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Due to a problem with my furnace, I recently had a lot of moisture get behind a wall and of course, mold to follow. All said and done I will need roughly 3 4x8 sheets to replace the damaged drywall.

My problem is they appear to have used 2 3/8" sheets stacked on one another, making it 3/4" total. All I can find around here is 5/8" boards. So, I need to make up a 1/16" difference. My friend suggested just mudding out the difference, but there is some large, older molding on the ceiling that i need to marry up to that makes that seem really difficult.

My thought was corrugated cardboard. But I saw this post and it didn't give a sure answer on whether or not that would be ok.

It mentions the cardboard giving too much and cracking the joints right away, but as I see it, the cardboard is thicker than what I need, so once it is compressed, it's not going anywhere. Any thoughts on what I should do?

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Nick
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3 Answers3

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Why not use standard 1/2" drywall after you shim out the studs. Use 1/4" stock or rip 1 1/2" strips of 1/4" plywood. Tack these to each stud. Then screw the 1/2" drywall through the shims and into the studs. I would probably use 1 5/8" drywall screws for a better grip.

By the way, if this is in or near a furnace room, be sure to use fire rated drywall.

bib
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You may want the type X 5/8" drywall with the furnace there (may not be required but it won't hurt). When you use a large mudding knife, the 1/16" over a 8-12" span will be difficult to impossible to detect. If you can pull the ceiling moulding without damaging it, I'd do that first. Replace the drywall behind the moulding, mud and tape the entire patch area, prime the wall, reinstall the moulding, and paint.

BMitch
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They make 1/16" Drywall shims, you can find them at home depot, Drywall suppliers have 1/8" drywall shims. They are made of cardboard, and do the job nicely.

William H Myatt
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