Micro Emergency Question

This is just a quickie: On my first layer of drywall, is there any ACCOUSTIC/ISOLATION need to put joint compound over the screws? The wall/ceiling and wall/floor joints will be calked, the drywall seams will be mudded and taped but I'm not sure if it's worth the time to mud over the screws on the layers that no one will ever see. len

I think that the screws along the tapered edge (assuming your drywall has it -- most do -- you'd probably have to special order stuff without it) do need to be covered with joint compound... Not because they'll be seen, but because they're in the "valley" that needs to be "filled up/out" to the same level as the rest of the wall. I think the rest of the screws can be left alone. I'm certainly not worried about my beef-up screws... (In fact, I didn't even sweat the tapered edges! :roll:) Here's a great thread on drywall sequencing. Not that since you're using independent frames, some of the advice won't apply in your case. Also, using less than the conventional number of screws probably won't meet code. When I mentioned that recommendation to the senior inspector at my building department, he had a mini cow. :oops: --Keith :mrgreen:

Thanks Keith. The screws on the tapered edges weren't really my concern since they are right next to the tape lines any way. I was more worried about the ones in the middle of the sheets. It's not hard to fill in all of those too but its a lot of work that no one will ever see (or hear). I decided that I wouldn't short change myself on screws. Since I only have two layers to worry about, I thought it best (and the guy that's been helping me - the one that knows what he's doing [vocal booth lockout incident aside], knew that I would be putting up the ceiling layers. I think he was afraid they'd come done. len

len-morgan wrote:

. . . vocal booth lockout incident aside . . .

Don't you mean, "vocal booth lockin incident"? :lol:

I stand corrected. :-)