How To Use Drywall Lift For Walls

How to Hang Drywall: Use a Lift

Updated: Oct. 17, 2019

Hang drywall solitary with the right tools and techniques.

FH04FEB_DRYWAL_01-2 Family Handyman

See easier ways to hang and handle drywall (aka Sheetrock). We have 10 tips that relieve time and strain, whether you're working alone or with a coiffure.

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Rent a drywall lift for ceiling piece of work

Photograph 1: Load the lift

Flip down the support hooks to hold the sheet. Recall: the face of the canvass goes against the lift.

If you have to drywall a ceiling, don't hesitate to rent a lift. It'due south well worth the rental fee and is past far the all-time manner to go a ceiling up without back strain. These five tools volition making hanging drywall a lot easier.

Drywall lifts break down into three parts and fit easily into a midsize machine. After yous reassemble it, release the catch on the wheel and crank it up and down a few times to make sure it'south working smoothly. Then lock the elevator and hoist 1 cease of the drywall canvas up to the support hook—end side downwardly. At present lift the other finish of the sheet up and slide it onto the second hook equally shown. Lift slowly and smoothly—abrupt or jerky handling can popular the front end edge of the drywall off the claw.

Tip the canvass so it's horizontal and lock it down. Then wheel the elevator into approximate position. Lifts are stable and maneuverable, so you tin fine-melody the placement when you raise the drywall. Then crank information technology tight. You may need to go upward on a ladder to nudge the canvass into place. Put in at to the lowest degree eight screws before lowering the lift.

Lifts piece of work for walls, also

Photograph two: A lift makes wall work easier

Tip the sheet against the wall. Extend the support arms to suit viii or 12-ft. sheets.

A lift works on upper wall sheets just besides as information technology does on ceilings. Later loading the drywall, push the lift to the wall, position the sheet, tip the acme edge against the wall and creepo it snugly confronting the ceiling.

Make cutouts in identify

Photo three: Cut holes for ceiling lights

Run the cutout bit around the electrical box or calorie-free can. It'southward the fastest, neatest way to cut holes!

Cutouts for lights and outlets are much faster and easier to make with the drywall in identify, saving the trouble of taking the sheet down and recutting it if a precut hole doesn't quite fit. Use a special cutout tool with a drywall bit, available at hardware and home centers. First, make sure to button electric wires at to the lowest degree an inch back into the boxes, out of the way of the cutout bit. Adjacent, measure out and mark the guess center points of the electrical boxes on the drywall, before you put it up. Crank the sail upward, and put in only enough screws to hold it in identify, keeping the screws at to the lowest degree 12 in. from the cutout. Then punch the drywall cutout tool through the center marker and run it out to the edge until the bit hits the side of the box. Ease the bit up and over the edge to the outside of the can or box and slowly cut counterclockwise around it as shown. Drive nearby screws later on the cutout is finished.

Panel rollers make big jobs small

Photograph four: Roll your rock

A console roller lets one guy easily move ii sheets at a time.

Take a few dozen sheets to move? Here's the next best thing to having somebody carry the drywall for yous: a heavy-duty panel roller that carries up to two sheets at a time (or anything else that's flat and heavy). Roll drywall about effortlessly through the house, using one paw to command the roller and the other to balance the sheet and steer around corners. The wheels tilt and roll over thresholds, and for bigger obstacles, only grasp the handle and lift the drywall. You tin can even tuck a sail under your arm, a very elementary and comfortable carrying position. This lifter doesn't piece of work on a full flight of stairs. Panel rollers are available at drywall and tool suppliers.

Ease the strain with a console lifter

Photograph 5: Carry rock comfortably

A panel lifter lets y'all elevator and carry without the awkward arm-stretching and torso-twisting.

Take the strain off your artillery and upper body and brand navigating tight spots easier with a plastic panel lifter, available at home centers. Just hook the console lifter effectually the lesser of the sheet at the center indicate, tip the sail upwardly and lift, leaving your lifting arm fully extended equally if you were carrying a suitcase. Apply your other arm to balance the canvass, keeping the drywall shut to horizontal. Y'all'll be amazed—you can motion drywall with half the effort. But it doesn't work on full flights of stairs. Become a helper for that.

Preset nails (and utilise your head)

Photo 6: Prepare nails earlier you lift

With a few nails already in place, you won't demand a third hand to hang ceiling rock. Utilize your head to support the sheet, too.

When you need to hold a slice up in place without the lift, preset a six drywall nails around the edges at joist or stud locations before you lift the canvas. Hoist it upwards, support it tightly against the ceiling joists with a manus and your head (a sponge under the hat helps), then drive in the nails to concord the piece in place. Fasten it off with screws.

Customize the lift for angled pieces

Photo 7: Modify the lift

Every bit with well-nigh things in life, all it takes is 2x4s and duct tape.

Change the lift to concur small or irregular pieces by taping a pair of 2x4s perpendicular to the crossbars equally temporary supports. The hooks won't catch, so lock the crossbars down into the horizontal position.

Lever; don't lift

Photo 8: Step and screw

Nudge the lower sheet against the upper sail with human foot power.

Photo nine: Roll lifter

A pry bar and block of woods will exercise the job, but this special tool is more than user-friendly to use

Rather than straining to concord lower sheets up off the floor, lever them up snug confronting the upper canvass with a pry bar and a block of wood or a roll lifter (available at domicile centers).

Add nailers instead of recutting

Photo 10: As well long? No trouble

No demand to remove a too-long sheet—only add nailers so you can spiral on the side by side canvass.

You've wrestled a heavy canvas upwards, put in half the screws and just noticed that you slightly miscut the sheet. Earlier you go through the hassle of taking the sheet down and recutting, try these possible fixes:

Tack a 2×4 to the side of the joist as a nailer for the next sheet.
Create a floating seam past screwing the unsupported cease to a 1×4 that you slide on tiptop of it. Let the i×four overlap the end nigh 1-i/2 in. Then screw the next sheet to the 1×4 also. Cut the ane×4 longer than the piece you're seaming so that bordering sheets will help support it.

Measure tight merely cut loose

Putting drywall upwardly and then taking information technology downward to shave an border that won't fit is a waste of free energy. Instead, subtract 1/4 in. from your measurements to make up for rough cuts and wavy walls. It'southward easier to fill slight gaps with joint compound than to struggle with a tight fit.

Required Tools for this Projection

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before yous start—you'll save time and frustration.

You will as well demand a Drywall lift, Panel roller, Panel lifter, Cutout tool

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials set alee of time. Hither'south a listing.

Originally Published: Oct 17, 2019