If you are currently thinking about a home or business remodeling project, then you might want to consider that hanging and finishing drywall takes a little know how. Of course, experience is always the best teacher, but getting a little information before you start could save you a significant amount of time and money on your next project. The first decision you must make is what type and thickness of drywall will best serve your particular situation. If you are installing drywall in an area where water or dampness might be an issue, then you will want to use what is often referred to as green board. This is the type of drywall that is most often used in tub and shower surrounds. If moister is not a concern, then the next question would be, what thickness of drywall will best serve your needs? Thicker sheets of drywall like ¾ inch are often used to provide insulation or increased stability and security once installed. For most interior applications, ¼ or ½ inch dry wall will suffice.
The next step will be cutting the drywall to the needed dimensions. It is very important to keep in mind that, in most residential and commercial construction, the studs will be 16 inches on center. When measuring a 4 foot by 8 foot drywall sheet, you will need to measure to the center of the stud and not to the edge. This is because you will almost always be butting another sheet up next to the one you are installing. Both sheets must meet in the center of the 2×4 in order for there to be enough space to secure the two sheets. Once you have made your measurements, cut the board on the outward facing side using a box knife. It is not necessary to cut all the way through the drywall. This can cause pieces of the board to crumble or break off prematurely. Once the sheet is scored, it will easily snap apart along the line when pressure is applied. Sometimes laying the scored edge along a flat surface is helpful to those with less experience.
Once the sheet is cut to the desired dimensions, hold the drywall against the studs and use a screw gun to secure it. Depending on your application and the thickness of your drywall, usually a 2 inch drywall screw will securely attach the sheet to the stud. One screw about every 12 to 16 inches is common. Again, using galvanized screws will be to your advantage if weather or moister will be present. When fishing drywall, you will usually need at least two mud knives. A small knife, usually around 2 inches, is most often used to cover the recessed screw heads. A larger knife, usually around 6 inches, can be used on the seams. It usually is a good idea to purchase a mud tray with sharp edges for cleaning your knives during use. Most premixed drywall mud dries quickly and will cling to your knife causing clumps and streaks. Keeping your knife clean is the key to smooth finishing.
That being said, drywall finishing is more of an art than a science. There are many styles and techniques used by professionals. Most of which do not come easily to the novice drywall hanger. This is why I always recommend hiring a good drywall contractor to complete the finishing of a project. The initial hanging of the sheets is easily mastered and will save you some money if you can do it yourself. But the headaches you will avoid by hiring someone that knows how to finish the job will be worth every penny you might spend. If you are looking for a good drywall contractor in your area, try using the link listed below.
Drywall Pages is a nationwide directory for locating a local drywall contractor and California drywall contractors
When you have lived as many places as I have, you begin to appreciate the importance of establishing your boundaries. Because so many of us have relegated ourselves to subdivision living, the need for a good fence has exponentially increased over the last 15 to 20 years. This fact is especially true when living in urban and suburban areas. It never ceases to amaze me how real estate developers have learned to cram so many houses into so few acres. The difference between the average lot size of the 1970s as compared to those of today is difficult to comprehend. Even higher end homes seem to be being built closer and closer together. Maybe I am crazy, but if I’m going to spend $500.000 on a home, I expect to have some breathing room.
A few years back, we were living in a subdivision where the homes on each side of us were about 15 feet apart from ours. Keep in mind, these were good sized new homes. But this neighborhood was typical of so many being built today in that we were allotted one little tree strategically located directly outside the sliding glass doors at the rear of the house. A few shrubs were planted out front, but the yard was hastily created and thus very spotty and uneven. Only later did we start finding out that all the construction trash had been thrown into the back yard, plowed under, and then seeded over. Granted our lot was actually larger than most in that neighborhood. We had a whopping ½ acre to roam on. But this was not nearly enough for me. This reality was reinforced one afternoon while I was mowing the grass.
