How to Apply Drywall to Cinder Block

Walk to one corner of the room and place the end of a tape measure in it. Stretch the tape measure along one wall to a length of 24 inches.

Place a stepladder at the 24-inch area and climb up to top of the wall. Place the end of a chalk line at the top of the wall and drop the other end to the floor. Snap the line on the wall to designate the location for the first furring strip.

Repeat the process all the way around the perimeter of the room to create vertical lines every 24 inches.

Insert a carbide masonry bit into a hammer drill then put on safety glasses and ear plugs. Make 1 1/2-inch deep holes every 24 inches along the length of each chalk line. When you are done, remove the dust from all of the holes with a shop vac.

Walk back to the first line location and measure the total height of the wall. Cut wooden furring strips to the same measurement with a hack saw. Cut one strip for each line on the wall.

Turn one furring strip vertically and center it over one of the chalk lines. Secure it to the wall by inserting concrete screws through the furring strip with a power drill into the pilot holes underneath them.

Place a piece of drywall up to the strips, pushing it all the way into one corner of the room. Secure it to all underlying furring strips with 1-inch drywall nails, spacing the nails approximately 24 inches apart.

Repeat the drywall installation around the entire perimeter of the room until no more cinder blocks are visible.