Table Of ContentTHE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
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Includes Plaster, Skim-coating, and
Textured Ceiling Finishes
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
Finishing
WALLS
& CEILINGS
Includes Plaster, Skim-coating, and Texture Ceiling Finishes
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CHANHASSEN. MINNESOTA
www.creativepub.com
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Publisher: Bryan Trandem
Senior Editor: Mark Johanson
o.tM~iIq Editor: Tom Lemmer
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Assistant Managing Editor: Tracy Stanley
Copyright © 2007 Creative Photography Director: Tim Himsel
Creative Publishing international, Inc. Senior Art Director: Dave Schelitzche
18705 Lake Drive East Lead Photographer: Steve Galvin
Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317 Additional Photographers: Andrea Rugg, Joel Schnell
1-800-328-3895 Scene Shop Carpenter: Randy Austin
www.creativepub.com Additional Shop Carpenter: Glenn Austin
All rights reserved Photo Editor: Julie Caruso
Technicallffustrator: Earl Slack
Production Manager: Laura Hokkanen
Printed in China Proofreader: Carolyn Henry-Johanson
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO FINISHING WALLS & CEILINGS
1098765432 1
Created by: The Editors of Creative Publishing international, Inc., in
cooperation with Black & Decker. Black & Deckert" is a trademark of
President/CEO: Ken Fund The Black & Decker Corporation and is used under license.
2
Contents
Introduction . .......................... 4 Devising a Layout Plan ............. 60
Portfolio of Wall & Ceiling Ideas ............ 6 Preparing for Wallboard Installation .............. 62
Measuring & Cutting Wallboard ... .. 66
Building Basic Walls & Ceilings ............ 13
Fastening Wallboard ...............•...•...•. .72
Basic House Framing .. t4
Hanging Standard Wallboard ............•........ 74
Building Partition Walls .. t8
Hanging Wallboard in Multiple Layers. .. 84
Framing Soffits & Chases ...... ... .... .......... 25
Hanging Decorative Wallboard Panels .... 86
Framing with Steel ... .28
Hanging Wallboard on Curves .................... 88
Covering Foundation Walls .32
Adding Architectural Detail with Wallboard .. ......... 90
Framing Curved Walls. ..... 36
Hanging Cementboard .... 92
Building Glass Block Walls ......... ......... 38
Installing Fiberglass Insulation .42
Soundproofing Walls & Ceilings .. 44 Finishing Wallboard ..... . .............. 95
Soundproofing Home Theaters .. 48 Wallboard Finish Materials ........ ...... ...... 96
Installing Wall Membranes .. ..... .......... 50 Tools for Finishing Wallboard ............•...•.... 98
Installing Corner Bead ............. . . ......... 100
Installing Wallboard .................... 53 Recommended Levels of Wallboard Finish ..... . 104
Wallboard & Wallboard Installation Materials .54 Taping Wallboard Seams ............ 106
Tools for Installing Wallboard ... ....... ..... ... ... 58 Final Inspection & Fixing Problems ............ 116
2
Sanding Wallboard ......... ....... . . 118 Tiling a Kitchen Backsplash . . . . .. .. . . .......... 196
Applying a Skim Coat .... . . . 122 Installing Interior Trim ... ...... ... . .. ....... 200
Texturing Walls & Ceilings ... 123 Installing Polymer Crown Molding ... . ......... 206
Applying Veneer Plaster ........................ 128 Installing Door & Window Casing ... .............. 208
Installing Paneling & Repairing Walls & Ceilings ............... 211
Ceiling Systems ...................... 135
Repairing Wallboard ................ . ........ 212
Installing Paneling ............................. 136 Repairing Plaster .............................. 217
Adding a Wainscot .................. ..•....... 140 Replacing Sheet Paneling .... ...•............... 220
Installing Wainscot Frames ... 144 Repairing Ceramic Tile .......•.•............... 222
Paneling a Ceiling .. 150 Repairing Wallcovering ............... . .224
Installing a Suspended Ceiling ..... 154 Repairing Ceilings ............... . .. 226
Installing Acoustical Ceiling Tile ..... 158 Repairing Water Damaged Walls & Ceilings .. 228
Installing Tin Ceiling Tile ..................... . 161 Removing Wall & Ceiling Surfaces .............. 230
Conversion Charts/
Finishing Walls & Ceilings ............ 165 Contributors/Resources ................. 234
Basic Painting Techniques ......... 166 Index .............................. 236
Hanging Wallcoverings .... ............... 176
Installing Ceramic Wall Tile ....... ..... . . 188
NOTICE TO READERS
For safety, use caution. care. and good judgment
when following the procedures described in this
book. The publisher and Black & Decker cannot
assume responsibility for any damage to property
Library of Congress or injury to persons as a result of misuse of the in
Cataloging-in-Publication Data formation provided.
