Installing Drywall Vertical Or Horizontally
Whether you're building a new home, remodeling an
existing one, or doing any sort of drywalling, that requires a building
permit or an engineer’s approval, make sure that you check to make sure,
that you are allowed to switch the direction of the drywall.
One of the worst things that can happen to any builder or contractor, is
to finish an entire drywall job, only to find out later that they need
to remove the drywall, because they ran it in the wrong direction.
It's becoming pretty popular, for contractors who are working with metal
studs, for tenant improvements to run their drywall vertically. This
seems to work pretty good for these building and remodeling contractors,
but make sure that you're allowed to do it first. Some of these
contractors, aren't getting the necessary permits, and this might create
a problem for the owner of the building later on down the road.
It's a new way of drywalling, and it seems to provide these drywall
contractors with a more efficient way of drywalling certain areas. One
of the only ways that you can drywall vertically, and have it work for
you in an effective way, is to make sure that your stud layout is
correct.
You will need to make sure that you lay out your vertical framing, 48
inches on center, otherwise you will not be able to install the drywall
vertically, in an effective manner. Make sure that you lay out for all
of your door and window openings, so that you don't waste very much
drywall.
Most engineers and building apartments, require homes and other
structures, to install the drywall horizontally. This seems to add more
strength to the building and have less problems when finishing the
drywall, then running it vertically.
Just make sure you check with any of your local building departments,
before applying the drywall vertically. You can save yourself a lot of
frustration, with a simple visit to your building department.
Make sure that you get these approvals in writing, or I would suggest
that you don't do it. Take it for me, one of the most important things
that you can do, when working with the building department, architects
are engineers, is to get everything in writing.