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Fasteners
Choose drywall screws rather than nails—nails are far more likely to work loose and cause ugly craters or “pops.” The screw length depends on the drywall thickness: 1-5/8-in. screws are for 5/8-in. drywall; 1-1/4-in. screws are for anything thinner. Coarse threads are for wood studs; fine threads for steel studs.
You’ll find drywall screws with thin (No. 6) and thick (No. 8) shanks. Choose the thin ones. Thick-shank screws are harder to drive, break out drywall near edges and leave shredded paper around the screw head.
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Edge and Corner Beads
Edge Beads
Whenever drywall meets another surface like stone, brick or paneling, you need a neat way to finish the edge. You can always use wood trim, but there are some other options.
Corner Beads
You have many choices for outside corners: metal or vinyl, square or bullnose, even bead for non-90-degree corners or arches. The big difference is how they’re installed. Standard metal can be nailed on and then taped; vinyl corner bead should be applied with special adhesive and staples. Paper-faced versions get “glued” into place with joint compound.
Pro Tips: Choose metal corner bead instead of vinyl or paper-faced bead. It’s easier to install and requires only ordinary tools. Exception: In damp areas like bathrooms and spas, vinyl is a good, rust-proof choice.
For our full story on all things corner bead, click here. Also, check out this video explaining the pros and cons of the four main corner bead types:
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