Drywall question

[nkwak]

I live in a prefab home and my autistic son has been taking out his frustrations on the walls' I've patched MANY holes and even had sections replaced so I know HOW to fix them, but I'm wondering WHY the walls seem so fragile?

It's not the thickness of the drywall because they're the same thickness as the standard stuff I've bought at Home Depot. I'm wondering if it has to do with the spacing of the studs behind the drywall or, if the boards themselves aren't attached properly? For example, in my son's room we've removed all the furniture - don't ask, it's a long story - and the walls ring like a drum when hit. I'm thinking that I may have to take some drywall screws and securing the entire board to the studs and not justin's the edges because clearly whoever hung them didn't. Am I right? Do you think the drywall would be less prone to breaking, or would it just help localize any future damage?

[tippie53]

it is a fragile substance and is easy to pop a hole in. The blue board is a bit more substantial .

[Valleyisle]

If the drywall was installed with 'drywall nails' and the wall receives a few beats it is possible that the nail heads are not compressing the drywall in thoese shaken areas. Preferred installation is with screws and there is a minimum amount required by code what we call 'in the field' depending on nails vs. screws. Install screws up to twice the thickness of the material. Try not to sink the screws beyond the compression of the paper coating, just bury below the flat surface for maximum compression. The basic wall studs is usually 16 inches o.c. depending whether it is a 'bearing wall' ....some builders will span studs up to 24 inches to save the $....You can strengthen the wall by applying a few screws once you locate the stud pattern. The walls are probably 1/2 standard. 5/8 rock is a stronger-1 hour fire rated board and a lot more stiffer with the added compounds and additional thickness. Hope this helps.