Drywalling is a labor intensive skill and it can take years of practice to learn how to do this to a professional level, but it is one of those essential construction techniques that can come in very handy for professional builders.  Installing a drywall is such a skilled job that even experienced amateur home improvement enthusiasts are unwilling to tackle it, so this means more work for you and your team which is good news in these unsettled economic times.

Getting started
Drywalling is hard, heavy and dusty work, so you will need a good level of general fitness to undertake this job and the help of a laborer, as sheets of one-half-inch drywall can weigh quite a bit and can be awkward to shift around (especially up and down stairs).  Don’t buy your basic drywall materials in the local DIY store as they will most likely only stock 8-foot lengths, and for most rooms in order to avoid butt joints you should be using 12-foot-long sheets.  You may also need different thickness and widths, which a DIY store is unlikely to stock so always use the builder’s merchants or professional outlets for drywalling.

Cutting Drywall
You will not need to use a saw to cut drywall, as this material is very easy to cut by simply scoring the paper face with a razor knife and then applying pressure to the back so that it snaps cleanly.    This will create a slightly rough edge, so always cut about a quarter of an inch less than the length you actually need.

Applying Tape
When you are applying tape along the seams use the right product and don’t substitute with topping compound as this is made for final and second coats only.

Hanging Drywall
Always hang drywall sheets so that the long edge is at a parallel to the run of the studs and butt the first sheets of drywall right up tight to the ceiling.  This will mean that in a room with 8-foot ceilings you will have a seam on the walls around the room at a level of 4 feet up off the floor.

Sanding
Sanding down drywall is very dusty, so if you are working in an enclosed environment make sure you wear the appropriate face mask to prevent your eyes, lungs, mouth and throat from becoming clogged up.

Painting
For a truly professional job you will need to use the correct primer or sealer paint before you start painting the drywall, and this will even out the texture and porosity and create a really smooth, professional finish.