Learning how to hang sheetrock, or drywall as it is more commonly known, is a job that many people believe should be done by the professionals.
The reality is that the actual hanging isn’t that difficult and it usually the taping and mudding where things can get a little sticky, if you’ll pardon the pun. If you can measure and are handy with a utility knife then there is no reason that you can’t hang sheetrock by yourself. I say yourself, but you really might want to consider asking a few friends for help, unless of course you have Popeye style muscles that are activated by spinach. Drywall may look flimsy, but it’s a heavy piece of material that requires a little muscle to work with.
Now, let’s get started.
How to Hang Sheetrock
1. The most important thing you need to do before starting is prep your work area by removing an old drywall, nails or screws as well as vacuum up a dust or debris around the studs. You’ll be thankful later as working in a cleaner environment will make the job go a lot quicker.
2. I’d suggest you do the hardest part first – the ceiling. This is easily a two or three person job, since you can’t hold a 50 pound panel to the ceiling and screw it up at the same time, unless you get a drywall lifter, which holds the sheetrock to the ceiling so that you can nail or screw it to the joists. If you don’t have this machine, building a couple T-shaped supports will also work do wonders.
3. Once the ceiling is completed, start on the walls. Traditionally, the drywall should be hung horizontally, which sounds harder, but isn’t really. Start by handing the top piece first, by butting it up to the panel on the ceiling and securing it with nails or screws. After you have the top pieces hung, do the same method for the bottoms.
4. Lastly, go back and make sure that your panels are secure and that your countersink your screws so that you get a smooth wall after finishings.
While it may seem to make sense to hang the drywall vertically, it’s actually much better to do so horizontally. You’ll end up with a much stronger wall, that doesn’t show seams as easily. Hanging sheetrock really is that simple and it may even give you the confidence to think about doing the taping and mudding on your own.
You’ll be a drywall pro in no time!
