Floating drywall buttjoints - Help?

Webs · 04-20-2006, 06:34 PM

What do the pros do when they are hanging drywall and need to butt the drywall? I have always made it so the butt joint was on a stud but I have heard of people floating the butt joint. How would you do a floating butt joint and wont the seam crack eventually?

Oldman · 04-20-2006, 09:20 PM

I worked fo a GC one time who mentioned something about clips, I don't know, I always break on the stud

mighty anvil · 04-23-2006, 05:43 PM

Don't do it. It will crack.

Oldman · 04-23-2006, 09:20 PM

Never have, and it probably would

jrubis · 04-29-2006, 06:55 PM

I just finished my basement and floated the butt joints between joists using "Rock Splicers" they seemed to work pretty well.

http://groups.msn.com/DryWallProfess...hoto&PhotoID=4

Darylh · 04-30-2006, 08:56 AM

I too would never float a butt joint.
not only will it crack but this becomes
a weak part of the wall and if anyone
or anything bumps the wall there well you know.

KenTheHandyMan · 04-30-2006, 09:25 PM

No way I would float a butt joint! When situations have risen (and they do from time to time) I'll install a stud so that I have the proper backing. I don't care how many clips you'd put in there. Are they like "H" clips for roofing? I don't see how they could prevent a crack if somebody bangs the wall a bit.

Webs · 05-09-2006, 12:13 AM

Ya I had never seen it before and I saw someone discussing it in another forum so I was curious to see if anyone else did it that way. Guess I will just stick to the basics.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 05-13-2006, 06:52 PM

There has been some discussion about this 'Floating' over on the Contractor Chatroom in the 'Drywall forum'.
The other method to float that has been discussed is:
Taking 4'x8' osb or plywood and ripping some 4'x 6" peices and then using these to attach (Screw) the 'floated' butt joints together.

Do I think that this is bad method or that the butt joints will crack? I have no idea. I've never seen nor heard of the results (good or bad) of anyone doing it here (N.E. region) or in my travels.

We have been in the Drywall business since 1985. We now do GC-ing also, but still run our drywall division.
We have done schools, hospitals, offices, large homes, modular construction, everything you can possibly imagine.
Our thoughts on Floating: We have never, and would NEVER, EVER float our butt joints, and would never recommend doing it. The supplier I have used since 85' has never carried those metal clips - as no subcontractors here would ever use them.
That's my 2 cents.

ls1chris · 06-08-2006, 06:42 PM

we float em all the time , the houses i work in start at $750k and if it cracked or split like others talk of, i would have been chased outa my builders 10 yrs ago!!!. if you have a situation where you have to float between studs, put a screw in the top and bottom of the sheet and the studs nearest to your butt joint and 3 in the field, ( between the top & bottom screw) a piece of 1x4 54" long used as backing in your "floating butt" joint and the remaining 6" hanging past is then screwed to the next run of sheets below will never crack .

J187 · 06-09-2006, 09:13 AM

Webs - what situation are you in that you would have to float the joint? Is it one where you could just add a stud? I'm sure LSCHris has been able to do this successfully before, but it's certainly not something I would do unless I absolutely had to.

KUIPORNG · 06-09-2006, 10:17 AM

I read a book before talking about "Floating" in dry wall installations, but it was talking about between the "ceiling" drywall and the "corner" drywall I remember, this may be a different situation...

tlowe65 · 12-28-2012, 11:49 PM

For those of you who are hesitant, try doing the floating joint the way ls1chris does. I used to think like you until I tried it. Its amazing how solid the joint is.

12penny · 12-29-2012, 07:46 AM

Just finishing up a 1700sf basement reno and used Trim-Tex Drywall Backer Boards throughout. Had to order them on line because they dont seem to be very popular here in Eastern Pa. Makes for a very solid joint, saves time and material. I would'nt hesitate to use them again.

mae-ling · 12-29-2012, 10:44 AM

Joining between the studs using some form of a 'butt Board' (not just strips of plywood or 1x4).

Homemade ones

3 bought ones

Butt boards are thicker at the edges then the center. this causes the drywall to bend a little and create a slight trough at the joint, this gives a recess much like the tapered edges for your tape and mud, giving you a flatter joint.
When you join on a stud they can be twisted, warped bowed (esp. now it seems) giving you an uneven joint.
Studs can twist after your all done taping and cause cracks.

Search Google (or bing or whatever) for butt boards, you'll learn a lot.