Drywall Home Improvement Project Ideas

When some people think of drywall, they automatically think of a plain old interior wall with an orange peel or skip trowel texture. While that's certainly a part of the services offered by drywall contractors in Phoenix-like at TWD, that's really only just skimming the surface. Drywall is used in a variety of home remodeling projects to improve the functionality of your space. So let us share a few drywall home improvement ideas with you for your next home remodel in Phoenix…

1. Removing Outdated Drywall Textures

   You may have textured ceilings and walls that look outdated. One example could be removing the acoustical ceiling texture (or otherwise known as a popcorn ceiling). While it was quite popular in the past, many homeowners now just want it removed and a new clean texture applied. Now it can appear like a big (and dirty) job to remove the texture, the experts at Todd Whittaker Drywall Inc. actually take a lot of pride in their workmanship. They'd be happy to remove the outdated finish while taking the necessary steps to protect your carpets and furniture. Most commonly, after removing it, the ceiling is then retextured to match the existing wall texture in order to create a cohesive look. This brings us to our next point…

2. Adding New Drywall Textures

   If you've been living in Phoenix or surrounding areas for very long, chances are you're probably familiar with the ever so popular "orange peel" texture when it comes to drywall finishing. However, that's just one type of texture. TWD can work their magic using various techniques and equipment to provide these other drywall textures:

   • Splatter - Similar to orange peel, but perhaps more of a random appearance.
   • Santa Fe - Which is applied carefully by hand.
   • Skip Trowel – Most common in today's market. This finish is applied by hand with the trowel at an angle, thus creating the popular skipping effect.
   • Smooth Finish – More popular in commercial projects, a smooth finish has a contemporary feel to its appearance. One key point to keep in mind with this option is that any imperfections or minor dings along the way will be more noticeable with this finish than others. And several other great techniques to create the textures that perfectly complement your room. Just talk to one of their drywall experts to see what they can do for you.

3. Create Drywall Cutouts

   Another fantastic way you can use drywall to enhance a room is by creating "cut-outs" between rooms. This allows you to add character and focal points to your space while creating an open more spacious feel. Drywall cutouts when designed correctly can complement the geometric design of the room and allow more natural light in. A few examples of this would be to create an open pass-through from one room to the other in the case that a full wall cannot be removed, such as between the kitchen and living room or the living room and home office space. Another option would be to add a cut-out or transom window over a door.

4. Installing Drywall for Pragmatic Reasons

   Drywall isn't just for looks – you can choose drywall created for specific purposes to enhance the function of a room. Some examples of this might be:

   • Utilizing sound-absorbing drywall to help cushion the noises coming out a laundry room, exercise room, in-home recording studio, or even a theater room.
   • Hanging moisture-resistant drywall in your bathroom, basement or other possible moisture-prone areas can help minimize water damage and mold from dampness or unfortunate flood in your home.

5. Build Niches

   Using lumber and drywall, you can create recessed wall niches in the family areas, hallway, within the shower, near the bathing areas, or really any room in your home that will provide additional storage space and the perfect shelf for displaying decorative items. Bathroom niches are a convenient place to storage daily necessities and clean linens as well.

6. Floating Shelves

   If you are looking to add more storage and organizing features to your home, adding floating shelves is a viable solution to consider. Open shelving is quite popular and stylish in the Arizona housing market. Your shelves can be made out of various materials that complement the look of your space, however, framed, drywall and painted shelves will have a seamless appearance with your existing wall.

   A few ideas of how to incorporate this type of built-in shelf would be in a home office setting, an under-utilized corner, in a bedroom suite, closet or stairwell.

7. Custom Media Wall

   A custom drywall media center is a sophisticated upgrade for any living space in your home. Working with a professional remodeling contractor like TWD, the designer will listen to your needs for space and carefully design the media wall specific to you and your family. A custom media wall can house all of your AV equipment providing adequate airflow and electricity needed while keeping cords and plugs concealed. When meeting with your designer, it's important to communicate any other specific items that you would like to display or store in your new wall. That could be a favorite art piece, hidden storage for music and movies, the addition of a new electric fireplace, or vase. Whatever your needs are, a blank wall is a canvas to create something unique that suits your needs.

   Tip: Don't be afraid to incorporate other materials into your design, such as cabinetry, mosaic tile or stacked stone to create the perfect look. For design ideas, check out TWD's media wall gallery of recently completed projects.

Now that you're inspired to start your next home improvement project, it is time to ask yourself...

Should You Hire a Contractor or Do Drywall Repair in Phoenix Yourself?

Maybe you just noticed some nail pops or dings that need minor repair or touch up. While you might be able to tackle something small like that yourself, repairs or projects larger than that are another matter entirely. Despite the size or complexity, you're now at a crossroads of whether it is something that you can successfully complete yourself or if it is a project that is best left to the professionals.

Here are a few questions to help you decide…

Do you consider yourself a handy person that is capable of doing the repair or project correctly?

