I can understand when drywalling is new to you that you might not know where to start. You are facing a room full of studs and ceiling joists, ready to have drywall installed and no clue what to do next. So where does a person start first? Read on to find out.
Should you drywall your ceilings or walls first? Drywall ceilings first. By drywalling the ceiling before the walls, you improve the overall stability of the walls and ceiling. This will improve safety as insulation is most likely going to be added to the top side of the ceilings drywall, increasing the overall weight.
Now you know, drywall your ceiling first. Easy to say, but there might be some instances where doing so is either not possible or might help you with your job by doing walls first. Let me explain.
The Timing Might Not Be Right
I have been on jobs where a mix of the different trades are all trying to finish their work. Sometimes an electrician or maybe a plumber is late according to the job’s schedule and the drywall needs to start going up regardless. Timelines are extremely important not just between the trades but for customers specifically. They expect a job to be completed by a certain date and it’s the tradesmen’s job to do their best to meet that date.
Drywalling Walls First – Is There a Way to Drywall Ceilings Yourself?
Let me explain. If you happen to be on your own, as most DIYer’s are, then listen up. If you want to install drywall on the ceiling yourself, what you can do is first hang the drywall on the walls leaving a ½” or ⅝” gap all around the top of the walls. The thickness will be determined by how thick of drywall you are using on the ceiling.
Marking ½” or ⅝” down from the ceiling and using a chalk line or laser level and then marking each stud accordingly will make it easier when you hoist up the drywall to screw it to the walls.
Once all of the walls are completed, o drywall the ceiling you just have to lift one edge up onto the top edge of the drywall on the walls. If you have two adjoining walls drywalled, even better, as now you have even more support. Push up the board and screw it in.
Technically, the way the drywall is applied here, it looks just like you installed the ceiling first. The difference is the walls might not be supporting the ceiling as much as if you pushed the drywall up the wall butting it up against the ceiling.
These two examples are the only times I would say it is okay to do the walls before the ceiling. Now, let’s look at some other questions I want to answer regarding drywalling the ceiling.
How to Hang Drywall on Ceilings?
Hanging gyproc/drywall on the ceiling can seem like a scary idea if you have never done it before. Keep these tips in mind:
- Have two people holding up the drywall and one person screwing it to the ceiling.
- Measure twice and cut once.
- Make sure that you know exactly where you are placing the drywall before you lift it up.
- Use a drywall lift is possible. Even if you have two or three people, using a lift is an excellent option. It allows less people to work in that location as well as increasing safety for everyone in the vicinity.
- Mark the location where the joist meets the wall right on the wall, if possible. It makes it easier to line up for installing screws.
- Make sure there is enough backing in the ceiling so the ends of the drywall are screwed securely. It’s very frustrating when you get a large sheet of drywall hoisted up in the air and find out you have to bring it back down and cut some backing (backing is wood that the drywall attaches to).
Which Way Do You Hang Drywall on the Ceiling?
Hanging the drywall vertically across the joists or trusses is the recommended way to hang drywall on ceilings. If you need to do so horizontally because it makes sense for the area you are working in, then go ahead.
I believe that if you run the drywall vertically, it will be less likely to crack when the building shifts.
How Many Screws Do You Put in Sheetrock on the Ceiling?
On the ends of the drywall, I will put a screw about every 6” to 8” and on the joists in the middle of the board I will use about 5 screws for each one.
So if you have a 4’X8’ sheet and the joists are running at 24” on center, you will have three joists to screw to and then the outer two ends.
Add that all up and you are using approximately 33 screws per 4’X8’ sheet.
That being said, a lot of trusses and joists are run at 18” on center so you could use as many as 43 screws in some applications.
Do you stagger drywall on ceilings?
Yes, stagger drywall on ceilings and walls as well. The more staggering you do, the less likely you will run into an issue with having this massive seam sticking out like a sore thumb. I have done it in the past and it’s just way to much when you have to go back and start mudding when you thought you were done.
So do yourself a favor and stagger as much as possible.
What Thickness of Drywall Should I Use on the Ceiling?
The thickness might be dictated by code depending on what type of building you are drywalling. A commercial building or a home that has a basement suite will require a ⅝” thick drywall for ceilings. This is called a fire wall in most regions.
I would definitely check with your local governing body to see if there is any code for drywall ceiling thickness before you purchase any drywall.
Most residential drywall applications will be ½” which is great to work with and most electrical boxes are manufactured with the ½” thickness in mind.
There is a plus, however, if you use ⅝”. Just that little bit of extra thickness, a whole ⅛” of drywall is a great way to provide a bit of soundproofing. It won’t make sound studio quality but it does make some difference.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is best practice to drywall ceilings before walls whenever possible. You run the drywall vertically across the trusses or joists and you will need about 33 to 43 screws per 4’X8’ sheet of drywall. Obviously, more screws for longer boards.
One note not mentioned yet is that drywalling the walls 2nd allows you to be able to butt the drywall right up tight to the ceiling then screw it to the framing. This provides a more solid structure and will minimize cracking happening along the seams.
I hope this information has helped.
If you are just starting out and don’t know what tools are needed to drywall, please check out my article on the subject. Tools Required for Drywalling.
Or maybe you are curious about how long that drywall job is going to take you? If so, I have an article on that subject also, discussing different aspects. How Long Does it Take to Hang Drywall?
