How to Bend Sheetrock
- 1). Prepare your work area. Lay down a plastic tarp to protect the floors and furniture from the dust, debris and water. Fill a bucket with water and place a large car cleaning sponge into the water.
- 2). Cut your Sheetrock down to the size you need using a utility knife. Sheetrock is available in a wide variety of widths. The thinner widths, such as 1/4 and 3/8 inch, are more commonly used for bending purposes. Where a wider angled bend is needed, the 1/2-inch variety can also be used.
- 3). Place the Sheetrock onto your plastic tarp. Using your water-filled sponge, wipe down the front of the panel. You will need to repeatedly wet your sponge if you are using a large piece of Sheetrock. Repeat this process on the back of the panel. Allow it to sit for approximately 20 minutes to completely absorb the water.
- 4). Test to see if your Sheetrock is ready. It should be readily pliable with little force. If it still feels hard and stiff, then you have to wet the Sheetrock again. This process must sometimes be repeated up to four or five times depending on the width of your Sheetrock.
- 5). Wrap your wet, pliable Sheetrock around your column or curved wall. You must secure your Sheetrock in place as you work. Use a screw gun to insert screws into the Sheetrock and wall as you bend it, which will prevent cracks in your finished product. Depending on the angle and depth of your curve, you may have to place a screw every one to two inches. If the wall you are Sheetrocking is only slightly curved, a screw is only necessary every six inches to one foot.
- 6). Allow your Sheetrock to dry; once dry, it will return to its original hardness. Tape seams and spackle as you would normally.