Have you attempted this type of project before?

Do you know how much drywall and materials you'll need for the project?

Do you have the necessary tools to complete the job?

Do you have experience and skill in matching the drywall texture in your home?

If you've answered no to any of these questions, then it's best to cut to the chase and call in a professional. Any reputable drywall contractor will happily do a consultation with you to further discuss your project and the best methods to go about it.

Still, thinking about tackling the project yourself? Not to worry, we've compiled a few common drywall mistakes that any DIY homeowner should be aware of.

Common Drywall Mistakes Every Do-It-Yourselfer Ought To Avoid

Drywall repair and replacement looks easy enough, but many homeowners quickly discover that it takes skills and experience to do the work flawlessly. Indeed, many homeowners find it takes twice as much time as they budgeted. You're probably thinking, it seems pretty simple – hang, tape, mud, and sand. What could possibly go wrong?

If you're getting set to tackle some do-it-yourself chores around the house in the coming weeks, take note of these common drywall mistakes…

• Hanging Drywall Alone

  If your drywall repair job is just a small patch job, then obviously you can do it by yourself. However, if you're hanging full sheets of drywall, then it's better to do it in two-person teams. Drywall is relatively heavy, so holding it straight and nailing or screwing it in place yourself will just lead to crooked drywall, or even hanging drywall too close together. Plus, the job will go more quickly and you'll make fewer mistakes if you have a partner helping you.

• Not Using Drywall Screws

  Many people who don't have experience hanging drywall use nails instead of screws. While using nails is a cheaper and easier way to go, it can be particularly dangerous depending on the scope of your project. For drywall installation on a ceiling, drywall screws are the smart choice to keep your drywall in place. Heavy drywall on a ceiling can work its way loose when secured with nails. Let's face it, gravity is working against it. At best you'll end up with sagging. At worst, you'll have a section of drywall come crashing to the floor.

• Nail Pops

  Nail pops happen when a nail that rests beneath the drywall pops out of the surface of the wall. You can avoid this problem by using screws, which are much less likely to pop out. The screw head should be just barely underneath the surface of the drywall and will ultimately be covered in a joint compound making it invisible.

  If you already have problems with nail pops, you'll need to remove the damaged part of the wall, insert screws, and then patch the area. If the damaged part is small, you can use a joint compound to repair the nail hole.

• Over Sanding

  If you've ever tried to smooth the joints on a wall while hanging drywall or doing a drywall repair job, then you know this part is tricky. Perhaps the #1 mistake is to over-sand the joint, which can damage the drywall. If this happens, you'll need to apply a fresh coat of joint compound and start again… carefully.

  If you under-sand, then you're left with bumps on your wall. Most homeowners spot this immediately and fix the mistake – but in the process of fixing it, then end up over-sanding. This creates grooves in the wall rather than a smooth, continuous surface. If this happens, you'll need to reapply mud and start the process over again.

• Tight Fits

  If you're cutting drywall to fit your walls or ceiling, you may actually run into problems with crumbling edges or other damage. Instead, cut the sheets to fit loosely when you're doing Phoenix drywall repair or replacement — you can leave about 1/8 of an inch between sheets.

• Fitting Drywall Around Moving Parts

  If you measure drywall to create a joint alongside a door or window, then the movement from these objects will cause your drywall to crack over time right on the joint. That's because even a well-done joint that's properly taped is still fairly weak, so the movement of the door or window will show up as cracking. A better solution is to notch the drywall and fit it around the door or window.

• Not Knowing When To Call A Professional Phoenix Drywall Repair Contractor

  Your inexperience with a drywall repair job can lead to wasted time and money, plus a whole lot of frustration. Save yourself from these difficulties by hiring the professional Phoenix drywall team at Todd Whittaker Drywall, Inc. Whether you have a small patch job or need a major renovation, TWD can do it quickly, seamlessly, and at a fair price. Find out more by going to https://www.twdaz.com/services/drywall-phoenix/.

You just discovered some great drywall remodeling projects for your home, and the most common Phoenix drywall repair and replacement mistakes to avoid. When you're ready to call in the pros, give TWD an opportunity to consult with you on your specific project. Their company and its staff have been in the industry for years. They treat every project with professionalism and attention to detail. Unlike other contractors, they never bid on approximates or square footage. Upon scheduling your in-home appointment, a member of their team will perform a walk of your home with you to address all of your concerns, take measurements and photographs to capture the entire scope of the project and go over your repair or design options with you. They provide written proposals for all of their projects specifying every detail so that you have a clear outline of the project and an all-inclusive price that you trust.

As a reputable drywall contractor in Phoenix, their team has tens of thousands of projects in their portfolio. Since 1996, they've focused on building a reputation for honest quality work, one customer at a time. What are you waiting for? Request your appointment today by visiting www.twdaz.com and you'll quickly see how they've earned their 5-star reputation.