On file
The techniques shown in this book are general
techniques for various applications. In some in
stances. additional techniques not shown in this
book may be required. Always follow manufactur
ers' safety warnings and instructions included with
Other titles from Creative Publishing internatiooal include:
products. Deviation from the directions may create
The Complete Guide to Home Wiring, The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing,
The Complete Guide to Home Carpentry, The Complete Guide to Decks, The injury exposure and void warranties. The projects
Complete Guide to Painting & Decorating, The Complete Guide To Bathrooms, in this book vary widely as to skill levels required.
The Complete Guide to Kitchens, The Complete Guide to Flooring, The Com
Some may not be appropriate for all do-it-your
plete Guide to Roofing & Siding, The Complete Guide to Landscape Construc
tion, The Complete Guide to Yard & Garden Features, The Complete Guide to seifers, and some may require professional help.
Creative Landscapes. The Complete Guide to Windows & Doors, The Com Consult your local building department for infor
plete Guide to Wood Storage Projects, The Complete Guide to Easy Wood mation on building permits. codes, and other laws
working Projects, The Complete Guide to Trim & Finish C8rpentry, The
as they apply to your project.
Complete Guide to Gazebos & Arbors, The Complete Guide to Ceramic &
Stone Tile, The Complete Guide to Masonry & Stonework.
3
Introduction
This book is a comprehensive guide to every aspect of building
and finishing walls and ceilings, providing just about all the in
formation most people are likely to need. It is an important ref
erence for anyone who wants to understand the structural
elements of home construction and surface finishes, but is first
and foremost a how-to guide for homeowners who want to do
this work themselves with a level of quality that rivals that
achieved by professional frame-and-finish carpenters. Profes
sionals may also find the book useful as a refresher, or as a
helpful tool for explaining construction processes and finish op
tions to their customers.
The Complete Guide to Finishing Walls & Ceilings is an indis
pensible guide to anyone interested in remodeling, especially
those considering a major renovation or seeking to finish off un
finished space in their homes. It is organized to provide you
with an encyclopedic understanding of this important element
of the remodeling process.
Section One, Building Basic Walls & Ceilings gives the essential
steps in planning, laying out, and framing walls and ceilings.
You'll learn not only the basics of stud and joist construction,
but how to frame with steel, how to attach walls to cement walls,
and special techniques for soundproofing and for dealing with
walls vulnerable to moisture.
Section Two, Installing Wallboard, leads you through the steps
for covering framing with surface panels of wallboard or ce
mentboard. It includes information on creating curves and ar
chitectural details.
Section Three, Finishing Wallboard, shows the classic tech
niques for taping, mudding and smoothing wallboard joints, but
also gives important information on decorative skim coats and
plaster veneers.
Section Four, Installing Paneling & Ceiling Systems, provides in
formation on alternatives to wallboard: paneling, wainscotting,
suspended ceilings, acoustical ceilings, and tin ceiling tiles.
Section Five, Finishing Walls & Ceilings, provides an overview
of basic painting and wallpapering techniques, as well as the
basics of wood trim installation.
Finally, Section Six, Repairing Walls & Ceilings, will show you
how to keep wallboard, plaster, and tiled surfaces in good
shape.
The Complete Guide to Finishing Walls & Ceilings is an essen
tial reference for the homeowner who wants to understand wall
and ceiling construction and finish processes. A helpful com
panion volume is The Complete Guide to Trim & Finish Carpen
try, which offers additional information on creative trim
carpentry and cabinet installation.
5
Portfolio of Wall & Ceiling Ideas
Your walls and ceilings are much more than increasing variety of wall and ceiling finish mate
structural barriers dividing your house into sepa rials available to you. Most home centers and
rate areas. They are canvases awaiting an in lumberyards keep an impressive selection in
spired treatment that can set mood, distinguish stock and can easily accommodate special orders.
space, and reflect your personality within each
The photographs on the following pages show a
individual room.
few of the hundreds of ways you might use walls
Through creative design and a thoughtful selection and ceilings as important design features in your
of colors, textures, and materials, nearly any wall home. As you gather ideas, keep in mind that
and ceiling design you dream up can become a good design doesn't have to be complicated or
reality. From basic painted wallboard and tradi expensive- a little can go a long way. The key to
tional wood paneling to elegant glass block and creating truly attractive walls and ceilings is sim
distinct veneer plaster finishes, there is an ever- ple: if you like it, it's good design.
Ordinary stock moldings give
plain walls a sense of depth and
dimension when they are applied
in a thoughtful manner, as with the
faux wainscot panels seen here
(right).
Wall shape and the type of sur
face materials used in the walls
and ceilings contribute to excel
lent sound reproduction in this
home theater.
