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The average life span for drywall is between 40 and 60 years, although panels can last significantly longer in many cases if it’s well-maintained. Of course, many things can reduce the life span of your drywall, including fire, smoke damage, water, moisture, and physical damage, like dents and holes. Thankfully, you’re likely to get around 50 years of value out of professionally-installed drywall, making the $2,000 you’ll spend on the job well worth it in the long run.

Yes, it matters which side of drywall you use. One side is smooth, and the other is rough. The smooth side should be facing outward, toward the room, while the rough side should be hidden and facing the studs and framing of the house. The smooth side will be easier to apply tape, joint compound, and, later, paint to.

There are several things you should not do when installing drywall. Common mistakes include: adding too many screws, over-sanding, not adding backing support, and installing drywall unevenly. You also should avoid screwing into the same place twice, installing Sheetrock with tapered edges on the outside, and making too many joints.

You may need to replace drywall because of smoke damage. If the drywall is covered in soot, you may be able to clean it, but it will require a lot of time and effort. You could spend hours cleaning the drywall only to find there is more damage and it needs to be replaced anyway. It’s usually easier and safer to remove the smoke-damaged drywall and replace it.