sheetrock installation in the basement

I plan to finish the basement (around 1000 sq ft). The house was newly built last year. The basement has a poured wall + 2x4 or 2x6 wood frame. So things were well done. My question is: when hanging the rock, should I start with the ceiling first or the wall first. Next question: I think the ceiling rock would be difficult to do (Just me and my wife and/or my daughter) and the ceiling is 10 feet tall. Someone suggests to make a T out of 2x4 but I doubt it works well. Any suggestion?

T.Y.

 

Always do the ceiling first. Couple of reasons:
1) Wall sheets will be butted up against the ceiling sheets and help support on the ends.
2) Much easier to cut and measure the wall boards to fit up against the celing then the other way around.

Most rental places will have a drywall lifter. Much easier than holding it in place or constructing something to do the same. The sheet is put in the lifter and then raised into position and held there by the lifter.

 

Have you considered a drop ceiling??? it will allow easier access for adding stuff in later on, and 10' is pretty high!!! if this is a new house the wife will probably come up w/ a wish list of stuff she wants to add and if you rock the ceiling, you could end up kicking yourself in the long run!!! remember the next guy to do work in the house is probably gonna be you!!!

 

Folks,

Thank you for the quick replies.
About the drop ceiling: I have thought about it but have no idea how much it would cost. Would it be comparable with rock? Moreover I have ceiling fans, recess lights, heat pump duct work outlets... Can they be changed to fix the drop ceiling. Now how much should be drop? 1 foot or 2 feet?

T.Y.

 

as they say with enuf time and $$ anything is possible!! J/K

yes all of those things are doable. the ducts can be extended w/ flex, recessed lights can be installed and ceiling fans although a little tricky can be done. the forums are an awesome source of info for these items. the trickiest thing would probably the fans, and the best way would probably be w/ an extended downrod for the fan so you can support the box to the ceiling joists above. these are available at teh depot or lowes in various lengths, as far as how far to drop, that is probably more personal preference than anything. the priccan be figured out by you w/ a little calculation. i got my stuff from the local depot, and the have an estimating pamphlet in the aisle where the drop ceiling stuff is. my wife and i put our 16 x 20 ceiling up in one day w/o any problems. Good Luck!!

 

A drywall lift is the coolest thing since sliced bread. You just load the sheet on the lift and crank it up to the ceiling. Most of them go up as high as 16 feet, and you can get ones that go higher too. Once you've cranked the sheet up there, you can position it easily by just rolling the lift into position. Furthermore, the lift also works when putting on the top course of drywall on the walls, holding it tightly to the ceiling while you screw it in at leisure. It allows one person to do with ease what would be difficult for three. It also allowed me to 4.5' by 12' sheets, reducing the number of joints. I love drywall lifts!

 

If you can't afford to rent a lift, you could construct a "dead man" support (I think that's what it's called) that is made out of a couple 2x4s in the shape of a T. Your wife could hold up one end of the drywall to the ceiling while you screw in the other end.

 

I was able to rent one of those lifts for $25 a day. I would consider that pretty affordable.

 

Following Fatkid's suggestion, I think I will go with a drop ceiling.

T.Y.