54"x12' VS. 4x8, 4x10, 4x12

A+ Texture

I'm bidding on a few houses with 9' ceilings. I know conventional wisdom says use 54" panels. But they only come in 12' lengths here. So is it better to use 54" panels with a lot more waste. Or use 4' panels with the strip run between them. Everything is done in house and finishing done with auto tools. I'm thinkin 54"s with more waste might be better but wanted your opinion. Naturally I would be using the 54"s in the bigger rooms. Thanks!!

bwalley

I do commercial as well as residential, on commercial we always run the boards vertical, but in residential the boards are run horizontal.

I understand why we do it that way in commercial for fire rating and it avoids butt joints.

In residential we run them horizontal and it used to be most ceiling were 8' now, so it worked out well, with 9' 10' and taller ceiling, I never understood why the boards weren't run vertical, like in commercial jobs.

Why wouldn't 4' x 9' boards run vertical work?

I would use 54" boards instead of a scab.

Chris Johnson

Talk to your supplier, I used to buy 54"s in 8,9,10 and 12's. I know only one could get them like that for me, and they were a big mover of drywall so maybe they had the ability to order it that way

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Chris

CrpntrFrk

Hey A+ have you tried Desert Drywall Supply in Tempe or Rew Materials in Phoenix? Atko might have it too!

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Brocktologist

A+, if 12's are all I could get I'd still use them and hopefully the hangers will use them up on sides and backs of closets and the short pieces used to stagger the butts.
It's up to you though if you are the one finishing it. Do you want all that extra work of doing a seam a foot off the ground or get on stilts if that is where they put the seam?

AARC Drywall

we have lots of ceilings that are 9', and we only use the 12' 54" board...like brock says use the scraps in closets, and use stand up 9' or 10' were it matters,and you dont want to see a bevel joint. The cost is a bit more, but the end result is much much better and way less work for us tapers. and that means more money in our pockets.

J

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Rx8

if ur finishing its up to u, but to me i sure wouldn't get on stilts or get on my knees or deal with a bastard joint all around the house without upping the price a bit. so imo, deal with the 12' board and i'll bet u save money.

AARC Drywall

welcomr Rx8

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bwalley

I have seen guys put scab joints in the middle, I figured they did it this way because it was easier and below eye level.

Why wouldn't you be able to use 4' x 9' boards and run them vertical?

A+ Texture

Hey guys thanks for the advice, you guys ROCK. As for vertical I've heard that walls can look wavy, but with vertical joints how does that affect running boxes, do you have to get on stilts to do the tops?

bwalley

We have a lot longer runs of walls in commercial than residential, and those walls don't look wavy if the framing is done right.

oldrivers

if you run the sheets verticle youll end up running more of the bad flats like butt joints so your not better off taping wise.

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Brocktologist

True. But numbnuts will surely disagree.

Tim0282

Commercial is almost always framed with metal studs. They don't expand and contract like wood. So you get a flater wall. Bank on it, if you stand rock up on a long wall with a window at the end of the wall, you will be able to count the sheets.