By TIM CARTER
Bergen County Record

DEAR TIM: I need to know how to drywall. A buddy and I plan to hang the drywall in a room addition remodel to make some extra money. It doesn’t seem that complicated. What tools will we need? Will we need a drywall lift to do the ceiling? What can we do to make the job go faster? - David F., Fresno, Calif.

DEAR DAVID: I recommend that you start eating massive quantities of Wheaties and Wonder Bread, followed by canned spinach chasers, so you build up your muscles and stamina. If you have never lifted and held a 4 feet by 12 feet piece of half-inch thick trying to operate a screw gun with the other hand, you are in for a surprise.

To solve this weight issue you may be inclined to work with smaller, 8-foot pieces. If you do, make this mistake, on the job will curse you. He’ll wish you had used the 12-foot-long pieces, which produce fewer seams that have to be taped and finished. The longer drywall saves labor and money - and makes for smoother walls and ceilings.

Drywall installation, like many construction tasks, is one that requires great skill to get professional results. Using the right tools will make the job go faster, but don’t expect to be proficient at using them on your first job.

You might want to get a drywall lift to install the ceiling pieces. A drywall lift works just like a forklift in a warehouse. You install the piece of drywall onto the machine with the good side of the drywall facing the floor. You then roll the lift into position and crank a handle to make the drywall move up to the ceiling. The lift handles all of the weight, and you just maneuver the drywall into position and screw it to the ceiling joists.

Be aware that two professional drywall hangers will lift, hold and screw off a piece of drywall like you might lift a laptop over your head.

You can stand on ladders to install ceiling drywall, but professionals use nifty aluminum benches that look like traditional saw horses. These handy devices have a flat platform that the hangers stand on. The benches have adjustable legs, allowing you to work on ceilings up to 10 feet tall.

I also recommend an electric screw gun, a special router to cut the holes for electric boxes, recessed lights, gas lines and plumbing pipes. You can use a hand-held saw to do the same, but it is very time-consuming.

The most basic tool for hanging drywall is a razor knife. This tool scores the paper face and cuts into the gypsum core. Once this cut is made, you can apply pressure to the other side of the drywall along the cut line and the sheet of drywall will fold along the line. To complete the cut, you make a second cut on this creased line. I have seen rookies use a power saw to cut drywall. This can ruin the saw motor and it creates clouds of dust.