Doing a drywall project yourself? You don’t have to worry; the tools necessary are not that hard to come by and won’t break the bank either. Some of the tools you will likely have yourself already and some you may have to buy. You can even borrow some of the tools from a neighbor or family member in order to save on costs. After all, saving on costs is one of the many reasons why you are taking on a do-it-yourself drywall project in the first place, isn’t it?
Now, before you go and run off and buy a pickup truck for all that sheetrock you’re going to be bringing home, hold on. There are some tools you absolutely need to have in order to get your drywall project up and running.
Sizes of Drywall
Typically, drywall comes in sizes that are in the form of a 4 X 8-foot section. There are a few sizes, but the most popular are 3/8 of an inch and ½ of an inch. 5/8 of an inch is typically reserved for ceiling installations. Of course, you can get other sizes for rooms that are unique and unusual in size, such as a sheet of 4′ X 16′, and then there are smaller pieces for patch work that you can find in your local home chain store.
Drywall T-Square
If this is your first do-it-yourself drywall project, you may want to consider making the investment necessary to do it right the first time. As mentioned, some of the tools you may be able to borrow, but some you should just buy outright yourself. One of those tools is the T-square.
The drywall T-square will allow you to cut the entire length of a sheet of drywall and will be worth the investment.
Drywall Knives
It’s in your best interest to get a bunch of different size drywall knives; a 4-inch, 6-inch and 12-inch should do the trick.
A Good Old-Fashioned Utility Knife
Of course, a utility knife is good for many useful purposes, but more often than not you will find yourself looking for it in your toolbox when you are hanging your drywall.
Screw Gun
If you don’t want to make the investment, you can look into renting a screw gun that automatically loads up the next screw you will need to hang your drywall. These can be costly and if it’s your first time around, renting may be your best option.
Sanding Pole
A sanding pole will help you get a smooth finish on your newly hung drywall. This is something that you may be able to borrow from a friend or neighbor.
The Small Stuff
Last but not least you will need some of the smaller items like drywall sponges, tape, screws and a drywall saw.
Again, if this is your first time out, you may want to rent or borrow whatever you can. You never know; you might have such a successful go at hanging drywall in one room that you’ll want to take it on throughout the whole house.
