How to Drywall With Ease

Floor Space

• Before beginning a drywall installation, the floor should be clear of any leftover wood, construction debris or appliances. Extraneous boards and pieces of wood can be taken outside, while garbage and debris can be swept away from the current area you are working on. Any appliances should be moved into a separate room or area, preferably one that is already finished.

Manpower

• Recruiting more help can ease the strain of a tough drywall job. While small sheets of drywall can easily be hung by one person, larger sheets require the teamwork of two or even three individuals. You can also designate specific tasks for each worker: Have one person cut boards, two people handle and hang the board, and a fourth worker assist wherever is needed. A simple system such as this can really streamline the entire installation process.

Tools

• Access to the right tools is important for any project, and drywall installation is no different. Hammers and nails are typically used to secure a piece of wallboard to an exposed wood stud, but screw guns can also be used. Not only does it achieve the same effect as a hammer and nails, but it is much quicker. Both corded and cordless screw guns are available, as are manual and automatic screw-loading systems. While low-powered nail guns may also be used, this tool is primarily used for roofing and framing.

  For rooms with high ceilings or walls, some sort of a lift is necessary. Pneumatic and hydraulic drywall lifts are both available, which let you easily transport, raise and affix a sheet of drywall to a wall's exposed studs. Construction scaffolding systems can be assembled to facilitate worker access to projects with high ceilings and walls.

Materials

• Working with the appropriate materials for the specific job at hand will streamline the entire drywall installation process. Drywall sheets come in various lengths, heights and thicknesses, so you should make sure to pick the wallboard that matches the current project. Boards that are longer, taller or thicker will obviously weigh more than those that are smaller, and boards with different fire ratings may also weigh more than a regular sheet of drywall.