Sheetrock is commonly installed as full sheets sized either 4-foot-by-8-foot or 4-foot-by-12-foot. Try to lift a piece of Sheetrock to the ceiling this size on your own and you might find yourself standing under a Sheetrock arch. The weight of the Sheetrock could cause it to break in half where you are supporting it. If you do manage to get the Sheetrock to the ceiling, you cannot free your hands to hang it. There are ways to lift Sheetrock to the ceiling and keep your hands free once you get it there.
Instructions
Drywall T-Bars
1. Cut two 3-foot pieces of 2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber with a table or circular saw. Cut two lengths of 2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber measuring 2 inches more than the height of your ceiling. Nail or screw the 3-foot pieces of lumber onto the end of the longer lengths of lumber, creating a T-bar.
2. Add braces to the T to support the 3-foot piece of lumber and keep it sturdy. Cut another 3-foot piece of 2-inch-by-4-inch dimensional lumber in half. Cut each end of the two pieces of lumber at 45-degree angles, creating a trapezoid. Secure the braces to the T-bar with wood screws or nails to both the 3-foot piece of lumber and the longer length to add support to the 3-foot piece of lumber.
3. Lift the Sheetrock toward the ceiling with the help of a partner. Each of you grab an end of the Sheetrock and raise it until you both can slide the 3-foot ends of the T-bars beneath the ends of the Sheetrock.
4. Hold the longer ends of the T-bars, using them as handles. You and your partner continue to lift the Sheetrock with the T-bars until the Sheetrock rests against the ceiling.
5. Wedge the T-bars between the Sheetrock on the ceiling and the floor. Since the longer ends of the T-bars are 2 inches longer than the height of the ceiling, jamming the T-bars between the ceiling and the floor creates pressure to hold the Sheetrock in place while you secure it.
Drywall Lift
6. Rent a drywall lift from a home improvement center or construction equipment rental facility.
7. Pull the spring-loaded clips beneath the support arms on the drywall lift. Rotate the arms to the angled loading position and release the clip to hold the arms in place.
8. Load the Sheetrock onto the support arms. Support the Sheetrock with the hooks attached to the ends of the arms. Pull the spring-loaded clip to rotate the arms back to their original horizontal position.
9. Rotate the crank clockwise on the side of the drywall lift, raising the Sheetrock until it rests against the ceiling. The crank locks in place automatically until you release it. Leave the lift in place against the ceiling until you attach the Sheetrock.
Tips Warnings
Install the ceiling Sheetrock before installing the Sheetrock on the wall.
Install the Sheetrock perpendicular to the ceiling joists.
Attach the outside edges of the Sheetrock first. This allows you to remove any support from the Sheetrock before attaching the entire sheet to the ceiling.
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