13 Tools for Drywall Work You Need at the Ready

Are you ready with the drywall tools for that drywall installation you’re staring down? Do you have all the hanging and finishing tools at the ready to efficiently and effectively knock everything out? It never hurts to click those items off your checklist. Here are some of the essentials tools for drywall work you should have when that project pops up on your itinerary:

Pencil or Chalk Line Markers

You think these are no brainers, right? Just make sure you have pens or pencils that can be used on the contour of a smaller drywall piece and chalk for larger ones.

Sheet Holders

Tools such as T bars or sheet holders help to keep drywall sheets in place when you need to fix a sheet of drywall onto a slanted area where gravity wants to give you the business.

The T-Square

A drywall T-square is unlike other straight edges or squares you have. Its 48-inch length enables you to cut the entire width of a sheet of drywall. And, the square’s cross-end fits nicely over the edge of the drywall and is long enough to make sure everything fits perfectly in place.

Taping Knife (12-, 6- and 4-inch sizes)

Honestly, you can never have enough of these specialized knives.

Inside Corner Knife

Among the tools for drywall work this specialized tool is perfect for spreading compound on the inside corner of an area.

Utility Knife

Make sure your utility knife has interchangeable blades, not snap-off ones. The interchangeable ones will give you greater stability.

Drywall Screws

Drywall nails are so yesterday. Today’s installers prefer drywall screws, available in either coarse-thread or fine-thread varieties. Coarse-thread screws draw effortlessly into the wood.

Cordless Drill For Fastening

Talking about tools for drywall work you could call this every drywall installer’s best friend. Off-the-shelf 12V or 18V cordless drills will keep things moving ahead perfectly, especially if you’re using long screws to fasten your drywall sheets.

Jab Saw

This multi-purpose tool is a drywall installer’s other best friend. The jab saw is designed specifically to cut through drywall, particularly around odd shapes like electrical outlets. Due to the sharpness of the blade, you can plunge it directly into the drywall and saw effortlessly.

Saw (Electric or Manual)

Every drywall installer should have a jigsaw and manual saw at the ready. A jigsaw fitted with a coarse or drywall-specific blade enables you to cut circles and other curved lines, while the manual drywall’s sharp point and coarse teeth help tackle the other areas.

Sanding Sheets

Sanding sheets are available in coarse fiberglass mesh with open holes and sheets that look just like ordinary sandpaper.

Sanding Sponge (Abrasive and Non-Abrasive)

Thanks to its abrasive surface on one side and smoother on the other, the sanding sponge is the perfect piece for those sanding touchup jobs. A sanding sponge, which doesn’t have a coarse surface, is perfect for the majority of your sanding needs.

Safety Gear

Last, but not least, make sure you have dust masks or safety masks to fend off the dust waves of drywall installation. Common cotton dust masks will help limit the amount of dust you inhale. But if you have any respiratory issues, a chamber-type safety mask and/or goggles are the way to go.