How to Replace Sheetrock from the Attic

Measure the length and width of the ceiling and wall space where you want to hang the Sheetrock. Use a tape measure to obtain accurate measurements. Multiply the length by the width to calculate the square feet of the Sheetrock you are going to replace. Write down the measurement and use it to purchase the appropriate amount of Sheetrock for your project.

Divide your measurement by 32 to calculate the number of 4-by-8-foot Sheetrock sheets you must purchase. Then take your measurements to a home improvement or hardware store.

Measure the distance between the floor and ceiling in your attic. Purchase three 2-by-4-inch wood beams, and cut them to measure 2 inches shorter than that distance.

Create a jack to raise the Sheetrock up and support it as you attach it to the ceiling.

Use a mallet and hammer to remove the existing Sheetrock that you want to replace in your attic. Turn off the water and power to your home while removing the Sheetrock from your attic.

Examine the insulation behind the Sheetrock you’re removing for water damage, and consult a plumber to correct any water pipe issues that you find. Replace the insulation with new insulation if the existing insulation is old or damp.

Cut new Sheetrock pieces with a utility knife to fit the ceiling spaces you are resurfacing in your attic.

Use the 2-by-4-inch jack you created out of wooden beams to support the Sheetrock before screwing it into the ceiling.

Mark with pencil the spots on the Sheetrock where it lines up with the studs in the ceiling. Have an assistant help you hold the Sheetrock pieces flat against the attic ceiling, and use a power drill to screw 1-1/2-inch drywall screws through the Sheetrock and into the studs to secure the new Sheetrock to the ceiling.

Cut new Sheetrock pieces to fit onto the walls in the attic where you are replacing old Sheetrock. Press new Sheetrock up against the wall, and mark the spots where studs are located. Drill 1-1/2-inch drywall screws into the Sheetrock at these marks, every 4 inches along those stud lines.

Apply a thin line of corner bead to the outside edges of the Sheetrock on the ceiling and walls. Nail the corner bead to the drywall with a hammer every 6 to 8 inches.

Tape a strip of fiberglass tape over all seams where Sheetrock pieces meet each other.

Spread a thin layer of drywall joint compound over the surface of all Sheetrock seams where the pieces meet each other, using a 6-inch-wide taping knife. Apply joint compound over all screw heads. Allow the joint compound to dry completely overnight.

Apply a second coat of joint compound the next day in the same spots and allow it to dry at least 12 hours. Repeat the step to apply a third layer of joint compound to the new Sheetrock.

Sand the dried joint compound with 150-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth. Paint the new Sheetrock, if desired, to complete your refinished attic.