FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Drywall

Guide Home
  • Drywall Basics
  • Tools and Materials
  • Hanging Drywall
  • Taping and Sanding
  • Special Installations
  • Drywall Repairs
  • Plaster
Tips & Techniques

Drywall Spanning a Band Joist

Avoid cracking and hard-to-hide seams with smart panel placement and by using drywall adhesive instead of screws at the band joist.

By Myron R. Ferguson

Whenever you have a two-story house, you always have a stairwell. Here, we have a band joist connecting the two levels, which quite often is a little bit out of plane from the other walls. As a result, we don’t want to put a seam in this area. I’m going to do what I can to avoid a seam here.

A lot of people think this is a perfect place for a solid surface, but we want to avoid that because that’s where it’s most likely going to crack. When I hang this wall, I’m actually going to start with a 2-ft. rip on the top, coming down with a 4-ft.-high sheet. When we bridge this whole area, there won’t be a seam. Instead of putting screws in here, which are very likely to pop because of the shrinking of the lumber and possible movement in this framing, I’m going to introduce drywall adhesive.

By bridging this, and not having a seam in this area, I’m eliminating the potential bump and problems with cracking. The screws will go along the top and bottom edge and down about 8 in., but nothing in the center area.

This technique is extremely important. When you do drywall work, it’s not necessarily always about minimizing the seams—I’m more concerned about seam location. By not having the seam in a wrong spot, I’ve eliminated that problem. A year from now, I’m not worried about this seam cracking.

This video was filmed on-site at a Habitat for Humanity build, where Myron is construction manager. Learn more about Habitat’s work building homes in communities.

Related Links:

  • Hang Drywall with Adhesive
  • Horizontal vs. Vertical Drywall
  • Fastening Drywall

Sign up for the Fine Homebuilding Tip of the Day and get daily tips and special offers delivered to your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
Previous: Metal Corner Bead Substitutes for Drywall Clips Next: How to Hang Drywall Solo

Guide

Drywall

Chapter

Hanging Drywall

View Comments

  1. CT_Yankee | Apr 26, 2021 01:11pm | #1

    I understand not wanting to put a seam over the band/rim joist. But - what happens to the 48" high drywall sheet if the band joist shrinks 3/8" to 1/2" over several years of acclimating to the interior environment? Will it buckle? Or, since the wood shrinkage takes place over a period of years, will the drywall simply shrink to match?

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Drywall

Drywall

Trusted, comprehensive guidance for choosing, hanging, taping, sanding, and repairing drywall—the right way

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Drywall Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Drywall Basics
  • Types and Uses of Drywall
  • Planning the Job
Tools and Materials
  • Hanging Tools
  • Taping Tools and Materials
  • Sanding and Finishing Tools and Materials
Hanging Drywall
  • Prep for Hanging
  • Measuring and Cutting Drywall
  • Guidelines for Hanging and Fastening Drywall
  • Hanging Ceilings
  • Hanging Walls
  • Hanging Airtight Drywall
  • Trim Accessories/Corner Beads
Taping and Sanding
  • Taping Basics
  • Taping Seams
  • Taping Inside and Outside Corners
  • Sanding
Special Installations
  • Tricky Transitions
  • Curved Surfaces
  • Other Special Installations
  • Decorating with Drywall
Drywall Repairs
  • Patching Holes, Cracks, and More
Plaster
  • Working with Lime Plaster
  • Plaster Repair
  • Classic Plaster Techniques

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in