Horizontal Drywall Control Joint

When hanging drywall over wood studs and laying the sheets out or lengthwise across the direction of the studs it is almost impossible to avoid butt joints at some points along the wall.

Horizontal drywall control joint.

Control joints does not exceed 900 sq ft 84 m section 20 3 6 ga 4 7 3 6 a control joint or intermediate blocking shall be installed where ceiling framing members change direction section 20 3 7 ga 4 7 3 7 control joints shall be installed where specified by the architect or designer as a design accent or architectural feature. Wide knife for the tape coat. The best way to handle butt joints is to avoid them altogether by using sheets of drywall that will span the entire room. These edges are located on the 4 foot long ends of the drywall sheet.

If the sheet is 1 2 inch thick the edges are also 1 2 inch thick. Tape recessed butt joints beginning with an 8 in. 093v fire rated 093v and hideaway expansion beads all provide 3 8 of protection for horizontal movement against the stresses of expansion and contraction and feature tear off strips to protect the center from mud to provide a clean finish. Drywall or veneer plaster control joint clarkdietrich 093 zinc control joint is applied between abutting gypsum panels and is used to relieve stresses of expansion and contraction of drywall and veneer plaster systems in large ceiling and wall expanses over 30 in length.

I know it is easier for drywall installers to install and finish horizontally but this method adds difficulty for trim carpenters and i think adds weakness to the wall as well. This makes it easier for taping and finishing and increases the overall strength of the entire wall. If fastened vertically every edge will land securely on a stud. Depending on the individual drywall control joint product design and materials width and plastic vs zinc metal expansion control joints for plasterboard can handle up to about 4 10 of horizontal movement due to thermal or moisture related expansion or contraction.

The edges of the two sheets of adjoining drywall have the same thickness as the rest of the drywall sheet. 093 zinc control joint is typically installed from door header to ceiling from floor to ceiling in. Trim tex offers several control joint solutions for preventing cracks in long runs of drywall and in high movement areas. The maximum recommended control joint spacing for walls and ceilings without perimeter relief is 30 feet.

Also when drywall is installed horizontally you end up with an unsupported joint between each stud. Knife or better yet a 14 in. Home centers carry 8 12 and sometimes 10 ft.