Drywall - USA?
Question:In the USA. what is the most common finish for drywall.
Also on new builds do you use metal or timber or the internal stud partition walls
Answers:
For most new construction, walls and ceilings, after the drywall is installed, the joints are taped and "mudded", the nail/screw head holes are also "mudded", then it just gets a coat of primer, and a coat of paint. The primer and paint are both rolled on with a standard paint roller (and brush, for "cutting in"). Some builders may opt for more than 1 coat of paint. In new construction, that drywall is attached to wooden wall studs. Now if you are doing some remodeling and want to move an existing wall or create new walls, you may choose to use metal studs. They have limitations such as, they cannot be load bearing or some building codes may not allow metal studs below grade (say in a basement). They are extremely easy to work with and I would rather carry 50 metal studs into a job site than 50 2x4's. They work well for quick wall building, and most of them have precut punch outs to run electrical or plumbing. You need to know if you can or want to use metal studs, there are trade offs; you gain speed, but lose strength. It depends on each project.
I did some internal partitions with metal. i like to work with it, but the walls don't absorb sound very well. The easiest finish is the texture you spray on with a hopper gun. The swirly patern is more work and requires you to get a rithm or it won't be consistent. the swirly patern is hard to duplicat in case of repairs. the spray on doesn't matter.
Being a Union Carpenter, Never use metal studs in side your house unless the wall may be removed later. Only because the sound transfer is so high. Even if you sound insulate. However, it is much easier to pull out a few screws to remove the wall later without causing damage t the surrounding walls. As for the most common finish, always use two coats of primer on new drywall, always. Then seal it with your favorite color of oil based paint to keep it lasting and durable for years to come. Remember, oil based paints do not mix well with latex if you are painting over it later. Good Luck
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