Check framing before drywall is hung

It might seem like the last thing you want to think about when hanging drywall is how to keep it from wobbling. But trust us - it's worth taking a moment to consider the alignment of your wall before you get started. After all, if the wall isn’t plumb and level, then it will be difficult to finish and make use of. Even more importantly, a crooked wall can cause problems with other rooms in your house later on. How? Well, when everything is hung properly and aligned in a room, anything that comes after (like paintings or decor) will look perfect as well. But even so, if the frame of your window is off by just a few millimeters or if the frame of another door is misaligned, it could throw everything else in your space out of whack too.

What makes a wall level?

There are a few practical reasons why you should make sure your walls are plumb and level. For one, this will make it easier to hang finish moldings and other decor later on. If your walls are crooked, it will require extra attention to get all of this done perfectly. But more importantly, proper framing is essential when planning for any room addition or remodeling. You’ll want to keep in mind that your walls play an important role in determining how much space your room will occupy. If they aren’t level, you’ll end up with a smaller space than you were expecting.

Tips for making your drywall level

There are a few things that you can do to make sure your walls are straight and level. Keep in mind that you should only do a few of these things at once to avoid overworking yourself and creating more problems. - Ensure there is a plumb and level base: If you start off with a crooked wall and then try to level it, you’ll end up with lots of new problems. Ignore this, and you’re likely to end up with a crooked room. Instead, you should start by making sure that the foundation of your home is level. - Survey your walls: Ensure that you can see the studs on all sides of the wall. If you can’t see the studs, it’s likely that you have a wall that is curved. - Check the baseboards and the walls above them: It’s possible that they aren’t straight either. - Install cedar board or drywall joint compound: When you do, you should be able to see the studs. If you don’t see them, you have a crooked wall. - Drill a pilot hole before you begin: This will help you avoid hitting a stud and creating a new problem.

Hanging flat wall paneling before drywall is installed

You’ll typically need to hang drywall before you can start installing the wall studs, but you’ll need to install paneling first. This is because you need to create the drywall anchor points on the paneling before you can use them on the drywall itself. The best and easiest way to do this is to hang a few pieces of scrap paneling before you start installing regular drywall. This will create a level surface that you can use to temporarily hang the paneling. Once you’ve nailed through the scrap panels and installed enough of the wall to hang the paneling, you can remove the scrap panels and replace them with regular drywall.

Beyond simple framing, you’ll need extra support too

Unlike simple framing, which usually requires only two or three studs to support a wall’s weight, masonry walls require anchoring at least six studs per wall. So, if you have a room with a masonry wall, you’ll need to install additional support for this wall type. You can do this by using joists or by installing additional drywall on your stud wall. Each option will require different techniques, so make sure you carefully plan out any additional support that you need to complete your project.

Framing with a masonry wall feels different but is still important

Masonry walls can have irregular shapes, and they can be made from different materials. It’s best to prepare for this by making sure you survey the wall for irregularity before you begin. So, take note of everything that you see, and make sure that you know exactly what you’re up against.

Wrap up:

It’s important to make sure that your walls are plumb and level before you start installing drywall. This will make it easier to hang finish moldings and other decor later on. It’s also critical to keep in mind that your walls play an important role in determining how much space your room will occupy. If they aren’t level, you’ll end up with a smaller space than you were expecting. What makes your walls level? Are they plumb and level, or are they leaning or curving? You may be surprised by what you find!