Mark all of these measurements down so you don’t forget them. Contractors often write their measurements directly on wall studs or drywall sheets so they always know the location of their measurements. Consider following this practice so you don’t lose track.
If you took your measurements in inches, simply divide the measurement by 12 to convert it to feet. For instance, if you measured 84 in (210 cm), that is 7 ft (2. 1 m). Average drywall sheets are 8 ft (2. 4 m) by 4 ft (1. 2 m), or 32 square feet (3. 0 m2). After calculating the square footage of the ceiling and each wall, divide each number by 32. This will tell you how many drywall sheets you need for each section. So if your ceiling is 8 ft (2. 4 m) by 10 ft (3. 0 m), that’s 80 sq ft (7. 4 m2): 80/32 is 2. 5, so buy 3 whole sheets for that section. Buy a few more sheets than you need to ensure you have enough if you make any mistakes.
Turn off all light switches in the room to make sure electricity isn’t flowing to light fixtures or switches. To be extra safe, turn off the circuits for this room in your breaker board. Remember to tuck away all wires that are sticking out after you remove these fixtures. Tucking them behind the rafters in the ceiling or wall studs will keep them out of the way of any screws when you start installing the drywall.
Measure the radius of the fixture as well. That way you’ll know how big of a hole to cut in the drywall. While you install the drywall, it’s best to cut the holes right after you hang the sheets. If you complete the installation and then make a mistake while cutting, you might have to redo the whole job.
Use a longer screw for this job than you use for drywall installation. If your wood is 2 in (5. 1 cm) thick, use a 5 in (13 cm) screw. You’ll probably have to stand on a step stool or small ladder to do this, so be careful. If you don’t have a wood block long enough, use a smaller piece and move it around as you need.
You can now spin this block around and let drywall sheets rest on it while you install them. You can install as many of these blocks as you need. Whenever you need some extra support, drill one down and rotate it so the drywall rests on the block. Simply remove them after you’re done. These blocks are especially useful for when you have to drill screws into the drywall and may need both hands.
If you start in a different location, your measurements will be off and you will have to do more cutting than you would normally. This adds more work and time, and if you make mistakes when cutting you’ll have to buy more drywall!
You’ll need some strength to do this alone. Drywall sheets are about 50 lb (23 kg), and you’ll need to support this weight above your head for a few seconds.
This is much easier once you have one end resting on the wood block on the wall. That will support some of the drywall’s weight while you slide it into place. For extra support, drill more wood blocks to the ceiling and rotate them to hold the drywall.
It’s important to keep your screws 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm) away from any edges to avoid cracking the drywall. Avoid any of the ceiling fixtures that you made note of before. Use coarse-threaded screws for drywall installation. Screws come on many lengths. A good rule is to multiply the width of your drywall, usually 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm), by 1. 5. This gives you 3⁄4 in (1. 9 cm). Then add 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm) and 3⁄4 inch (1. 9 cm) together, giving you 1 1/4 inches (3. 175 cm) for your screw length.
The distance between these screws depends on whether you’re fastening the drywall sheet lengthwise or width-wise. The width is 4 ft (1. 2 m), so place your 5 screws 9 in (23 cm) apart if you placed the sheets width-wise. The length is 8 ft (2. 4 m), so place your 5 screws 19 in (48 cm) apart if you placed your sheets length-wise. If you have trouble following the first screw in a straight line, use a yardstick to help. Push this onto the ceiling and draw a straight line back from the first screw. Then drill your other screws on this line. [12] X Research source
Cut these holes after placing each sheet, rather than saving it all for the end. That way if you make a mistake, you only have to replace one sheet.
At this point, don’t cut any drywall sheets yet. Drill down as many complete panels as possible, making sure to keep the sheets straight and pressed together. Drill screws in a straight line from the screws in the first sheet. These first screws show where the ceiling rafters are, so you don’t have to guess where the rafters are under the drywall. [15] X Research source
Remember—measure twice, cut once! Be certain of all your measurements before cutting so you don’t ruin a piece of drywall.
Remove screws by running your power drill in reverse. This pulls out the screws and lets you take down any wood blocks. Remember you can reuse this wood throughout the project. Remove a wood block from one area and re-attach it to another for extra support.
Mark this on every stud in the wall so you know the location from wherever you’re standing.
Keep this block straight. If it’s crooked, your drywall could be crooked too. Use a level tool if you’re having trouble keeping the block straight.
Lift with your legs as much as possible. This is a heavy weight and focusing all of it on your back could hurt you. Slide the drywall along this block as needed to get it in the proper position.
For instance, if the sheet covers 8 studs, then drill 8 screws.
The distance between these screws depends on whether you’re fastening the drywall sheet lengthwise or width-wise. The width is 4 ft (1. 2 m), so the 5 screws should be about 9 in (23 cm) apart if you placed the sheets width-wise. The length is 8 ft (2. 4 m), so the 5 screws should be about 19 in (48 cm) apart if you’re installing the sheets length-wise. If you have trouble following the first screw in a straight line, use a ruler or yardstick. Push this onto the wall and draw a straight line up from the first screw. Then drill your other screws on this line. [22] X Research source
Drill screws in a straight line from the screws in the first sheet. These first screws show where the wall studs are, so you don’t have to try and guess where the studs are under the drywall. If the wood block you installed isn’t long enough, remove it from the wall and drill it in a new spot to help with further installation.
To remove the wood block, run your power drill in reverse to pull out the screws. This will detach the block from the wall studs.
Write down all your measurements and double-check them before cutting so you don’t ruin a piece of drywall. If you cut too much, you’ll need a new piece.
If the floor is finished with wood, then it is okay for the drywall to touch the floor.
