Should Drywall Be Done Before Flooring? (Explained!)


When starting a home improvement project, it’s important to consider the order in which you’ll complete each task. For many homeowners, the question of whether to install Drywall or lay flooring is common. While there’s no right or wrong answer, some applying benefits to installing Drywall before laying flooring exist. Read on to learn more.

You should Drywall before finishing the floor, you’ll not only be able to save time, energy, and money. But won’t have dropped screws that could scratch or damage when you step on them! It’s also possible that joint compounds left behind may not get noticed until it has been spread around all over – this could cause damage in the long term.

When asking this question to others who’s done this before, you might get different responses. One might say that you must undoubtedly hang your Drywall first and your flooring afterward, while the other might tell you that it doesn’t matter.

Is It Possible To Drywall Before Flooring?

It’s not only possible but also recommended to Drywall first and then finish the floor. With this approach, you’ll be able to complete the job quickly without ruining the floor. However, that’s not the same with the subfloor, which is easily cleaned, and if damaged, you simply can cover it up with your floor.

Completing all tasks in the right order helps you save both effort and time. Therefore you should lay out the subfloor first, install ceiling drywall and hang the Drywall on the wall before finishing the floor.

In this order, you can complete the renovation job without worrying about ruining your floor. It’ll also reduce the work as you don’t have to clean the flooring afterward.  

Pros And Cons Of Installing Drywall Before Flooring

To give you a better perspective on the advantages of installing it in this specific order, below, we have compiled a list of reasons why you should drywall first and then finish the floor:

Humidity Concern

When you apply drywall tape over seams, it increases the humidity in the room. Most flooring materials (wood flooring) are natural products, they expand and contract with moisture levels and temperature changes.

If the humidity level increases, your Drywall, and flooring will take longer to dry, making them prone to cracks and failure. Therefore, after installing the Drywall correctly, at least 2 week acclimation period is recommended. This will reduce the warping and swelling of the wood!

Installation Guide

To install Drywall, you need to locate electrical boxes and studs using the subfloor as the guide. If your Drywall before flooring, you can easily mark the area on the unfinished subfloor without worrying about creating scratches.

Once you apply drywall tape and sand the surface, you can use those marks as an installation guide and cut the Drywall to locate junction boxes, unless you want to Drywall over them. Afterward, the floor will cover up those marks and small imperfections, providing a smooth finish!

Potential Flooring Damage

Floor materials are not that budget-friendly – especially if you are installing a wooden floor. Therefore, you need to be extra careful while working on the renovation project. If you install the floor beforehand, the joint compound and bits of crumbled sheetrock can ruin your floor.

Moreover, during the drywall installation project, you need many different tools. If you step on any of those tools, you might scratch your new floor permanently. Alternatively, if you are working on a subfloor, you can simply sweep the debris off and then lay the new flooring.

Time and Mess

Both drywall and flooring installation projects are time-consuming and messy. However, if you install the Drywall beforehand, you might be able to save your precious time. With this approach, you can hang the Drywall without worrying about damaging the floor.

Out of both projects, drywall installation creates a lot of mess. You have to cut drywall panels and deal with joint compounds. Afterward, you also need to sand the surface, which can create a lot of dust. If your Drywall before the flooring, you can easily cover this mess using the new flooring.

Pros And Cons Of Installing Drywall After Flooring

Drywall installation has several phases, including measuring the surface, hanging the Drywall, applying drywall mud, running the Drywall, sanding the surface, and priming it. These phases create a lot of debris that can ruin your flooring.

If you lay out your wooden floor beforehand, you’ll need to be extra careful. Joint compounds and screws can permanently damage your floor. Moreover, if you accidentally drop a tool over your new floor, you might end up cracking the surface.

Installing flooring before drywalling the ceilings and walls is also time-consuming. As you need to take care of your floor while working on the walls, you’ll need to spend more time and effort protecting your floor, which is certainly not a good thing.

Which Is Best: Drywall Before Or After Flooring?

Installing Drywall before the flooring is the best option. You can work without worrying about damaging your floor. Moreover, once you install the Drywall and cut the sheet for electrical boxes and elements, the new flooring will cover up the imperfections, saving time and energy.

By installing Drywall before the flooring, you can work freely. You don’t have to worry about joint compound ruining your floor. Even if you drop the joint compound on the subfloor, the new flooring will cover it afterward.

FAQs:

Do You Paint Before Or After Installing New Flooring?

It might seem odd, but you should paint after installing new flooring. Yes, you’ll need to be extra careful to protect your floor. However, this approach has several additional benefits. For instance, if a metal tool damages a trim or wall, you can easily fix the issue without removing the paint.

Can You Put Drywall Over Tile?

Absolutely Yes. You can install Drywall over tiles. You’ll need to use high-performance drywall adhesive instead of drywall screws. Put the adhesive over the tile and stick the drywall panel to it for 3-4 seconds. Afterward, pull it loose and let it rest for 20-30 seconds.

Should Drywall Touch The Floor?

Your Drywall should never touch the floor. This is because walls expand and contract as the weather changes. So, if your Drywall is touching the floor, it will put a lot of pressure on the sheets, causing them to crack and break apart. Therefore, your Drywall and floor must have at least 1/2 inch of space between them!

Recent Posts