Drywall Installation and Finishing in Delaware
Drywall is the surface you see and touch every day, and it sets the stage for paint, trim and lighting. Whether you are finishing a basement, building an addition or opening up a kitchen, carefully hung and finished drywall is what makes new walls and ceilings blend in with the rest of the house.
HomeMax installs and finishes drywall for remodeling projects in Milford, Laurel and across Kent and Sussex counties, and replaces larger sections damaged by leaks or past renovations. Small holes and dings are a better fit for the drywall patch service in our maintenance subscriptions.
New Drywall for Remodels, Additions and Basements
Whenever walls are moved, framing is added or a space is finished for the first time, drywall goes up after the framing, insulation and rough-in wiring are complete. Sheets are hung with as few seams as practical, fastened on a consistent pattern, and laid out so joints fall away from the corners of windows and doors, where cracks tend to start. Ceilings are usually hung first so the wall sheets help support their edges.
Specialty Boards for Bathrooms, Basements and More
Standard drywall works for most living spaces, but some rooms call for a specialty board. Moisture-resistant drywall tolerates humidity, but it is not waterproof, so the walls inside a shower need a different backer.
- Moisture-resistant board for bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements
- Cement board or a waterproof backer behind shower and tub tile
- Mold-resistant panels where humidity is a recurring concern
- Fire-resistant board where codes call for it, such as some garage walls
- Sound-dampening board for home offices, media rooms and bedrooms
Finish Levels and What a Smooth Wall Takes
Drywall finishing is described in levels, from basic taping in areas no one will see to a thin skim coat over the entire surface. Most painted living spaces get a finish where every joint and fastener receives several coats of compound, sanded smooth. Walls that will get glossy paint, or that catch strong side light from large windows, may call for the full skim coat so seams do not show through.
If your existing walls have a texture, such as orange peel or knockdown, new drywall can be textured to blend in with the surrounding surfaces.
Repairing Larger Damaged Sections
Water leaks, removed fixtures, old wall openings and earlier renovations can leave damage too large for a simple patch. In those cases, the damaged drywall is cut back to the framing, wet insulation or framing is dealt with, and new sheets are installed, taped and feathered into the surrounding wall. Fixing the source of a leak always comes first, so the new drywall does not end up stained or soft again.