As a woman in her mid-40s, I never would have thought I could hang drywall, much less that I could hang drywall by myself! In this post, I will teach you how to hang drywall by yourself! You will know which tools you need, how to hang drywall, and some helpful tips.

This post is all about how to hang drywall by yourself

 

Tools for Installing Drywall

• Cordless Drill
• #2 Phillips Screwdriver Bit with Depth Setter
• Rotary Cutter
• Utility Knife
• T-Square
• Drywall Screws
• Stud Finder
• Drywall Lift
• Saw Horses
• Drywall
• Ladder
• Pad of Paper
• Pencil
• Safety Goggles

 

Prepare to Hang Drywall

Setting Expectations

Part of preparing to hang drywall is setting REALISTIC expectations. If this is your first time, I suggest that you don’t give yourself a deadline.  Take your time.

As with anything else, there is a learning curve to hanging drywall. It will get easier, and you will get better at it. On your way to getting better, you will get tired and you will get frustrated.

When that happens, walk away for a bit! Don’t give up! You can do it!

Preparing the Space

You do need space for hanging drywall. I know can be a challenge if you are living in the home. Remove everything from the room in which you are hanging the drywall. Do not leave anything on the floor that may be a tripping hazard.

You will also need space to cut the drywall. You can do this in your driveway, garage, or inside the house. As our house is always a disaster, I do it in an adjacent room.

You will need enough room to lift a sheet of drywall and lay it on the saw horses.  You also need space to get around the drywall when cutting.

Drywall Backing

Before you start, look around and ensure you have a joist or backing installed along walls and corners. You always need to have something to screw the drywall into, so you may have to add it. Here is a link to a great video by Mr. Kongable that shows how to install drywall backing.

Local Building Codes

Check your local building code for any requirements for drywall before starting. For example, the 2018 IRC stipulates fastener spacing requirements based on the thickness of drywall, joist spacing, and type of fastener.

Setting Up Your Equipment

Drywall Lift

I will never recommend hanging drywall by yourself. It is easier (and much more enjoyable) with two people. That said, sometimes doing it yourself is just what you have to do.

When talking about hanging drywall, one of those ways is by using the drywall lift (linked above). This piece of equipment is a dream. If you are replacing ceiling drywall, a drywall lift is a must.

Before you purchase one, check with your local equipment rental store, such as Home Depot or Lowes. They may have one available to rent! You might save a little money and not have to find a place to store it.

Set up the lift before you get started, and make sure to read and follow all the setup instructions and safety precautions. It is pretty heavy, so I recommend using two people to put the lift together.

Saw Horses and Drywall

You will be lifting and laying the drywall on top of the saw horses, so you may want to store the drywall close so you don’t have to carry it very far. Drywall sheets come in various sizes, including 4′ x 8′, 4′ x 10′, and 4′ x 12′. If you are working alone, I would recommend using 4′ x 8′ sheets. I would not be able to work with anything larger by myself.

Drill, Drill Bit, and Screws

Make sure you have your drill ready with a battery on the charger. You will be very disappointed if your battery runs out when you are on a roll and you don’t have a charged battery.

I like to put a handful of screws on top of my ladder so they are within reach. I highly recommend using the drill bit I included in the list above. It prevents the screw from going too far into the drywall, which I will explain later.

Using drywall nails to fasten the drywall to the framing is an option you can explore, but I (along with many others) prefer using screws.

 

How to Hang Drywall

Where to Start

If you are installing drywall on walls and ceiling, I recommend starting with the ceiling for several reasons. One – You want tight seams when installing drywall, which is more easily achieved where the ceiling meets the wall when you install the ceiling boards first. Two – You will feel a great sense of accomplishment when it is done and will, therefore, be more likely to keep going!

Getting Started

The same principles apply to ceilings and walls for the most part. You will start in one corner of the room and work your way out.

You want the longest side of the board to run perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Joists are typically 16 inches on center, so a full piece would span six joists. If it is less than 96″, you will simply cut the piece so that the end lands in the center of the joist.

