Getting Drywall Into A Basement

72chevy4x4

I'm putting together a bid for a basement finish-the door to the basement is not situated in a way to pass materials through (located in a hall). Only two small access windows in basement, which leads me to consider having an egress window cut into the concrete foundation. Any other suggestions out there? Customer doesn't necessarily 'want' an egress window and the added expense of the step system may be unwarranted, is installing a slider window an option?

Chris G

I have never tried this, so I have no idea if it is a good idea or not, but I have always wondered if you could score the drywall, snap it, and not cut the paper on the other side. Then you fold it in half and unfold once it is in the basement.

AtlanticWBConst

I wouldn't suggest this technique for moving (Transporting) sheetrock.

Yes, it works when installing sheets on the backwall of a closet. That procedure is done very cautiously, and gently.

Attempting to do this and move a sheet into a basement, is going to tear the paper off the gypsum, at the cut line. The line, will then end up "bubbling".

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Tim0282

We do that quite often in a closet when you can't get a full sheet in the door. But it would be an awful lot to do the whole basement. You just need to fill the crease on the front. Eight footers won't turn the corner? I've had those kind of basements. They are a problem.
Good luck!

AtlanticWBConst

You didn't mention that there was/or wasn't an exterior access door to the area. So, I assume there isn't.

Option 1.) Is there an area (like a 5' kneewall), where you could remove the siding, and slide the sheets thru?

Option 2.) Consider blue board and plaster...because you are going to have to cut those sheets way down, to get them in thru the hallway door.

Good Luck.

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A W Smith

Excellent suggestion. You beat me to it.

another option would be sacrificing the wall opposite the basement door by cutting the drywall out of one bay on both sides and feeding the drywall into the basement through it. then repairing it when done. whats the finish of the hall and the room beyond? is it feasible?

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Al Smith
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Dustball

Dunno about your codes but around here- an egress window is required for any habitable space in a basement, not just bedrooms. An egress window in a bedroom will serve as the egress for the rest of the space.

Railman

I don't know if it would work on your basement, but you might consider pulling up carpet, & cutting a 4ft + hole in floor. At least that way you could get 8' sheets down.... maybe even 10's. As long as you do a nice job on repair, your home owner probably wouldn't mind, especially if you told him the basement walls will finish out nicer.
Joe

Griff

Ya, i was going to suggest button board 16"x32" and hardwall plaster, or cutting down some blue board and thinwall. I'd just sub it out and get your percentage.

cincycontractor

I had to pull back carpet and cut an access through the sub floor before. It beats carrying the sheets down the stairs to. Only thing was 8 foot boards only,

AtlanticWBConst

Even with bulkheaad basement access, you end up doing 10' sheets. It creates more seams.....but, oh well, what r ya gonna do....

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Frankawitz

What about cutting your sheets into 16"x 8' then just screw them up as your bring them in, I would then just tape and mud then basecoat and skimcoat give them a level 5 drywall but let them know the price will be high cause of the extra work. Good luck

72chevy4x4

thanks for all of the ideas guys-there are a few I didn't consider. The first floor has a lot of hardwood flooring, not sure if pulling carpet and putting a hole in the floor is within reason.

If I were to cut 4x12 sheets in half into 2x12 and make a ramp through the existing basement window, I would have 2' wide strips with a finished edge and a butt edge. by stacking them up on the wall, I would have only one butt joint (placed at 4' tall mark) and two additional horizontal joints. Definitely more finish work, but I think it's doable-has anyone ever seen this done before?

the old farmhouse I grew up in had a half story attic (sloped ceilings) and a very narrow 90 degree staircase. dad sheetrocked the entire thing in 4' squares because that's all that would fit.

Do what you've got to do...

steva

I would urge them to install a window in one of the rooms. Is it not proper code in your area, that every bedroom requires a window(big enough for a human to crawl through in case of a fire) to be called a bedroom. It is up here...

Jason Whipple

If you did cut them into 2' slices you could start with the cut on the floor stack the factories next. Then have a butt at 4' and a factory edge at 6' then cut to the ceiling.

Cover the lower part with bead board and chair rail. You'll have no cut edges to tape this way.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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wankaplank

can't you get smaller sheets over there we in england have 8 ft by 2ft and 3ft by 6ft if not cut tape and joint it don't spend all you time thinking about it just get it done