Hanging Drywall on a Ceiling with One Man

Sweep the job site's floor with a broom to remove debris and dust. Drywall lifts typically roll on a set of three small wheels; failure to clean the floor can cause the lift to tip and dump heavy loads. Release the support bars' clips and extend the bars to the width of your drywall sheet, typically 4 feet wide. Allow the support bars' clips to snap into place at the desired width.

Pull the support hooks' rings or clips to release the support hooks. Swing the hooked portion of the support hooks upward and align the hooks with the end of the support bars. Allow the hooks' clips or rings to snap into place. Tug on the hooks and support bars to ensure that their retaining clips or rings are securely seated.

Release the cradle's tilt mechanism by pulling the clip or ring on the lift's mast; the term cradle refers to entire support bar and hook structure and the term mast refers to the upright tube that connects the cradle to the three-wheeled, tripod base. Tilt the cradle at a 45-degree angle with the support hooks closest to the ground.

Hold a drywall sheet on edge in front of the tilted cradle. Position the sheet's finished face toward the lift. Lift one corner of the sheet and gently place the corner onto a support hook. Lift the opposite corner and gently place it into the opposite hook. Lay the sheet's face against the cradle's support bars.

Tilt the lift's cradle to its original, level position. Roll the lift to position the sheet. Step on the lift's brake pedal to engage the lift's brake and stabilize the lift's position. Crank the winch attached to the mast's side clockwise to raise the drywall sheet. Watch for obstacles as you raise the load.

Stop raising the load several inches below the ceiling joists. Inspect the sheet's position. If necessary, release the brake and use the steering bar attached to the mast to align the sheet. Engage the brake and crank the winch until the sheet nearly touches the ceiling joists.

Position a ladder to one side of the raised sheet. Climb the ladder and use a power drill or hammer to drive screws or nails through the sheet and into the joists. Fasten nails approximately every 10 inches to 12 inches along the sheet's face or according to local codes. Move the ladder to access the sheet's adjacent edges and interior. Crank the winch counterclockwise to lower the cradle.