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Rant: Everyone says to use a 4x8 sheet for ceilings but I found a better way
I was reading an old trade journal from the 90s at my dad's house last weekend and found a stat that blew my mind. It said using 4x10 sheets on a standard 8-foot ceiling can cut your butt joints by almost 40 percent compared to 4x8s. I always just went with what everyone else does, you know? But I tried it on a job in Springfield last week, a whole house with flat ceilings. It was a game changer. Sure, the sheets are a bit harder to handle, but with a good lift and a helper, it went up way faster. The long seam runs right down the middle of the ceiling, so you only have two end joints per room instead of a bunch of them. I saved a full day on taping and mudding. Why isn't this talked about more? Has anyone else given the bigger sheets a real shot on residential work?
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phoenix2357mo ago
Trying to lift a 4x10 sheet by myself once was a real "hold my beer" moment. Ended up with a corner through the drywall on the wall I was leaning against. So yeah, I fully believe in the helper part of that plan. Your point about the long seam is solid though, that's way less mud work to deal with. Might have to swallow my pride and actually try it with a proper crew.
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harperwright6mo ago
Man, who hasn't done that? I tried to wrestle a 4x12 sheet up a staircase by myself... it got away from me and took out a whole banister spindle. The sound alone was awful. That's when I learned my lesson for good. Some jobs just need more hands, no way around it.
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