I was born and raised in the rural mid-west. So I decided I would bless my neighbor by cutting a couple rows of their grass along our shared property line. I figured that they were clearly too busy to stay on top of keeping their own lawn neat and tidy, so I would just help them out a little bit. This turned out to be a big mistake. Apparently in the more urban areas, this is not considered kosher. Within a few minutes of putting my lawnmower away, I heard hammering in the side yard. I looked out the window to see my neighbor pounding rebar stakes into our property line about every 10 feet. She proceeded to connect the stakes with kite string. Clearly this impromptu fence was the best she could come up with on such short notice, but the message was as clear as crystal. I had unknowingly assaulted her domain. By the way, those silly stakes were still there when we moved out a couple years later.
We now live on about 10 acres surrounded mostly by woodland, but I must admit, my neighbors still bug me on occasion. I guess the older I get, the more space I need. That being said, if you are currently in a housing situation that is cramping your style, the addition of a privacy fence may be in order. I have found that, more often than not, your neighbor will appreciate the sentiment rather than resent it. They probably want to get away from you as much as you do them. In turn, this will allow you to enjoy your neighbors company when you want to, and not when you have to. If you need help finding a good fencing company in your area, try using the links listed below.
Fence Company Pages is a nationwide directory for locating a local fence company and California fence companies
When you make the final decision to use hydroseeding on your lawn or acreage, there is a good chance that you will not be able to do it by yourself. Not only are there technical aspects that you do not have experience with, but there is a lot of special equipment that must be used that you likely do not own. The best way around this is to hire hydroseeding contractors.
Since this process has become very popular in the United States recently, there are many hydroseeding contractors that are available for hire all over the place. There are many companies that can be found in almost every State.
Not only will you not have to worry about applying the hydroseed yourself, but a good contractor should do some other great things like – customizing the seed and nutrient mix so it fits your particular weather conditions the best, use a tested mix that has been proven to work, and he should be able to show you some great results within one week. If you are not able to see results from the process after one week, there is a good chance that your hydroseeding contractors did not customize your seed mix.
Lawns are not the only place that you can use this process. Often times, companies are hired to perform the process in parks, construction sites, golf courses, and even sports fields. The process works in so many places because it uses real grass seeds and creates the perfect environment for those seeds to grow, no matter what the soil is like below it. It’s chosen by many people because it is much less costly than hiring a company to lay sod. Even a quality company can almost never guarantee that your lawn will match with the sod. But hydroseeding can grow grass almost anywhere.
It is safest not to attempt to perform the process by yourself. Look on the internet and locate reputable hydroseed contractors that are located in your State or Province.
To find a hydroseeding contractor near you, check out the North American Hydroseeding Contractors Directory, the largest database of hydroseeding contractors in North America.
Continue reading about Hydroseed Yourself, Or Hire A Hydroseeding Contractor?
We know that laying grass seed through the process known as hydroseeding is a great way to ensure a beautiful lawn. But, if hydroseeders do not take several important precautions there is a chance that the final result will not be what they expected. Here are a few tips that you need to be mindful of when you are dealing with a lawn or any other area that has received a hydroseeding treatment.
1. Water Appropriately
Many people believe that this is a set and forget process. While the mulch included in the sprayed on mixture will help to maintain proper moisture, it is still important to make sure that your lawn receives a good amount of water. On sunny days you should moisten the lawn thoroughly three to fives times daily. Make sure that you are watering sufficiently when the sun is out, as lots of water will be lost to evaporation. After the sun has gone down, water less.
On cooler days, you will need to water three times or less. This is because the water will not evaporate. Remember not to over water to the point that you have standing water on your lawn.
2. Fertilize
Do not forget that hydroseeders need to continue to manage their lawn long after the grass has grown in. You should fertilize the lawn about a month and a half after the hydroseeding process. Avoid using a weed control until you are mowing the grass regularly.
3. Clean Your Mower Blades
When you are mowing your new lawn for the first time, you will want to avoid bringing in any left over weeds from the last time you mowed another lawn. So remember to clean off your mower blades to avoid this.
Hydroseeders can expect some great results if they follow these tips. You should be able to see a pretty green lawn after about 30 days.
To find a hydroseeder in your area, visit The North American Hydroseeding Contractors Directory, a comprehensive database of local hydroseeding contractors.