to apply the first coat of joint compound over the tape, screw holes and nail holes. Our handyman experts have so much experience with drywall installation in Knoxville, TN that they can apply this layer using a perfect feathering technique. This ensures that there is no excess compound and that the thinnest layer possible is applied.
At this stage, your handyman technicians will also apply paper sheetrock tape to the inside corners of your walls using a thin layer of compound. Corner beads will be added along outside corners. This first coat will need to dry for 24 hours, so your technicians will return the following day to complete Level 3.
Level 3: Second Coat Of Compound
With the first coat dry, a second coat of joint compound will be applied to the seams, one side of the inner corners and both sides of the outer corners. Another coat will also be applied to nail and screw holes to fully fill them in.
Level 4: Third Coat Of Compound
Once another 24 hours have passed, the third and final coat can be applied to the seams and other side of the inner corners. Before applying this final coat, the first two layers will be lightly sanded to create a smooth surface. Sanding Sheetrock can be messy, so your technicians will wear dust masks and ensure the room is covered with plastic if there is furniture in it.
Level 5: Skim Coat Of Compound
To create a truly professional finish, our handyman professionals can apply a skim coat to your walls. Skim coats are essentially a very thin, watered-down solution of drywall mud that can be applied to the entire surface area of your walls with a paint roller. Any excess will be removed with a large drywall knife before drying. Once fully dry, the entire surface will be sanded.
After this stage, you’re free to prime and paint your walls with whatever color speaks to you!
Choose Mr. Handyman for Reliable Drywall Installation In Knoxville, TN
Instead of looking for drywall contractors or drywall companies for a smaller-scale drywall installation, Knoxville, TN residents can choose our team at Mr. Handyman of West Knoxville instead. These companies and contractors prefer to do large jobs that have a higher cost estimate, making them uneconomical for smaller installation projects. Our technicians have an impressive average of 20 years of experience doing Sheetrock installations not just in Knoxville, but also in surrounding communities such as Powell, Farragut and Hardin Valley.
We only use quality products and guarantee quality craftsmanship through our one-year quality workmanship guarantee. Our handyman team always tries to go the extra mile for our customers to ensure that their experience with us is nothing short of stellar. Some of the additional benefits that you can expect from working with us include:
- Free, no-obligation on-site consultations that produce accurate assessments
- Background-checked and drug-tested experienced service professionals
- Licensed, bonded and insured services
- Locally owned and operated company registered with the Chamber of Commerce and BBB (Better Business Bureau)
Find out why so many Knoxville residential and commercial property owners continue to trust our team with their installations and repairs by arranging your free consultation today!
FAQs For Drywall Installation In Knoxville, TN
Is Drywall Installation The Same As Plaster Wall Installation?
No, drywall and plaster are two very different materials. Older Knoxville homes featured a wood lath design with a built-up plaster finish, while newer homes contain pre-made sheetrock sheets with a gypsum core.
If you’re renovating a period home and want to stick with plaster, it’s best to contact a plaster specialist. On the other hand, if you simply need repairs made to your existing plaster walls, drywall mud can be used to patch plaster.
When Is Drywall Replacement Better Than Drywall Repair?
In most cases, drywall repair costs are lower than the cost of a total sheetrock replacement. However, one of the most important things to know about drywall repair is what repair methods are appropriate for different sizes and extents of damage. If the damage is extensive, our repair services may not be sufficient to restore structural integrity to your walls. Instead, our Knoxville drywall installation service is the best way to go.
Do I Need All Levels Done During Drywall Installation?
It’s not necessary to finish sheetrock to Level 5 standards. If this wall is in a highly visible area of your home, Level 5 finishing is recommended. On the other hand, if the room is a garage or unfinished basement, Level 3 should be sufficient. Our handyman experts can advise you according to your goals and needs.
Book A No-Obligation, On-Site Estimate For Drywall Installation in Knoxville, TN Today!
Still not sure if our professional Knoxville drywall installation is right for you? No problem! Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service team is happy to answer any questions you may have. Simply reach out by giving us a call at (865) 409-0822 or fill out our online service estimate appointment request form and we’ll get in touch as soon as we can.
