How Should You Frame Studs for Horizontal Drywall?

Drywall sheets are typically installed vertically, so the panel's eight-foot side is oriented straight up and down. But if you're installing sheets of drywall onto a stud wall that is less than eight feet tall, you may want to install the sheets horizontally to save on the number of cuts you need to make. There's no need to frame the stud wall any differently than you would in a standard installation, but to ensure the best installation of the drywall sheet, you may want to make a few additions to your stud wall before installing the drywall sheets.

Tape measure
Pencil
2-by-4-inch boards
Circular saw
8d nails
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Measure up the studs of the frame wall to 48 inches above the floor. Make a pencil mark on the studs at this location.
- 2
  Measure the distance between your studs. For studs spaced 16 inches on the center, the distance should be 14 inches -- but measure to be sure.
- 3
  Cut a number of 2-by-4-inch boards to match the distance between studs. Cut one board for each space between vertical studs.
- 4
  Place the boards horizontally between the vertical studs, lining them up at each end with the pencil marks and the front edges of the vertical studs. Toenail the boards into the studs with 8d nails at the top and bottom of each board.
- 5
  Place your drywall sheets on the wall -- the top of the lower sheet and the bottom of the upper sheet will match the crosspieces, providing extra support to the drywall sheets when they're installed.

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