Learning how to install drywall is important for any renovation or room build. Hanging drywall sheets is one of the last steps to a reno and starts to make the room look complete. You’ll need to know how to measure the room to figure out how many drywall sheets you’ll need, and having a second person to help is key, as the boards can be heavy and hard to maneuver. We’ll show you how to install drywall in 9 easy steps below.
There are 9 steps to completing this project:
Measure the wall and cut the drywall sheet so it's about 1/4 inch shorter than the opening. Have someone help you position the sheet tight against the ceiling, and begin driving 1-1/4-inch screws in the middle of the panel at a convenient height.
Once the first screws are in place, put in the rest, working your way from the centre of the drywall panel toward the outside. Drive the screws 16 inches apart into all of the studs.
There should be a slight gap between the floor and the drywall so that the drywall won't jam against bumps in the floor. Baseboard will cover it later. If necessary, trim the sheet to leave about a 1/2-inch gap. Position the lower sheet of drywall by slipping a panel lifter under the bottom edge and stepping on the lifter, then screw the panel in place.
A longer wall may need more than one sheet of drywall. Start by hanging a full sheet as before. Tack it in place, and then drive screws every 16 inches into the studs.
If the sheet covers a window that has yet to be installed, cover the window with drywall the same way you covered the outlet. Later, rout out the drywall and add drywall screws around the opening as necessary. If the window is already in place, take off the window trim and cut the drywall before you hang it. Lay out the cut by positioning the sheet along the floor and marking where it meets the edge of the windows. Measure from the ceiling to the window top to lay out the top of the cut. Lay out a door cut the same way as a window. Remove the trim, lean the piece against the opening, mark the location of the studs, and draw a line for the top of the door opening. Make cuts for both doors and windows with a drywall saw, then screw the panels in place.
Cut a piece of drywall to fit between the corner and the piece you just hung. Cut it slightly undersized, leaving a 1/4-inch gap in the corner. Screw the drywall in place. Where the panels meet, cut a V-groove with your utility knife (see inset); this will make hiding the joint easier when you're taping.
Begin the bottom row with a shorter piece so that the seam in the top row will not be directly above the seam in the bottom row. Position the piece, lift it with a panel lift, and screw it in place. When the small piece is in place, install the longer piece.
When framing outside corners, cut the piece long so that it hangs over the corner. Then trim it with a drywall router or saw after it's in place. Hang the abutting panel, leaving it long too, and trim it to create a tight, well-fitted corner.
Protect the corners with metal corner bead. A bead that is a bit long will kink when you fasten it. To prevent this, cut the bead with tin snips, leaving it about 1/2 inch short. Hold the bead tight against the ceiling. Screws will distort the bead, so nail it in place, spacing the nails every 9 inches.
