How to Build a Lift for a Drywall Ceiling

Renting a mechanical drywall lift to lift and hold 4-foot-by-8-foot pieces of drywall against the ceiling can be expensive -- but trying to hold a large piece of drywall against the ceiling without any type of lift can be awkward, difficult and nearly impossible. Use scrap pieces of lumber to create a two T-shaped lifts that wedge against the floor and hold the drywall against the ceiling. This keeps your hands free while you attach the drywall to the ceiling joists. As a safety precaution, have a helper hold the lifts to avoid knocking them from their positions (thereby causing the drywall to fall).

Tape measure
Table or circular saw
2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber
Drill
3-inch wood screws
2-1/2-inch wood screws

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the height of your ceiling. Cut two 2-inch-by-4-inch lengths of dimensional lumber 2 inches longer than the ceiling height measurement with a table saw or circular saw.
- 2
  Cut two lengths of 2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber 3 feet long. Find the center point of each of the 3-foot pieces of lumber.
- 3
  Drive two 3-inch wood screws through the center point of the 3-foot pieces of lumber and into the ends of the longer lengths of dimension lumber. This creates two wooden T shapes.
- 4
  Cut four lengths of 2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber 2 feet long, creating supports for your ceiling lifts. Cut each end of the 2-foot pieces of lumber at 45-degree angles, creating a trapezoid shape.
- 5
  Position two supports on each side of the longer length of lumber and beneath the 3-foot piece of lumber at a 45-degree angle. Attach the supports with 2-1/2-inch wood screws to each end of the 3-foot piece of lumber and to the sides of the longer length of lumber.

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