How to Hang Drywall Sheets

What you need

Drywall sheets, drywall screws, a drill/driver, a utility knife, a straight edge, a tape measure, a pencil, a T-square if you have one, and a second person — sheets are heavy and awkward alone. A drywall lift is worth hiring for ceilings.

Step 1 — Measure and work out the sheets

Measure the room's length, width and height. The wall area is twice the length plus the width, times the height; add the ceiling area if you are boarding that too. The drywall calculator gives you the sheet count with wastage and the screw count — about 32 screws per sheet — so you can order everything in one trip.

Step 2 — Cut the sheets

Score the face paper with a utility knife against a straight edge, snap the sheet, then cut the back paper. Cut openings for sockets and switches by measuring from the sheet's edges, not by guessing. Sheets go up with the long edge horizontal on walls — fewer joints, and the joints land at a comfortable working height.

Cutting openings for sockets and switches

Measure the socket's position from the edges of the sheet, not from the wall — the sheet is what you are cutting. Mark the box on the face and cut it with a jab saw or a sharp knife, then test-fit the sheet before you screw it off.

Step 3 — Fix the sheets

Hold the sheet tight to the studs and screw it off, starting from the centre and working outwards. Screws go every 300 mm on studs, sunk just below the surface without breaking the paper. Stagger the joints between rows, like brickwork, and leave a small gap at the floor for expansion.

Step 4 — Tape and finish

Tape the joints, apply joint compound in thin coats, and sand between coats with a dust mask on. Three thin coats beat one thick one: thick compound shrinks and cracks. The finishing is what shows — take your time here, not on the hanging.

Worked example

A room 12 ft × 10 ft with 8 ft walls has 352 ft² of wall area. With 4 × 8 ft sheets and 10% wastage, that is 13 sheets and 416 screws. Add the ceiling (472 ft² in total) and it is 17 sheets and 544 screws. Those are exactly the numbers the drywall calculator gives you.

Common mistakes

• Breaking the paper with screws. A screw driven through the paper holds nothing. Sink it just below the surface and stop.
• Joints lining up. End joints in a straight line crack. Stagger them between rows.
• One thick coat of compound. Thick compound shrinks and cracks. Three thin coats, sanded between each, is the finish.

Safety

Wear a dust mask when cutting and sanding — drywall dust is fine and irritating. Sheets are heavy: lift with your knees and work in pairs. Before you fix anything, check for wires and pipes in the studs — a screw through a cable is a fire risk and a shock risk. If you are not sure what is in the wall, get a professional to check.

Try these calculators

• Drywall Calculator — sheets and screws for walls and ceilings.
• Drywall Sheet Calculator — sheets for any wall area.
• Drywall Mud Calculator — joint compound for the finish.