DIY Drywall Ceiling Installation

Ceiling drywall installation is a tough job that will require at least two people to complete. If possible, ceiling drywall and ceiling plaster should be repaired using one of the wall repair techniques links to the left. If a new ceiling installation is a must, follow the procedure below.

Locate the Ceiling Joists

Locate the ceiling joists and mark their location on the walls at both ends of the room. If necessary use a drill and an eighth inch bit to bore into the ceiling to locate the framing. Drill the holes at one inch intervals until you meet resistance and wood is ejected from the hole indicating the location of the joist.

Mark the Ceiling Joists

Stretch a chalked string tightly between each wall mark, pull it away from the ceiling and let it snap back to leave a chalk mark indicating the location of the joists across the ceiling.

Fasten Furring Strips Perpendicular to the Joists

Use 1x2 or 1x3 furring strips placed perpendicular to the joists. Hold them in place and drill a pilot hole thru the strip and into the joist at each chalk mark. Drive 2 inch drywall screws to fasten the strips to the joists. Use longer screws if you're dealing with thick plaster. Countersink the screw heads.

Fasten the first strip along one wall and then place the rest at 16 inch intervals across the ceiling. Fasten each strip so the center is at the 16 inch mark to accommodate the 4x8 foot drywall sheets. There will be one final space at the end of the ceiling that will be a little less or a little more than the standard 16 inch spacing. Take note of this when planning the layout of the drywall sheets. Start hanging the drywall at the wall with the first furring strip.

Drywall Ceiling Layout

Hang full drywall sheets all along the first wall until there is only a small section of ceiling to fill. Extend each full sheet to finish out to the adjacent wall, joining open edges with open edges and finished edges with finished edges. Avoid butting a finished edge with an open edge. This will create a ridge that will be difficult to hide when finishing.

Hang the Drywall Sheets

Before hanging each sheet apply a bead of construction adhesive along the furring strips. This is not absolutely necessary but it will ensure a good bond and no sag in the new ceiling. Lay the 4x8 sheets parallel to the furring strips, making sure there is enough of the wood strip showing along the edge of each sheet for the next sheet to fit at the seam.

Drive a few 1½in. drywall screws at the edges and one or two in the middle to help hold the sheet in place. Then drive screws about every 8 to 12 inches along each furring strip and along the edge.

Support Drywall with a Tee

Using a homemade tee for support will make hanging a drywall ceiling much easier. After a sheet of drywall has been lifted into place, wedge the tee under it to support the weight while adjusting the position and driving the screws.

The top of the tee should be about 2 feet long and the leg should be a little longer than the new ceiling height. To finish the new drywall ceiling follow the instructions in the Finishing Drywall section.