Like most small remodelers, I usually subcontract large drywall jobs. But I can make decent time hanging drywall by myself and won't hesitate to tackle smaller 12- to 15-board jobs. To test my mettle, I recently hung the drywall in an addition that required eight 8-foot sheets of drywall and 125 12-foot sheets (32 of which were fire-rated 5/8-inch-thick sheets weighing 110 pounds each). I didn't make a ton of money, but I kept myself busy during a slow time.
Whether I'm hanging 10 boards or 100, there are two basic challenges. The first is figuring out how to make accurate measurements - especially overhead ones - efficiently by myself. The second is finding ways to manage large sheets as I cut them, lift them into position, and fasten them in place. For measuring, I use a couple of unconventional...
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