I’ve given up trying to get a subcontractor to install the dry wall in my basement. I’ve had one company bid and their bid was so outrageous that my neighbors gasped (who last year could find dry wallers). So, I’m thinking I’m going to have to do it myself. I have a bad back and so I’ve been looking around for something to help with the ceiling and found this: https://www.amazon.com/Drywall...553518_t1_B000ZIEOHW

Is this gimmicky or does it work as well as it appears? Anything else you all suggest besides straight edge, square and chalk line? I’ve got an air compressor but I’m not sure what is the best option to install the sheetrock screws too. Finally, common mistakes and/or tips would be appreciated? For reference, I’m doing a family room with ceiling speakers, a laundry room, two bedrooms, hallway and a bathroom all total about 1300 square feet. I don’t have a separate basement entrance and I have a landing for the basement stairs so I’m thinking I will have to remove a window to get things into the basement. I do have two teenage boys who will be helping so I do have that going for me.

Thanks!

You can probably rent one of those lifts.

Rent one of those and pick up a couple of our south of the border friends. Here they hang out near a small Latino strip plaza

You can borrow mine. They make hanging the ceiling way easier if you’re one guy doing the work. Aren’t you in Utah county?

That lift will work fine for the ceiling. Research how to install drywall as there is a right and a wrong way to install the boards. Boarding is the easy job, mudding is where most people quit and end up with a divorce.

quote:

Originally posted by npbra:
That lift will work fine for the ceiling. Research how to install drywall as there is a right and a wrong way to install the boards. Boarding is the easy job, mudding is where most people quit and end up with a divorce.

hang the drywall yourself and find someone to mud. I have a guy i've used several time to hang and mud. the last price he gave to to do a new wall i framed up was about the same price he did two rooms that I added to the basement a few years before. I asked him what it would be just to mud and that price was reasonable as it just required one guy and a day of labor. And I have vowed to never mud drywall again.

Many many years ago I did my girlfriend's mom's basement. I made up some panel jacks out of 2x4's for the ceiling panels. The panel lift looks easier, but a jack or two in addition might be helpful. Just a tee a little less than 4' across the top, with the leg a couple of inches longer than the height of the ceiling. Remember to buy 12' long ceiling panels if your room is wider than 8', taping end butts is a real PITA. Also there is a reason the pros use screw shooters in preference to nails.

Personally I'd find a couple high school kids to help me, build a couple 2x4 'T' braces and have at it. Once the ceiling is done, you can probably handle the rest on your own.

We actually did all our own Sheetrock on the building we put up a couple years back.

It saved us a ton of cash and wasn’t really that difficult. Dirty and time consuming, but not too difficult.

Are you located anywhere near PDX? If so, I have all the tools you would need, including a lift.

That lift rents for $25 a day at the local rental place. $100 for a week.

Not gimmicky, a necessity, IMO.
Years ago I made one out of 2x4 when I put sheetrock in a transition/crawlspace area.
I did it all by myself when I was also younger and stupider.
No doubt I would use a device like indicated.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I’ve been looking around for something to help with the ceiling and found this: https://www.amazon.com/Drywall...553518_t1_B000ZIEOHW

Is this gimmicky or does it work as well as it appears?

I believe this is the one I bought a couple years ago. I bought it because I have a few areas to do and renting one would have cost more than buying this one. It's not the best drywall lifter I've ever used, but it certainly worked well for me. The casters are really cheap. After I was done with it, I loaned it to the neighbor and a caster broke. I replaced the broken caster with one I could find locally. Bottom line, it wasn't what I would call pro quality, but it did the job.


I used my Dewalt 1/4" impact driver for the drywall screws. That works really slick.


If you're going to do your own taping and mudding - I use a wet sponge (rinsing out in a bucket of water frequently) between coats instead of sanding. That's a lot less messy. Sometimes I will sand after the final coat, but often it is just as smooth as sanding.

Start watching some YouTube videos. Hanging is one thing, finishing is another. It annoys me to no end that I can’t finish drywall.

I recommend one of these as well, they work great and keep you from punching through the paper with a regular bit.

Century Drill & Tool 68592 #2R Drywall Power Screw Setter, 2" length https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012..._api_i_LJ1fFbCBEGRC6

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
You can borrow mine. They make hanging the ceiling way easier if you’re one guy doing the work. Aren’t you in Utah county?

^^^^
Yes. I got one more lead after I posted this today and then it's me and the boys. Thanks for the offer, I'll email you if I strike out again.

If this is your first rodeo with drywall I would suggest using 8’ sheets, not 12’. The 12 footers cut down on muddling but are a pain to handle without breaking. 8’ can even be a struggle for the first timer.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
Rent one of those and pick up a couple of our south of the border friends. Here they hang out near a small Latino strip plaza

Please don't.do this. Hire people who are here legally, and preferably someone with a business license and insurance.

Buy the lift and when you're done with it list it on Craigslist. You'll sell it easily because it's one of man's greatest inventions. It's pretty sweet to put 12 footers on the ceiling by yourself. Screws not nails

If you rent the panel lift I would also rent the correct screw gun. I did Paint and Drywall contracting for several years and some of the stuff folks did, absolutely should have stayed with their day job.
Example: A 50' X 24' day light basement with 9' ceilings....all sheets aligned nice and pretty. no half sheet offset per row. They paid me a lot of cash to fix. Inspector had a fit. New construction failure else where in the build.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
You can borrow mine. They make hanging the ceiling way easier if you’re one guy doing the work. Aren’t you in Utah county?

^^^^
Yes. I got one more lead after I posted this today and then it's me and the boys. Thanks for the offer, I'll email you if I strike out again.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
You can borrow mine. They make hanging the ceiling way easier if you’re one guy doing the work. Aren’t you in Utah county?

^^^^
Yes. I got one more lead after I posted this today and then it's me and the boys. Thanks for the offer, I'll email you if I strike out again.

If he’s in range to loan the tool, then he’s in range to spend a day showing you how it works.

Wait a sec, I’m in range too.