How to Fix Ceiling Drywall That Misses a Wood Beam

Ceilings in homes are generally sheets of drywall nailed or screwed to the ceiling rafters. A situation may arise when you are installing drywall on a ceiling in your home and a piece of drywall misses the rafter. Many times you can simply cut the drywall shorter to hit the previous rafter but this may not always be possible.

Tape measure
1 piece 2-by-4-inch lumber
Pencil
Circular saw
Safety goggles
Eight-penny nails
Hammer
Electric drill
Driver bit
Drywall screws

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the edge of the piece of drywall that must attach to the rafter, using a tape measure.
- 2
  Mark a piece of 2-by-4 with a pencil to that length.
- 3
  Cut the 2-by-4 using a circular saw on the pencil mark you made. Wear safety goggles when cutting the wood and keep your hands away from the blade at all times.
- 4
  Attach the 2-by-4 to the rafter using eight-penny nails and a hammer. Ensure that the bottom of the new piece of wood is flush with the bottom of the rafter. This process is called sistering a rafter.
- 5
  Secure the piece of drywall to the sistered rafter using an electric drill with a driver bit installed and drywall screws.

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