How to Install Hardibacker on a Ceiling

Rent a drywall jack from a local rental center. A drywall jack is built to hold a single sheet of drywall in position while you screw it in place. This tool will make your job much easier.

Measure the area to be covered with Hardibacker. Use these measurements to determine the number of sheets you'll need. Hardibacker comes in 4-by-8 foot and 3-by-5 foot panels.

Calculate the spacing of the ceiling joists from the center points of adjacent joists. Most homes have joists spaced at 16-inch intervals.

Cut the first sheet of Hardibacker, if necessary, by scoring the panel with a utility knife and snapping off the excess. When installing Hardibacker, try to use full sheets as much as possible and save cutting for the edges of the ceiling area. Mark the Hardibacker sheet with a pencil to replicate the ceiling joist spacing -- this will make it easier to find the ceiling joists when screwing the Hardibacker to the ceiling.

Place the first sheet of Hardibacker onto the jack and raise it into position at one corner of the ceiling. Screw the Hardibacker sheet to the ceiling around the perimeter with drywall screws spaced every 1 foot. Countersink the screws so they can be covered with joint compound later. Secure the center of the sheet with screws sunk into the joists at 1-foot intervals.

Install the sheets and cut portions until the ceiling is covered.

Cover the joints between the sheets with vinyl drywall tape. Apply a layer of joint compound over the tape and screw depressions. Sand the joint compound until smooth then prime and paint the ceiling.