Hanging Sheetrock

Today two of my crew members, who are not drywall specialist by any means, had a disagreement on the proper way to hang 4x8 sheet rock panels. One said hang the sheetrock vertically (ie. vertical seams) and the other said to hang the sheet rock horizontally. And with horizonal mounting, there are less seams to mud?

Who is correct here? Does it make any difference? Thursday is sheetrock day in the kitchen and bathroom which have been gutted to the studs. --71.207.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:44 PM
Message:

Horizontally with longer sheets --76.129.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Richard [MI]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 9:59 PM
Message:

How good is the finisher? If only ok and the finish is going to be smooth, maybe hang vertically so there are no butt joints.

If the finisher is good or better or you are going to have heavier texture on the drywall you're likely ok for horizontal hanging.

What you want to avoid is the butt joints having a hump on the finish.

Hang the ceilings first. Then the upper walls, then the lower walls if you go with the horizontal hanging. If you're going vertical on the walls still do the ceiling first.

One problem on doing older existing places is the studs in the walls are where they are and don't generally line up well for vertical hanging on the walls. --75.7.xx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:24 PM
Message:

Bingo, 6'er. --69.130.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:48 PM
Message:

The pros hang it horizontally on the walls.

First the ceiling, long-ways across the ceiling joists - then the walls. They put a full-width sheet up high first, trimming the length to fit the studs if needed.

Then they put in the lower sheet, trimming both width & length as needed.

I have pros doing sheetrock in the entire house I'm renovating, right now & have watched.

it is much easier and quicker / better finish to tape & mud long, horizontal seams while walking along the floor - compared to going up & down a ladder/step-stool to finish all vertical seams. And, if the studs don't exactly match the edge of the sheets, you need to trim them and create a butt joint anyway. --68.229.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Apr 10, 2024 10:56 PM
Message:

Thanks for the tips. Horizontally does seem the better way to do this. --71.207.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 7:09 AM
Message:

Horizontal and if they aren’t great spacklers, they shouldn’t be hanging. --174.240.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Jason [VA]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 7:10 AM
Message:

If they do it vertically, the seams will show. Hang 12’ sheets horizontally with staggered seams --172.56.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 7:40 AM
Message:

If I am finishing and it is a smaller room I hang vertically so I have no butt joints. I don't need a ladder for an eight foot tall sheet.

Now if it is an older place with the studs not following the 4 foot rule you need to go horizontally. Also if the walls are wavy and you are not going to fur them out you might want to go horizontal as well as the sheets will contour better over an 8 or 12 foot span instead of 4 foot. --107.147.xx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 7:42 AM
Message:

May be wise to pull up a YouTube video and open the class room! --172.59.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 9:45 AM
Message:

Horizontally is almost always the best way unless it is a very small room. Here's why:

Less joints because you can use longer sheets, up to 12' long VS 8' vertically.

Easier to tape because there is one long run down the center, especially if they are using a banjo to tape. It also results in less joint work that has to be done from a stool. Vertical joints are difficult to complete in one pull with a banjo because you start on a platform at the ceiling and have to step down to reach the floor without ripping or creasing the tape in the process. When you hang horizontally, those joints are only 4' long and can be done either on the stool or on the floor. --209.205.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 10:04 AM
Message:

I agree with Mike a. A person who wants to hang drywall vertically is not a spackler. I’m saying this as someone who has hung and spackled thousands of boards. --24.152.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 4:59 PM
Message:

Never used a banjo. We had one at a commercial contractor I worked for but all it did was make a mess.

I too have hung countless boards. I do not mind beds but hate joints.

Guess I am not a spackler, but as a finisher I can make it look more better without butt joints.

Then again I am more of a wood butcher than drywaller. Last bigger job I did was for my daughter and I level 5 finished everything.

That was not as much fun as one would think. --107.147.xx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Scott [IN]) Posted on: Apr 11, 2024 5:09 PM
Message:

Horizontal with back blocking at butt joints. --107.141.xx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Hoosier [IN]) Posted on: Apr 12, 2024 11:45 AM
Message:

Horizontally IMO. Not that vertically is "wrong", just fewer seams with horizontally. May be different if you're doing 9' ceilings or something...then it would require more than 2 sheets horizontally. --64.38.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 12, 2024 12:47 PM
Message:

Hoosier, 54” drywall for 9’ ceilings. --174.240.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Apr 12, 2024 6:51 PM
Message:

NE just taught me something about drywall. --76.129.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by CGB [MI]) Posted on: Apr 19, 2024 9:32 AM
Message:

In a basement with no ceiling or a drop ceiling I hang vertical if the studs line up for full sheets. --99.9.xxx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 19, 2024 9:41 AM
Message:

I wouldn’t even do it vertically in a basement. Why? If I ever have to hire a drywaller, I’m going to ask them if they hang it vertically or horizontally. If they tell me vertically, I’m not even going to hire them. I would also ask them if they finish drywall. If they don’t finish drywall, I wouldn’t hire them either. If you go into any huge commercial job or any modular home factory, you will not see these guys hanging drywall vertically. --24.152.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 9:22 AM
Message:

I worked commercial construction for a few years. That was where I first started hanging vertically.

We used steel studs mostly. We would hang everything vertically. Most cases we had drop ceilings to go in as well. No top corner tape. No butt seams which are tougher than bed seams.

I will agree that typically if the installer doesn't finish they do not do as good of a job hanging. --107.147.xx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 10:56 AM
Message:

As Zero[IN] mentioned it's very common on commercial jobs with suspended ceiling to hang the sheets vertically. In fact, on some of the large office building, SR suppliers would even have the manufacture custom make the sheets cut to the exact lengths needed to do the project. --96.233.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 11:16 AM
Message:

Last time we hired a guy to hang sheetrock, he asked for 12-foot sheets. DH ordered according to his wishes. He did not hang them himself, he hired guys.

DH showed up to check it out and found 4 feet cut off all the sheets...apparently, the guys were used to working with 8 feet sheets... --173.28.xx.xxx

Hanging Sheetrock (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 5:10 PM
Message:

I would be steaming if they did that.

Have seen jobs where the crew got paid by the sheet. Dumpster was full of drywall, cut to random lengths.

I would have fired them and the boss for that but it wasn't my job so I just laughed at the general, who I used to work for years ago. --107.147.xx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 5:24 PM
Message:

Zero, I would’ve taken that drywall and loaded it in my truck and stored it in one of my locations. I consider this business somewhat guerrilla warfare and have taken tons of materials off of contractors jobs that they just throw out. Ask them of course.

--24.152.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 5:27 PM
Message:

Some people might laugh at that, but my local lumberyard, Green boards $22 a sheet. --24.152.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Apr 20, 2024 7:19 PM
Message:

Most of our jobs use either8', 10' or 12' - 1/2" of 5/8" blueboard with a skim coat of plaster. In the past when we did more SR, we would occasionally use 16' x 1/2" in order to lessen butt joints. --96.233.xxx.xx

Hanging Sheetrock (by zero [IN]) Posted on: Apr 21, 2024 8:44 AM
Message:

The rock was cut at odd angles and small sizes. Might be able to use it to patch a hole, but not to do a full room.

I have a house, barn and two garages full of construction type stuff.

It has gotten to the point that it is going to cost me more to have it than it is worth I fear. Have to clean out a 1.5 car detached in the next couple weeks with nowhere to put the stuff.

Looks like my home garage is going to be storage for a bit.

Spouse is elated at that prospect. --107.147.xx.xx

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