by AJ Roderick

Created on: September 22, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

Hanging dry wall by yourself is an easy task with the proper tools at your disposal and some patience. Here are some tips on how to successfully hang dry wall in the rooms of your building. You may want to call on a friend for assistance if the area you are covering requires the use of a full sheet. They can be quite heavy to manage alone. Before you begin, you will need the following items:

- a T-square / right angle
- a drill with the proper screw type attachment
- drywall screws (approximately 1.5 inches long)
- a small hand saw (keyhole saw)
- a few pencils (you can never have too many)
- a claw hammer for removing old nails (if applicable)
- a utility knife and a number of blades
- safety glasses
- a drop cloth
- a rubber mat


Getting Started

Make sure that you have moved all of the furniture and large objects out of the room prior to cutting dry wall. The gypsum contained in the board is a fine powder which makes a big mess once it is cut. If your room is empty, make sure the floor is clear of any debris and objects, as a majority of the cutting will take place on the floor where it is flat. First time do-it-yourself people may find cutting on the ground easier than managing a large drywall sheet propped up between two saw horses.

Prior to cutting, measure out the space that the dry wall will occupy. Since a majority of buildings are not perfectly square, you will need to take measurements from all 4 sides to ensure a proper first cut. Nothing is more annoying than making a cut, then trying to place the dry wall sheet and discovering the sheet is too large to fit into the area. The old rule states - measure twice, cut once.

Lay down a drop cloth on your floor to minimize the amount of gypsum powder tracked about. Also, this will prevent the powder from scouring your floors as you walk about the work area. On your cutting area, lay down the rubber mat on the floor and each time you need to make a cut, ensure that it is on top of the rubber mat, so you do not slice the floor below.

The last tip for preparing your work area is to examine the framed walls for any nails, screws or items sticking out of the studs in your wall. Promptly remove them with your claw hammer. This will allow the drywall to sit flush against your framed walls and wont chip or crack the dry wall when it is put into place.


Hanging the Dry Wall

Start at one corner of the room and work your way outwards. If the framing was done properly, the edges of a full sheet of dry wall should come to an end in the

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>