Can Homeowners Install Drywall on Their Own? 

One of the most popular home construction materials out there is drywall. Nothing frames out a space like it.   

Before drywall was invented, most contractors use the process called lathing and plastering. Unfortunately, this process is extremely labor-intensive. That is why a lot of contractors prefer working with drywall. It provides a faster way to create walls for your interior.  

However, since contractors consider the process easy, can a regular homeowner lay down a couple of drywall sheets on their own? Can an average homeowner perform a complex flex drywall repair in Fairfax County VA? Here are a couple of things you should know: 

You Need Special Materials and Tools 

Of course, you can lay down drywall sheets with a razor knife and power drill. However, if you want to be efficient, you will need a lot of unique materials and tools.  

For example, having a drywall lifting machine can be extremely helpful if you are installing drywall on your ceiling. A rotary saw can also be very useful if you want to cut out holes for electrical outlets and cables.  

In addition to that, drywall taping and finishing require their own set of materials and tools.  

All of these things cost money. This means that instead of saving money by not hiring a professional, you’ll end up spending more.  

The Process is Extremely Tedious 

Keep in mind that contractors know what they’re doing. Because of this, they can efficiently and quickly lay down drywall without a problem. On several occasions, a professional will complete a 12-by-16-foot room in less than 60 minutes. On the other hand, experienced homeowners will complete the same project in 12 hours or more.  

However, what if you don’t have any experience working with drywall? If that is the case, you should expect to complete the job in 2 days or more.  

Laying down drywall is a multi-step process. Every step needs a lot of skills and the right equipment. There’s finishing the sheets, affixing the sheets, laying down the sheets, and cutting the sheets.  

Also, you will be measuring your walls and taking down electrical boxes, corners, doors, and windows. This will take a lot of time. 

Drywall Sheets are Heavy 

This is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider. Drywall sheets are extremely heavy and big. A regular ½-inch drywall sheet that measures 4’x8’ weighs almost 60 pounds.  

If you’re laying a sheet vertically at a body level, this won’t be an issue. However, you might have a hard time doing the job if you’re installing the drywall for your ceiling or upper walls.  

If you want to do it yourself, you’ll need a couple of individuals and a lot of ladders.  

Drywall Difficulty Level 

Compared to traditional lathing and plastering, it’s much easier to lay down drywall. On average, hiring a professional for drywall installation will cost you $1,800. Thus, you’ll save a lot if you do it yourself.  

Unfortunately, drywall installation isn’t a simple project for an average homeowner. It requires a lot of tools and experience.  

Why Fix Your Home’s Roof with the Help of an Expert Roofer?

Planning to renovate your home? You came to the right place. In this article, you will learn some ways on how to identify if your roof is dealing with potential problems before they can go severe, which can cost you a lot. According to the experts, asphalt shingle roofing can last between twenty and thirty years. If your asphalt shingle roof is currently very old, there could certainly be a problem up there even though it looks well from below.   

A reliable roof in your home is very important if you are used to having a cozy and warm home. Despite the rising interest of homeowners in materials such as tile and copper, a lot of roofs nowadays are still made of shingles. It is certainly costly to replace a shingle roof. Therefore, it’s more beneficial to learn simple fixes as well as preventive measures, which can extend the life span of your roof.  

Depending on the condition of your roof, the amount of time you’ve got left is around five to ten years. On the other hand, if you reside in a development and most of your neighbors are starting to have their roofing replaced, then that could be a major sign that you should replace your roof as well.  

Typically, cracked shingles are a result of natural changes such as wind damage. If your roof only has a few cracked shingles, you can definitely replace them. According to an expert roofer, the cracking of your roof is not only isolated to a particular area and it is not random throughout the entire roofing. If this is the case, you should consider replacing your current roofing. It might be ideal to replace your entire roof within four to five years. Roof shingles can often cup and claw. Cupping occurs when the edges of your roof shingles turn upward.   

On the other hand, clawing happens when the middle of the roof shingles starts to come up and the edges stay flat. According to an expert roofing specialist, both cupping and clawing are signs of constant weather changes and can indicate potential problems in your roofing such as leaks. The amount of time left usually depends on the extent of your roof shingles curling. But it could be between 1 year and 5 years before you have to replace your current roofing. Technically, there is not any problem with simply replacing a few shingles in your roof and your chosen professional Kennesaw roofing contractors can be able to identify that.  

According to an expert home inspector, what you have to be prepared the most is that it is almost impossible to find a new roof shingle that will match the color and design of your existing one. As a matter of fact, granule colors have significantly changed over the years. In addition to that, the colors will change slightly due to weathering. You can keep on patching up the missing shingles until a bigger problem presents itself. However, if your roof starts to appear like a checkerboard, most homeowners usually decide to replace their whole roofing.   

Knowing the Best Quality of Kratom

It is difficult for teenagers and many people to identify whether the shop is legitimate. Of course, we also have a hard time knowing whether the kratom that they were selling is authentic or not. We are not that knowledgeable and expert when it comes to choosing the best store and the type of kratom that we will buy. We think more of the quality rather than its price because we want to make this one more effective when using it. It is hard for Someone Like You and me to identify whether the quality is good because we cannot even see it ourselves. 

There are different kinds and strains of kratom available online. You may find it exciting and significant because you think that stores sell the best type of kratom. You believe that they have the best kratom source since they can offer different kinds and variety of kratoms on their website. It is good to know the different types to see if they sell fake ones. You need to know the different colors of the kratom, such as red, green, and white. There are some unique blends that you need to know, especially those authentic stores that can give you some ideas about it. 

