How to Use a Drywall Screw Gun

Hanging drywall is a learned technique. How smooth your wall is at the end of your project depends heavily upon the methods you use when cutting and fastening the sheetrock to the studs. Using a drywall screw gun can reduce the number and depth of holes in the sheetrock, making it easier to tape-out the wall later. Read on to learn how to use a drywall screw gun.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a quality drywall screw gun. Cordless screw guns are more expensive and you have to charge the battery but they are handy for carrying in your tool belt or climbing and they don't have a cord to tangle in scaffolding. Nextag compares the features and prices on the top brands. See Resources for links.

2. Load an automatic screw gun with drywall screws. Depending upon your screw gun, these come in coils or in strips. If you purchased a manual-load gun, you will have to apply each screw separately.

3. With your sheet of drywall in the correct position, press your automatic screw gun against the drywall to release the trigger. When you're sure, the placement is correct, squeeze the release and the screw will automatically place itself in the sheetrock.

4. Adjust the head depth of your drywall screw gun to accommodate your taping skills. You can vary the screw gun to deliver the screws slightly deeper. The idea is to create just a dimple in the drywall, not enough to tear the paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Set your screw gun to deliver screws at the shallowest depth possible, while still fastening the drywall securely. Large indentations will require many coats of mud, and each coat must dry before the next one is applied. Mud that is too thick can shift and pop out months or even years later, causing unsightly blemishes on the wall.

• Apply screws only into drywall where a stud is directly beneath. If you need to measure out your stud space first and make pencil marks, that's fine.

Resources

• Prices and ratings on drywall screw guns