How to Sheetrock a Basement Ceiling

Place a sheetrock board up against the ceiling joists, starting in one corner. Use a ladder to reach the space. Also, you'll need a second person to help lift the heavy material.

Screw the sheetrock to the joists with drywall screws and a drill. Repeat with additional sheetrock boards until the entire ceiling is covered.

Cut sheetrock boards as needed to fit around things such as a pipe running up the wall. Measure out the place that needs to be cut with a measuring tape and mark it. Score the board along the mark with a utility knife. Repeat the scoring on the other side and snap the piece out.

Spread drywall mud along the seams of the sheetrock with a trowel and then place drywall tape on top of the it. The mud is a spackle-like material that smooths over seams so they are not noticeable. Press the tape in to get it to stick. Spread more drywall mud on top of the tape. This needs to dry for a day.

Sand the mud surface to smooth it. Smear more mud on the taped areas and thin it out on the edges so that it smooths out to the sheetrock surface. Let the mud dry another day, then sand it once more.