Selecting Drywall

• The most difficult part of any drywall installation project is sealing the seams to ensure that the drywall is firm against the wall and to prevent any gaps, leaks and other damage along the seams. To make this easier for yourself later on, use the largest pieces of drywall you can conceivably use during your installation. Drywall is heavy and large, so if you are working on your own, take into account your ability to lift and hold the material while you install. If you have a partner, you can probably use sheets up to 16-feet long; you can use fewer sheets, resulting in fewer seams to seal later.
  
  

Getting Started

• For hanging drywall, you should always start at the top where the wall meets the ceiling. Choose an area of your room where you can hang a full sheet of drywall first so that you can install all full sheets first and work with cutting and sizing later. Hold the top sheet in place about 2 to 3 inches from the ceiling, and mark the location of each stud with a pencil about 7 inches down from the top of the board. Lift the sheet into place; if you have a helper, this part is much easier since he can hold the sheet while you attach it.
  
  

Securing Drywall

• Attach the bottom, center-most screw through the drywall first to establish a firm base for the rest of your installation. Use 1 1/4-inch drywall screws or nails and a nail gun or drill. Move up each stud, attaching a screw or nail every 16 inches, and work your way out across the rest of the studs until the drywall is completely secure. Once the top piece is secured in place, install the piece below this one and work your way out around the room.
  
  

Cutting Drywall

• Cutting drywall will produce a lot of dust, so wear protective glasses and a dust mask. Score the back of the drywall through the back layer of paper and most of the material with a sharp utility knife. You can bend the drywall at the fold until it snaps straight through the drywall to the front layer of paper. Use the utility knife to cut through the final paper layer and continue installing.
  
  

Finishing

• Drywall seams need to be taped and sealed. Use wallboard or drywall joint compound at a rate of 1 gallon for every 100 square feet of seam you have to seal. You can use either paper tape or fiberglass tape to seal the seams. Fiberglass tape is sticky on one side, so you can simply attach it to the wall and apply the compound over it. For paper tape, you must apply a thin layer of compound, followed by the tape and another layer of compound for proper sealing. Use taping knifes and putty knifes, generally 6 to 9 inches, to smooth the tape and the compound securely into place.