Why go through all the trouble and remove old drywall just to hang the new one? But is it possible to drywall over drywall?
Yes, you can drywall over drywall. It’s one of the best ways to deal with cracked walls and ceilings. Not only does it give your finish a cleaner look, but it also helps with moisture, fire protection, and acoustic insulation.
Some experts say this is good practice, while others frown upon it. But drywalling over another drywall has been done for many years now, and it seems the way to go.
Can You Drywall Over Existing Drywall?
Yes, you can hang a new layer of drywall over an existing one. In fact, it’s considered one of the best ways to deal with cracked ceilings and walls, which might happen because you’ve done your Drywall after your floor. This is, of course, if you’ve taped the joints. You can easily get the even and smooth surface you want by installing a new Drywall, unless it’s done backward, meaning facing the rough side.
You can use both glue and screws to hang drywall over drywall. Both of these approaches have their own benefits. While screws are more convenient but can rust over time, glue offers unbeatable strength and smoothness.
How Do You Install Drywall on Drywall?
Hanging new drywall over existing drywall is not actually rocket science. You can even do it all by yourself. However, there are some things you should keep in mind before beginning.
If possible, drywall is highly recommended over both ceilings and walls. This will offer a smooth and even surface. In fact, most experts would recommend it this way. However, if you drywall your bathroom ceiling, you might want to read this article first.
Ensure you have all the necessary equipment and opt for a thicker layer of drywall over the existing one.
Here are some things that you’ll require to put drywall over existing drywall, such as:
- Thick drywall
- Drywall screws
- Stud Finder
- Drywall Elevator Rack
- Drill with driver bits
- Keyhole saw
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- Drywall joint tape
- General purpose joint compound
Once you’re set, follow the steps below to start with the process:
- Measure the Surface Area
First, you’ll need to determine how much drywall you require to cover up a room or house. Generally speaking, drywall is available in boards of 4×8 feet. So, measure the surface area and divide it by 32 to determine how many sheets you require.
Getting at least one or two extra drywall sheets is probably best if you have never hung drywall before.
- Hang the Drywall
Now you’re ready to begin. Clear the room and install the drywall elevator rack in your room. Hang one side of drywall against the ceiling in one corner and use an electric stud finder to locate existing ceiling joists.
Afterward, mark the ceiling joists’ location to fasten the new drywall on the old one!
- Fasten the Drywall
Use a drill and 2″ drywall screws to fasten the drywall. To do so, drive the screws through existing drywall and new drywall into the ceiling joists. Make sure to fasten the drywall every 10-12 inches along each ceiling joist.
- Cutting
Once you screw the new drywall properly, measure each side and cut the drywall to fit. Using a keyhole saw to cut a hole in the electric box’s location would be best. Moreover, make sure to create openings on your walls for doors and windows unless you want to Drywall over a window which is possible but only in certain circumstances.
- Final Touch
Lastly, fill in the screw heads with a general purpose joint compound. Apply joint tape and press the drywall to the place using a joint compound and putty knife. Repeat this process until you get a smooth and clean surface.
Is It Worth It to Drywall Over Drywall?
Using drywall over drywall certainly seems like a straightforward approach. You don’t have to put much effort into removing the old one and just hang the new drywall. However, it has both pros and cons, which you should know about before investing your time and money:
Pros:
Here are some of the potential benefits of hanging new drywall over an existing one:
- Allows you to create a textured ceiling
- It’s the ideal way to deal with possible stains
- Provides smooth and even surface
- Enhanced moisture protection, especially for unheated garages
- Acoustic dampening
- Fireproofing
Cons:
Unfortunately, using drywall over drywall is not always a good thing. Some professionals don’t like this approach. Here are some of the most common disadvantages of using drywall over drywall:
- Aligning drywall into half of a covered stud is not an easy thing to do.
- You need to put extra effort into marking each piece of the existing drywall.
- Doors, windows, trims, and baseboards must be removed, requiring extra effort.
- Although it saves money but might take more effort and time.
- If your Drywall gets wet for more than 48h, even two layers of Drywall cannot save it.
Is It Worth It?
As you can see, this practice has both advantages and disadvantages. But the main question is, is it worth using drywall over drywall?
It all comes down to preference. While some consider it more convenient to use drywall over drywall, others prefer removing the old one before hanging the new drywall. It all depends upon your usage and dedication.
If you want to save some bucks, you can certainly hang drywall over drywall. With this approach, you’ll require less investment and get the smooth surface you want. However, remember that this action will require more effort than using new drywall.
New drywall can last for around 70 years in an ideal home condition. However, some factors can reduce this lifespan, such as hard usage, termite damage, water damage, etc. If some parts get damaged, you can simply replace the drywall in sections as needed!
Also, the time a drywall job takes doesn’t change even if you drywall over drywall.
FAQs
Can You Glue Drywall to Drywall?
While most professionals use screws to fasten the drywall over drywall, gluing is also a very good alternative. In fact, if you are using a high-performance adhesive, it will offer much more shear strength compared to screws.
Making the glue option an even better approach. In that scenario, you can simply apply glue to attach drywall to the joists or stubs before you install the sheet. This method will eliminate the need for screws in the field. As a result, there will be fewer loose boards and nail pops.
Can You Put Drywall Over Drywall Ceiling?
Yes, you can use new drywall to re-cover the entire ceiling if you want. With this action, you can cover your entire ceiling with a new layer, offering a cleaner and smoother surface. This approach is best when dealing with cracked ceilings because you tighten your joints too much or stubborn stains.
You can check out the method mentioned above to put drywall over the drywall ceiling. It’s recommended to install the second layer on both ceiling and wall to get an even surface. Also, ensure the sheets are fitted at an absolute 90-degree angle to the first layer of drywall.
Can You Put Soundproof Drywall Over Existing Drywall?
Using a second layer of drywall is, in fact, one of the best practices you can do while soundproofing a room. This is because more layers of drywall offer enhanced sound absorption through the walls.
You increase the walls’ mass by putting soundproof drywall over existing drywall. As noise is transmitted through vibrations, the more mass, the less noise gets through. To attach soundproof drywall over existing drywall, you can use Green Glue – a noise-proofing compound.