Do you hang drywall top or bottom first?

Author: Cordia Jakubowski  |  Last update: Saturday, May 10, 2025

Yes, drywall is typically installed from the top of the wall to the bottom. First, install drywall on the ceiling as it is the most difficult drywall to install and it will dictate how the drywall on the wall will be installed.

Do you start drywall from top or bottom?

The Basics
  • The ceilings should go on first.
  • Work from the top down.
  • Stagger your vertical seams, so if you start with a full 8′ sheet on the top row, start with a 4'' sheet on the bottom row.
  • Always begin and end on a stud.

In what order should drywall be hung?

Hanging Sheetrock: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Drywall
  1. Getting Started.
  2. Hang the Ceiling First.
  3. Step 1: Measure and Cut.
  4. Step 2: Position and Attach.
  5. Step 3: Mark and Cut Your Fixtures.
  6. Step 4: Finish the Rows.
  7. Step 5: Install a Ground Row.
  8. Step 6: Finishing Outside Corners.

What is the proper orientation to hang drywall?

The preference is usually to lay the sheets horizontally: that is, 8 feet across and 4 feet up and down. As with the ceiling drywall, this ensures that long edges will always have an attachment point. Professional drywall installers consider horizontal placement to be a stronger form of installation.

Why do you hang drywall from the top down?

The standard ceiling height in most homes is 8 feet, but many homes have taller ceilings. Many installers prefer vertical placement when learning how to hang drywall since taller drywall sheets may fit exactly. Plus, they affix tightly to evenly spaced studs, so they'll stay sturdy and fight the forces of gravity.

How to Hang Drywall on Walls

Is there a wrong way to hang drywall?

Here are five common drywall installation mistakes and how to make sure you steer clear of them on your next project.
  1. Driving screws too deep. ...
  2. Joints are too tight. ...
  3. Fastening before trimming. ...
  4. Placing joints next to doors and windows. ...
  5. Having too many joints. ...
  6. Kick off your next project at Al's.

Why do you drywall the ceiling first?

Hang Ceiling Drywall First

Large cracks due to misaligned sheets are hard to repair because the extra mud required to fill them will constantly fall out and drop to the floor (or worse, down the back of your neck!).

How long does it take to drywall a 12x12 room?

Installing drywall in a standard room takes between two to three days, while drywalling an entire 2,000-square-foot home can take between three days to a week.

Should drywall touch the floor?

Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor.

Should you leave a gap between drywall sheets?

Keeping the joints between sheets of drywall too close is an invitation for troubles along the way. Professional drywall installers allow for ⅛-inch space between sheetrock placement, and this allows for expansion and contraction for the frame of the building, avoiding cracks and damage to the drywall.

What's the difference between sheetrock and drywall?

One key difference between the two is that sheetrock is a brand name of drywall made by the United States Gypsum Corporation. Another difference lies in their production process; sheetrock has a slightly denser core than drywall due to the addition of a small amount of wood fiber to the gypsum core.

What order do you finish drywall joints?

  1. Materials and Tools You'll Need.
  2. Types of Drywall Joints.
  3. Step-by-Step Guide to Finishing Drywall Joints. Step 1: Mixing Joint Compound. Step 2: Apply the Joint Compound. Step 3: Apply the Tape. Step 4: Apply a Second Layer of Joint Compound. Step 5: Feather the Edges. Step 6: Allow the Compound to Dry. Step 7: Sand the Joints.

What order should drywall be hung?

How to Hang Drywall
  1. Prepare the Drywall Sheets for the Ceiling. ...
  2. Install Drywall on the Ceiling. ...
  3. Measure and Cut Drywall for the Wall. ...
  4. Install Drywall on the Wall. ...
  5. Cut Openings for Doors, Windows and Outlet Boxes. ...
  6. Secure the Drywall Against the Outside and Inside Corners. ...
  7. Add the Finishing Coats of Drywall Compound.

Do you install drywall or floor first?

While the flooring that is laid down after the drywall is installed will correct imperfections in the floor, any small hill in the concrete will cause a full sheet of drywall to be out of level if the drywall is placed directly on the floor.

Do you texture ceilings or walls first?

Do you texture ceilings before walls? Ceilings are usually painted before the walls. This rule also applies to textures. You do not have to follow this rule, but it makes the process so much easier.

How many square feet does a 5 gallon bucket of drywall mud cover?

A good rule of thumb is to use one gallon of joint compound for every 500 square feet of drywall.

What is the labor cost to install drywall?

Hiring a local drywall installer will cost $1 to $2.10 per square foot, totaling $690 to $2,200 on average. Complex installations, such as those with curved walls, high ceilings, or intricate architectural details, require more time and expertise, increasing labor costs.

How many times do you have to mud new drywall?

With any drywall angle, you want to apply at least 3 coats of drywall compound to each joint: 1 to apply the tape. 1 to fill the joint. 1 to finish it smooth.

Should there be a gap between drywall and ceiling?

The RSIC installation guide calls for a 1/4″ gap between the ceiling gypsum board and the perimeter of the ceiling. This gap should then be filled with acoustical caulking. The gap is then taped and finished like a regular ceiling / wall intersection.

How many screws per sheet of drywall?

Number of Screws Per Sheet of Drywall

Use about 32 drywall screws per sheet of 4-foot by 8-foot drywall installed horizontally on a wall. This total is comprised of four screws on the five middle studs and six screws on each of the two sides.

Do you hang drywall vertically or horizontally?

Commercial: Hang the drywall vertically. On commercial jobs, fire codes often require seams to fall on the entire length of the framing, so the drywall must be hung vertically. Residential: How high are the walls? For walls nine feet high or shorter, hanging the drywall horizontally has a number of benefits.

Do drywall edges need to be on studs?

All edges of all sheets of drywall must land on a solid surface such as a stud. A hanging drywall edge may work in the short-term, but in the long-term it can result in cracks and other serious wall issues. Sometimes, the drywall does not horizontally reach a stud.

Should drywall be glued and screwed?

A best practice is to nail or screw the edges of the board, but only use screws in the field. Using adhesive for drywall reduces the need for screws in the field or middle of the board but some are still needed. Please check with local codes on what is recommended in your area.

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