Sheetrock is the material of choice in covering walls and ceilings in many homes. But which should you install first — walls or ceiling?
You should always sheetrock the ceiling before the walls. Installing the ceiling sheetrock first makes the process faster and allows you to create tighter corners, as the walls butt up to it. It also makes for a more professional job, as you can better see your work with the ceiling already in place.
In this article, we’ll discuss the many reasons why most professionals prefer installing the ceiling sheetrock before the walls. We’ll also cover some installation tips for installing sheetrock in your home. Read on to learn more.
Reasons Why You Should Sheetrock the Ceiling Before the Walls
As mentioned, sheetrock is the cornerstone of a good foundation for your walls and ceilings. As such, you want that foundation to be reliable, and the sequence you follow when applying that sheetrock has a significant impact on its durability and overall appearance.
With that said, the following are the most important reasons why you should always sheetrock your ceilings before your walls.
It Makes for Faster and Simpler Work
If you’ve done construction before, then you know that the ceiling is typically the most challenging part to work on.
Many home improvement experts will tell you that it’s much harder to sheetrock the top than the walls. This is because you’ll be working above your head, which is incredibly uncomfortable and fatiguing. Therefore, when you sheetrock the ceiling first, you’ll be getting the most challenging part of the process out of the way.
It Allows You Make Tighter Corners
Installing sheetrock is all about getting that perfectly smooth finish that’s free of even the slightest blemishes. The only way you can achieve this is through a series of cuts and joints that will eventually fit into place like a puzzle.
Since your ceiling is already in place, you can see the final result as you go about installing those cuts and joints. As such, it’s easier to fit those pieces together as you go along. This will result in those tight, seamless joints that are so desirable.
Better Ceiling Support
The reason that most home improvement professionals recommend sheetrock is because it provides you with a firmer foundation, as well as a flat surface for painting, wallpaper, and other decorative elements. As such, by installing the ceiling sheetrock first, the wall sheetrock serves as further reinforcement.
Tips To Consider When Installing Sheetrock
If you’re planning on tackling the entirety of your sheetrock installation job by yourself, then the chances are that it’ll be a long and arduous task. As such, it’s vital to employ a few tricks and tips that’ll help ease the burden around your work area.
Here are just some of those helpful hints:
- Always use the right tools for the job. As with any construction project, the right tools will ensure a quick and easy sheetrock installation task. A power screwdriver or a drill is a must for hanging sheetrock, so make sure you have one handy.
- Keep your sheetrock dust under control. There’s no avoiding the mess that comes from using sheetrock. To keep your work area as clean as possible, use a wet sheetrock sponge to mop up any excess dust and debris around the installation site.
- Use a sheetrock T square for straight lines. If you want to make sure that you never go wrong with your cuts, then consider using a sheetrock T square to guide your blades. This simple tool isn’t only cheap, but it makes the task much easier and faster.
- Use a level to ensure square corners. You need to ensure that the corners are dead straight. To do this, use a level and place it against each corner if they look even, then congratulations! You’ve achieved perfect 90-degree angles.
- Make sure the sheetrock is level. A sheetrock installation without any level is destined for failure. Therefore, you’ll want to use a spirit or bubble level to ensure that the sheetrock remains perfectly even throughout your project before you go ahead and attach it.
- Use big sheets of sheetrock. There’s simply no good reason to choose small sheets of sheetrock over the larger ones. Bigger sheets will ensure that you don’t waste any time cutting and trying to make pieces fit together, allowing for a much faster installation process.
- Apply the studs first. This is a simple step that seems to be overlooked by many people. By attaching the studs first, you ensure that your panels attach securely to the foundation of the building, providing a firm and steady foundation for your sheetrock installation project.
- Ensure that your sheetrock is tight against the ceiling and wall. You’ll need to make sure that your joints and cuts are as tight as possible against the wall and ceiling, which means you’ll need to do a dry run first before attaching those panels. This extra step will ensure that those seams remain as seamless as possible.
- Use quality fasteners. Nothing is worse than having all of your hard work go to waste because a sheetrock screw pulled through the panel. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, make sure you use quality fasteners, drilling them into studs or joists instead of just pushing them in.
Final Thoughts
The outcome of your sheetrock project is highly dependent on the part that you choose to work on first. This is why we, and most home improvement experts, recommend installing the sheetrock first. It’s more practical, makes the job faster, and creates tighter corners.
We hope that the tips and tricks within this article help you on your journey to installing sheetrock in your home — we hope you’ll love the results.
Recommended Reading:
- Should Drywall Be Flush With the Door Jamb?
- Should Drywall Be Installed Vertically or Horizontally?
- Nails vs Screws for Drywall: Pros & Cons of Each
As a homeowner, I am constantly experimenting with making the structure of my house more energy-efficient, eliminating pests, and taking on DIY home improvement projects. Over the past two decades, my family has rehabbed houses and contracted new home builds and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I share my hard-learned lessons so that you can save time and money by not repeating my mistakes.