In every company or business, there should be a department or group that can answer the clients’ questions. It is nice to find a store that has customer care service. It is good to know because you can ask them questions and inquiries about the products. They should have concrete ideas about the questions you will ask. We all know that no one is perfect, but they should have the answer to your questions. They can provide you with specific knowledge about the indication and the possible quality of the kratom they are selling especially from vendors of kratom powder 

It is also essential for customers to have the best way to deal with the products. You can read some reviews from the previous clients by checking their website. It will help you understand the product you are going to buy. We need to be safe from those scammers online, as earning money is not that easy nowadays. You can generally find something about the product, such as the freshness. The effects of the product can be found there as well to have an idea about what to expect. You need to know the possible way that they ship the products in a safe and trusted way.  

They should have posted the result of the test on their websites. It is more reliable to trust those stores with this kind of proof. But we need to be careful as well as not all stores have this one. Others are faking the results, and they would even edit it. If they haven’t posted anything like this, you can ask them about the outcome. They should explain things to you clearly to understand the findings. Others are offering free shipping, and you need to know the limitations and scope. 

Common Challenges with Drywall

Drywall is a great substitute for plaster walls. Aside from being affordable and convenient to install compared to plaster, drywall is easier to paint, more durable, and has excellent fire resistance as well.  

Unfortunately, there are also a couple of issues that drywall encounters as much as it’s a great option.  

Typically, it does not present issues if you regularly paint it, maintain it well, or install it with the help of the experts. However, it is still ideal to know more about the common challenges that drywalls face in your house.  

Fortunately, most of these problems can easily be fixed if you hire an Eastbay drywall repair in Milpitas CA. Still, you need to familiarize yourself with these issues so that you can take action as soon as you notice the signs.  

Painting 

Your drywall can take a bad hit if you constantly paint it using inconsistent paint strokes. This is one of the most common drywall issues that you should know early on. You’ve got to ensure you are stroking the brush in a uniform direction. Furthermore, make sure you provide every coat with enough time to dry before you apply a new layer.  

If you think you can’t properly paint your drywall, you should hire a professional painter for help. With this, you can avoid this issue and guarantee your drywall is painted properly.  

Mold and Moisture 

If your house has excessive moisture in the air or you’ve got leaking pipes beneath your drywall, you are in for a major problem. Keep in mind that the biggest weakness of drywall is moisture. If it is constantly wet, it can develop bubbles.  

On worst occasions, mold can develop on the drywall. If this occurs, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot hide mold using paint. The only thing you can do is to replace your water-damaged drywall.  

Covering the Joints 

You will require a couple of panels if you are covering a big area using drywall. Every panel will need to connect. This is another challenge you will have to face.  

Every panel is connected to a wooden frame through studs on the frame. At first, you can connect adjacent panels using tape. However, you will need to apply a joint filler once you install all the panels. This will help guarantee that each panel is secured.  

Unfortunately, if you don’t apply the joint filler properly or you leave too much gap in between, the panel can come loose.  

On the other hand, if you attach the panels too close to each other without leaving a small gap, cracks can develop on the entire wall. Professionals recommend you leave at least 1/8 inches gap in between each panel. 

Sanding 

Before you can paint drywall, you will have to sand it. This is another challenge you’ll have to face. While drywall can be extremely durable, it is also delicate. You can damage it if you sand it too much.  

Fortunately, there are a lot of tips online on how to properly sand your drywall 

Why Invest In Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray foam insulation has two types, closed-cell, and open-cell. Open cell-spray foam spongy to touch and it is denser compared to closed-cell spray foam insulation, providing a great sound dampening the effect. Also, it is much cheaper compared to a close-cell. Meanwhile, closed-cell insulation is more costly compared to open-cell. However, it poses a lot of great benefits that are worthy to invest in. Here are some of the benefits it provides.

Powerful insulator

Compared to other known insulation types, spray foam insulation is more effective and works better. Since spray foam is inherently expansive, it can seal all crannies and corners tightly, which others usually fail to do. The resistance value of spray foam or its capability to give an air-tight seal made it well-used nowadays.

Greatly helps save energy

Since spray foam is a great and powerful insulator, businesses and families are now able to save a great number of their expenses when it comes to energy. Spray foam insulation has proved to give energy saving with a 50% average or more, not like any other insulation type that usually has a 30% energy saving rate on average.

Moisture barrier

Cracks and holes in your crawl space and walls could allow infiltration of any other substances, aside from air. In fact, moisture and water could reach within these crevices through holes and cracks, especially if you do not seal them. Spray foam insulation is susceptible to water. Meaning, spray foam won’t only protect and seal your crawl space and attic from leaks and airborne moisture, but it won’t seep in the water if flooding will happen within the area compared to other materials.

Prevents mold

Spray foam isn’t only resistant to water, however, it’s made up of an inert polymer that gives no food source for bacteria or mold. An insulated home that utilizes closed-cell insulation can be better protected against mildew and mold.

Air-tight seal

Spray foam insulation has a distinct capability to thoroughly seal cracks and holes in your crawl or attic space. Usually, air leaks are one of the major reasons why you have increased energy consumption. Spray foam insulation can make an amazing airtight seal that’s proven to be multiple times less prone to air infiltration compared to other insulation types.

Contact Birmingham Spray Foam Insulation now

If you want some clarifications regarding this topic and you are looking for the best company that can insulate your property professionally, contact Birmingham Spray Foam Insulation right away. Our skilled contractor would happily attend to all your concerns and provide effective and sustainable solutions to them. Also, we would gladly discuss to you other alternatives we can offer so that you will have the most comfortable place for your commercial building or residential home. Never hesitate to contact us now by using our phone number located on our site. You can also visit our website regularly to be updated about the latest information we have for you about insulation jobs. Avail to our spray foam insulation Birmingham AL services now!