This is when your notepad will come in handy. I always keep it in my pocket and write down every measurement. You have heard the saying, which certainly applies here: measure twice and cut once!

When measuring, you can either try to measure to the center of the joist or measure to the end and subtract 3/4″. You will butt the next piece up to the end of the last, giving you 3/4″ to screw into each piece.

 

How to Cut Drywall

This is when you will need your saw horses, t-square, utility knife, and pencil. To cut drywall, you can either do it from the floor, cutting the board while it is on edge, or from saw horses. I prefer to cut it by laying it out on top of the saw horses (to lift the drywall, I prop my shoe under the center of the board so I can get my hand under it).

Once you have placed it on the saw horses, measure and mark each side of the drywall and draw a line using your t-square and pencil. If you are cutting the long side of the board, mark a couple of spots near the center for your t-square to reach. Once you make your line, score the line with your utility knife. You are just barely puncturing the paper.

 

Hold on to the drywall as you score it because it will break, and you don’t want the paper on the back of the board to tear. Once you have scored the paper, carefully let the drywall drop. From the underside, using my utility knife, I cut the paper at the ends and work my way toward the center.

Remember, the goal is to keep the paper on the back from tearing. It is what is holding the drywall together. Once it is cut, it is time to put it on the lift!

How to Use a Drywall Lift to Hang Drywall on the Ceiling by Yourself

Read the instructions for using the lift before using it. As they may all differ, I hesitate to explain how to use them here. I think the idea behind all of them is the same.

The lift helps you guide the drywall into place and maintain its position while you screw it into place. I like to have two ladders set up to save a little time. You do not have to put every screw into place before lowering the lift, but I would ensure ample screw coverage to hold it in place.

Some people will encourage you to stagger the seams. As the finisher, I find it easier to keep the seams in one line. How you do it is up to you (especially if you are the one doing the finishing)!

How to Hang Drywall on Walls by Yourself

Before I started hanging drywall, everything I read said to start with the top piece so you can get it tight to the ceiling. That is excellent advice unless you are doing it yourself. I recommend starting with the bottom piece if you are doing the installation alone. That allows you to prop the top piece up on the bottom while you get a couple of screws in to hold it in place.

Your ceiling height will determine whether two rows will be sufficient. You may have to add a piece to the top or the center. I usually use scrap pieces of drywall to hold it off the floor.

Hang the sheets horizontally on the walls, with the tapered joints running horizontally. You want most of your joints to be made up of tapered edges, which are also the long sides of the board. The tapering allows for tape and mud, making it easier to make the joints look seamless.

Fastening the Drywall Panel with Screws

When installing screws, you want to follow your local building code requirements. Based on ours, I aim to install a screw every 12″.

I like to install the top and bottom screws in a line, then fill in the screws in between. This is when you will use your stud finder. You want to ensure you are screwing into the stud or joist.

When installing the screw, you want to ensure the head of the screw is just below the surface of the paper but not puncturing the paper. If you go through the paper, you will want to remove that screw and install one just above or below that one. You will have the best luck if you go in straight with the screw and not at an angle.

How To Handle Openings

I linked a rotary cutting tool in the list above. It is an excellent tool for cutting around openings. I typically measure and cut the openings for electrical boxes or electrical outlets with my utility knife and use the rotary tool for any openings in the ceiling. When using the rotary tool, you want to mark the location of the center of the opening so you know where to start with the bit.

If you are cutting around an opening in the ceiling, you will need to ensure the board is anchored to the ceiling but not so tight that it breaks. The rotary tool tends to walk a bit, so go as slowly as possible. I recommend checking out this super helpful video by Home RenoVision.

Summary

In this post, I shared with you how to hang drywall alone, with some hanging drywall tips and tricks along the way! You should now know what you need to know to get started on your own house! Now that you have hung your drywall, it is time to finish it, so make sure to check out my post How to Finish Drywall Flawlessly in Just a Few Steps!