Drywall is the material of choice for ceilings today. However, it's not perfect. If you've got a drywall ceiling that wasn't properly installed, or has been damaged by water, it may have to come down and be replaced. Installing drywall on the ceiling is essentially the same as it is on wall, except you will need some help to deal with the force of gravity.
Instructions
1. Pull down the old ceiling with your hammer and pry bar, getting the plaster or drywall completely off the joists. Remove any remaining nails or screws from joists so they are completely bare.
2. Measure the ceiling from your starting wall out across the joists. Record the measurement to the furthest joist within 8 feet of the wall. Take the measurement from the middle of the joist.
3. Transfer the measurement to a piece of drywall. Cut the drywall piece across its width at that measurement using your razor knife. Make the cut by running the knife alongside your T-square to score the surface in a straight line, then bending the piece until it breaks at the line.
4. Lift the cut drywall to the ceiling with the help of your assistant. Set it with the cut end against the wall and the factory edge running along the center of the edge of the joist.
5. Shoot drywall screws through the drywall at each point where it crosses a joist, putting the screws every 5 or 6 inches along each one.
6. Hang a second sheet of drywall off the end of the first. Affix it to the joists in the same way. Continue hanging drywall end to end, cutting the last one as needed to fit at the end.
7. Repeat the process to hang the next for course of sheets, installing them alongside the first. Arrange the sheets so there are no four-way intersections between them. Cover the whole ceiling.
8. Put mesh drywall tape over each of the seams between the sheets. Spread joint the tape with your small drywall knife, just covering the tape and getting it as smooth as you can. Spread additional joint compound over the screw holes.
9. Let the joint compound dry for six hours. Spread a second coat on, making the seams wider and keeping them smooth. Let it set for six hours.
10. Spread on a third coat of with your large drywall knife, making the seam about 8 inches wide and very flat. Let it dry for 12 hours. Sand it smooth. The ceiling is now ready for painting.
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