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When installing drywall, does one hang the ceiling material first or the wall material first? Or does it matter? Please explain.?

Update:

Well, I believe that Mountain!! has the best explanation, although Jimmy C basically answers the same thing. Mountain answered first though. The reason I believe that one should ALWAYS do the ceiling first is explained here: https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/44634/when...

Update 2:

If one lives in an earthquake area, a ceiling that is not supported on its sides by wall material will most likely shake itself down. It drives me nuts to watch the TV show "First Time Flippers" and see the amateurs putting the walls up first. I would not want to live in that house ...EVER!

Update 3:

Here's another "how to site": https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-pro...

Folks that put the walls up first actually make more work for themselves in the end!

5 Answers

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  • 2 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Ceiling first. Then wallboard on the wall provides some support for the ceiling at the edges.

  • 2 years ago

    Ceiling first, then the walls. That way you do not have to fill the ceiling to get it flat. It is much easier to fill gaps at the top of the walls on the vertical. But if alone you can do the walls first with a gap at the top to slide the ceiling pieces in. The main thing is that the ceiling pieces go out to the studs and are covered by the walls.

    Also the walls support the edges of the ceiling.

  • 2 years ago

    On the job I've seen it both ways, just bear this in mind, it's easier for amateurs to fill gaps on the vertical, so fit the ceiling tight to wall studs.

    If hanging alone I do the walls first, leaving a 5/8" gap at the ceiling to slide the sheet into provide an extra hand to hold the sheetrock up when I do the ceiling.

  • zeno
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    I guess it depends on the structures size and

    What type floor and ceiling in the room. So

    It may not be the same for every construction.

  • Mark
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    It doesn't really matter, but most people want to "be done with the hard stuff" and do the ceiling first.

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