The average sheet of drywall is 4 feet by 8 feet and weighs between 75 and 100 pounds, depending on the type of material used. Typically it is made of gypsum, which is laminated between two sheets of felt paper. A drywall jack can make it much easier to lift the sheets of drywall over your head and secure them while you nail the sheets to ceiling joists. A drywall jack can be built quickly with scrap materials that you probably have around the house and will only take 15-30 minutes to build.
Instructions
1. Measure one of the 2-inch by 4-inch wood studs with a measuring tape and cut a 2-foot length. Lay the 2 foot stud at a 90 degree angle across the end of the 8 foot stud, centered across the longer stud. The narrow side of the 2 foot stud should lay even with the end of the 8 foot stud.
See the image below for an example of how it will look when completed.
2. Nail the 2-foot stud to the 8-foot stud with framing nails and a hammer. Use a couple of nails on each side to secure the studs so they do not come apart when being used.
3. Place the scrap of carpeting over the narrow end of the remaining 2-inch by 4-inch stud so that the carpeting is even on both sides and nail the carpeting to the stud with upholstery tacks. Nail the carpeting about every 6 inches so that it does not come loose while being used.
4. Center the carpeted stud across the opposite end of the 8-foot stud from the side in which you nailed the 2-foot stud. Extend the carpeted stud about 1/4 to 1/2 inch beyond the end of the 8-foot stud and use framing nails to secure the studs.
5. Use the drywall jack by lifting one end of the drywall up with the 6-foot carpeted end of the jack and wedging the two foot section against the floor while someone is holding the other end of the drywall up. Once you have one side lifted up with the jack, you can nail off the other end without having to carry the entire weight of the drywall.
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