How to Sheetrock a Slanted Ceiling

Lift the sheetrock up to the slanted ceiling. Have someone help you do this, since the panels are heavy. You want the sheetrock length to be perpendicular to the ceiling joists. Place the first sheetrock panel in a lower corner of the ceiling, up against the wall sheetrock.

Drill drywall screws through the sheetrock and into the ceiling joists. Look above the panel along the ceiling to see where the joists are located.

Hang more panels of sheetrock along the bottom edge of the slanted ceiling in the same way as the first. Butt each panel up against the last. Repeat with the additional rows of sheetrock until the slanted ceiling is covered.

Cut the sheetrock if necessary to fit at the ends. Measure the space where it needs to fit, and transfer those measurements to the panel. Draw a line with a straightedge to indicate where the sheetrock needs cutting. Use a utility knife to score the panel along the line, and then place it on a flat surface with the unneeded portion hanging off the edge. Push down to snap the panel and break off the unwanted portion.

Dip a taping knife into drywall compound and spread it onto the surface of the sheetrock over the seams and screw heads. You just need a thin layer.

Tear off pieces of drywall tape and place them over the seams. Smooth the tape flat to the wall, and then spread another thin coating of drywall compound over the top. Let this coat dry for 24 hours.

Sand the drywall compound areas to smooth out any rough spots. Use a wider taping knife to spread on a final coat so it covers more than the taped area of the ceiling. Thin the compound down at the edges farthest away from the seams until it smooths down to the sheetrock surface. Let the ceiling dry another day. Once it's dry, the ceiling is ready for paint.